Comments on: Communal living — the utopian dream that never dies http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/11/21/communal-living-the-utopian-dream-that-never-dies/ She escaped from the belly of the liberal beast Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:46:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: expreacherman http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/11/21/communal-living-the-utopian-dream-that-never-dies/#comment-17326 expreacherman Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:58:35 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2159#comment-17326 Great post, Book, And we can be thankful to God that Bradford had the brilliance to see that their brand of Socialism would never succeed long term. And the greater miracle is that he was able to convince the other Puritans of that fact. So often, those at the trough of such a social experiment never want to leave the "from your hand to my mouth" mentality. God bless our wonderful country and y;all have a great "land of the FREE" thanksgiving! ExP(Jack) Great post, Book,

And we can be thankful to God that Bradford had the brilliance to see that their brand of Socialism would never succeed long term.

And the greater miracle is that he was able to convince the other Puritans of that fact.

So often, those at the trough of such a social experiment never want to leave the “from your hand to my mouth” mentality.

God bless our wonderful country and y;all have a great “land of the FREE” thanksgiving!

ExP(Jack)

]]> By: Al http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/11/21/communal-living-the-utopian-dream-that-never-dies/#comment-17327 Al Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:43:01 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2159#comment-17327 Rush Limbaugh reads a piece his father wrote on the evolution of the Pilgrims' social-economic perspective every Thanksgiving. He emphasizes the part left out by most educational institutions (read public schools). That part is of course the one dealing with the revelation that capitalism succeeds and communism fails, that most people become wealthy when most property is private and secure, and most people become poor when all property is communal. One of the interesting factors is that the Pilgrims created their communal arrangement based on their interpretation of biblical writings. When they realized that their system was contributing to the failure of their community, they changed the system. That change was a smashing success. I wonder if there was any discussion of the change going "against God's law"? Or was the discussion one of "Our interpretation was wrong."? Or did that discussion occur at all? I can read sections of the scriptures which clearly (to my right wing, money grubbing, capitalist pig outlook) encourage private reward for private effort, and support the concept of private property. Another factor, and a mystifying and irritating one, is how can any intelligent student of history support the communal idea, and agree with policies which lead to communism? Every social experiment, both small and large, attempting to hue to the tenants of the communal ideal has failed. And failed with deadly effect to many of its participants. Communist China is not in fact Communist. It's more state capitalism than anything else. Which is why those who maintain that tax receipts belong to the government are not to be trusted. I wish all a stuffed Turkey Day and a joyous Thanksgiving. Al Rush Limbaugh reads a piece his father wrote on the evolution of the Pilgrims’ social-economic perspective every Thanksgiving. He emphasizes the part left out by most educational institutions (read public schools). That part is of course the one dealing with the revelation that capitalism succeeds and communism fails, that most people become wealthy when most property is private and secure, and most people become poor when all property is communal.
One of the interesting factors is that the Pilgrims created their communal arrangement based on their interpretation of biblical writings. When they realized that their system was contributing to the failure of their community, they changed the system. That change was a smashing success. I wonder if there was any discussion of the change going “against God’s law”? Or was the discussion one of “Our interpretation was wrong.”? Or did that discussion occur at all? I can read sections of the scriptures which clearly (to my right wing, money grubbing, capitalist pig outlook) encourage private reward for private effort, and support the concept of private property.
Another factor, and a mystifying and irritating one, is how can any intelligent student of history support the communal idea, and agree with policies which lead to communism? Every social experiment, both small and large, attempting to hue to the tenants of the communal ideal has failed. And failed with deadly effect to many of its participants. Communist China is not in fact Communist. It’s more state capitalism than anything else.
Which is why those who maintain that tax receipts belong to the government are not to be trusted.
I wish all a stuffed Turkey Day and a joyous Thanksgiving.
Al

]]> By: Jose http://www.bookwormroom.com/2007/11/21/communal-living-the-utopian-dream-that-never-dies/#comment-17328 Jose Thu, 22 Nov 2007 09:19:46 +0000 http://proto2.webloggin.com/?p=2159#comment-17328 Almost half of the Pilgrims died the first year. There are so many directions I could go with this... "...the Democratic candidates make their constantly recurring promises to take our money and spend it “wisely” on our behalf" Tonight I caught a radio show which interviewed the director of environmental responsibility for the Aspen Ski Company. (http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2007/11/20071121_b_main.asp) The company is committed to reducing its environmental impact but doesn't have enough captial to do so, after operating costs. Their environmental director believes the government should help and presented a very articulate supporting argument. What he really meant is that my tax money should subsidize the Aspen Ski Company's effort to make their facilties carbon neutral, including the 5 star hotels, ski slopes, swimming pools, and the golf course. I am a Colorado native, but I've never been able to afford to vacation in Aspen, and I don't ski or play golf. Nevertheless they expect my tax money to subsidize their green upgrades, and I have no doubts the Democrats will give it to them. I can suggest a lower cost alternative that will reduce their carbon footrpint to zero, but I don't think the owners will go for it, regardless of their commitment to the environment. Almost half of the Pilgrims died the first year.

There are so many directions I could go with this…

“…the Democratic candidates make their constantly recurring promises to take our money and spend it “wisely” on our behalf”
Tonight I caught a radio show which interviewed the director of environmental responsibility for the Aspen Ski Company.
(http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2007/11/20071121_b_main.asp)
The company is committed to reducing its environmental impact but doesn’t have enough captial to do so, after operating costs. Their environmental director believes the government should help and presented a very articulate supporting argument.

What he really meant is that my tax money should subsidize the Aspen Ski Company’s effort to make their facilties carbon neutral, including the 5 star hotels, ski slopes, swimming pools, and the golf course.

I am a Colorado native, but I’ve never been able to afford to vacation in Aspen, and I don’t ski or play golf. Nevertheless they expect my tax money to subsidize their green upgrades, and I have no doubts the Democrats will give it to them. I can suggest a lower cost alternative that will reduce their carbon footrpint to zero, but I don’t think the owners will go for it, regardless of their commitment to the environment.

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