The Road To Serfdom

Editor, Times-Union:
There has been much hoopla and discerning opinions about the present political wave of Socialists running for election, but the advent of these Socialists should not be surprising ... they’ve been here all along. They moved here back in the 1920s and 1930s from Europe. They were pushed out by Fascists, the likes of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, and came to settle here in America, many of which graced the halls of our finest educational institutions. For decades, they indoctrinated our children to the wonders of Socialism and how it was a far better economic system than Capitalism. Students became teachers and the indoctrination has since infected our education system all the way to grade-school level. We scratch our heads at the irrational disdain the present youth have for this country when we’ve allowed it to metastasize right in front of us for decades.
A compelling novel written by F.A. Hayek in 1940-1943 called “The Road to Serfdom” illustrated the horrific consequences of tyranny that results from government economic decisions made through central planning. The popularity of these Socialists is stunning, but because of one-party rule in cities like Seattle, New York, L.A. and Chicago, it was inevitable. The Democrats have controlled these cities for decades, gradually degrading the quality of life for the citizens with regulations and taxes. Along comes the Biden administration with open borders, two massive and unnecessary spending bills, a freeze on future oil production and you end up with hyper inflation! Along comes President Trump and the Dems complain about an affordability crisis ... boy that’s rich. Then you sprinkle in a hat full of Socialists who pick up this slogan of “affordability,” you shake it up with thousands of disgruntled and indoctrinated 18-24 year old youths and you get a very serious situation.
Socialism and Capitalism are both economic systems which are basically diametric to one another. Socialism is based on a large central government. Capitalism is based on small government. Socialism relies on control of the means of production. Capitalism relies on freedom of production. Socialism is inherently dependent on ever-growing tax revenues to pay for their programs. Capitalism requires growth in their economy to generate their tax revenues.
Former Prime Minister of Great Britain Margaret Thatcher once famously said, “Socialism is great until you run out of other people’s money.” What happens when they run our of other people’s money ... they become Communist.
Gerald Roach
Warsaw