Doomed Brotherhood

Everyone knows what socialism is. The idea of living together as one. Everyone sharing the work and everyone looking out for everyone else. No one is selfish or cruel. On the surface it sounds like a good idea. Yet every time we have tried to implement it, it fails miserably. So why is this? It sounds solid enough. It sounds like it would be the perfect life. Why does it fail?

The problem with socialism is the assumption it makes. You may have heard of the classic argument of nature vs nurture. The question of what shapes our behavior more: our intrinsic traits or our extrinsic environment? Socialism takes the side of nurture. They believe that man is corrupted by his environment. Therefore, they believe to fix his behavior you need only fix the manner in which he is raised. So they create an ideal society. This society is a place where everyone shares the work and looks out for the good of the community. The problem they face is that this society has one fatal flaw. It is dependent on its members to uphold these ideals and concepts. They need people to agree to not seek their own interests and look out for the good of all. To quote Vulcan saying, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” This is the philosophy people need to submit to. The problem is they will not agree to do so. Carl is perfectly willing to contribute to the many so long as he is not the few. He is perfectly willing to share the work as long as it benefits him. But if he himself is threatened, then Carl will retaliate. He is not overly concerned with the majority when his minority is in peril. And in the end, Carl will pursue his own interests.

People are by nature sinful and selfish. The problem with socialism is that it attempts to change man by changing his environment. They say that by removing perceived basis's of conflict, such as property, all conflict will cease. That by teaching children to live for their community, they will grow up to do nothing else. And that laws to protect the common good will be effective in enforcing it. But the problem is not the environment, the problem is man. Man is by nature sinful. He is by nature selfish and cruel and narcissistic. He serves the common good only so long as it serves him. It does not matter how he is raised, he will always be a sinful creature. That is why socialism fails. It attempts to conform man into a form he cannot possibly hope to fit. It sets a goal that is impossible to reach. No matter what rule you enact. No matter what doctrine you teach. Man will still ultimately be man. The few will not go quietly into the night.

-BlackFox

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