Communism failed centuries before Karl Marx
Published Thu, Sep 11 2008 5:29 PM
Conservatives keep trying to tell you — Communism simply doesn't work. We tell you over and over that Capitalism is one of the best ways to ensure productivity. Here, from Charles A Beard and Mary R. Beard's “History of the United States” (pages 20-21) is evidence from the earliest colonial days, centuries before Karl Marx was even born.
Experiments in Common Tillage.—In the New World, with its broad extent of land awaiting the white man's plow, it was impossible to introduce in its entirety and over the whole area the system of lords and tenants that existed across the sea. So it happened that almost every kind of experiment in land tenure, from communism to feudalism, was tried. In the early days of the Jamestown colony, the land, though owned by the London Company, was tilled in common by the settlers. No man had a separate plot of his own. The motto of the community was: "Labor and share alike." All were supposed to work in the fields and receive an equal share of the produce. At Plymouth, the Pilgrims attempted a similar experiment, laying out the fields in common and distributing the joint produce of their labor with rough equality among the workers.
In both colonies the communistic experiments were failures. Angry at the lazy men in Jamestown who idled their time away and yet expected regular meals, Captain John Smith issued a manifesto: "Everyone that gathereth not every day as much as I do, the next day shall be set beyond the river and forever banished from the fort and live there or starve." Even this terrible threat did not bring a change in production. Not until each man was given a plot of his own to till, not until each gathered the fruits of his own labor, did the colony prosper. In Plymouth, where the communal experiment lasted for five years, the results were similar to those in Virginia, and the system was given up for one of separate fields in which every person could "set corn for his own particular." Some other New England towns, refusing to profit by the experience of their Plymouth neighbor, also made excursions into common ownership and labor, only to abandon the idea and go in for individual ownership of the land. "By degrees it was seen that even the Lord's people could not carry the complicated communist legislation into perfect and wholesome practice."
If even the Lord's people, concerned about the common welfare couldn't manage a communist economy, why is it that people continue to support this discredited idea today? The hand of government couldn't bring it off in the 17th century. It failed for the Soviet Union in the 20th century.
It's amazing to me that even seeing this example of the failure of Communism from his own hand that Charles A. Beard was still a Marxist at heart. And, here we are today, still seeking communist, or at the very least socialist control of our lives through the “great society”, nationalized health care, nationalized control over industries like the auto makers, and so on. You'd think we'd have learned the lessons of three centuries. “From each according to his ability — to each according to his need.” It's a noble sounding sentiment, but human nature being what it is, it just doesn't work.
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Angel responded with:
 | so accurate Perri..Just got home from Ground Zero..will post about it soon..blessings to u. :)..rough day..:( |
David responded with:
 | "If even the Lord's people, concerned about the common welfare couldn't manage a communist economy, why is it that people continue to support this discredited idea today?"
As someone *cough* has said,
“In a democracy (”rule by mob”), those who refuse to learn from history are in the majority and dictate that everyone else suffer for their ignorance.”-third world county’s corollary to Santayana’s Axiom
*heh* |
Liz responded with:
 | Poignant post Perri. So very true and accurate and I find our forefathers had much more wisdom that the common day man who gives himself/herself accolades for being so cultivated.
We lack common sense and it is no wonder we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past, unlike our forefathers who learned from theirs - many these days learn nothing - except capital gain of course.
Great write-up Perri, truly! [layla] |
Z responded with:
 | http://gollygeeez.blogspot.com/search/label/Mr.%20Z%27s%20Opinion
Hi, Perri, here's a link to the article Mr. Z wrote at my site about Germany and socialism and why it only worked in very small ways for a while and then had to stop....I thought it might be interesting to you after reading your thoughts here.
I've heard Libs say "Socialism hasn't worked because it's never BEEN DONE RIGHT" I have a hunch that's Obama's secret mantra, don't you!? |
Carl responded with:
 | Socialism and communism has failed everywhere it has been implemented. End of discussion. |
Perri Nelson responded with: End of discussion
 | Oh, how I wish it were Carl. Yet still we have socialism and communism proposed as mainstream solutions to today's problems. Let's do a socialist bailout of failing capitalist institutions instead of letting them fail. Let's have the state (Federal government) take over those institutions and force them to behave like good socialist institutions and tax the hell out of the people when they fail. Let's take a functioning capitalist institution and condemn it, even if it kills our economy. Oh... and free healthcare for all. Until our Congress and our electorate (the people that keep voting these clowns in) learn, the discussion won't ever be over. Well, I suppose it might be over when they've finally implemented the Stalinist tactics that they've been proposing. Then they'll have killed talk radio with the fairness doctrine. They'll have killed intellectual development with enforced mind control ala “public education”. They'll have so regulated speech and the press via “campaign finance reform” and “hate crimes” legislation that covers speech that the first amendment will be a quaint anachronism. And when they've finally rounded up those of us willing to resist and put us in “reeducation camps” — why then the discussion will finally be over. Until then, I'm going to keep on trying to let people know. |
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