Proof of Statement
July 24, 2009In mathematics one can prove an equation by basically reverse engineering it. With everything else in life it is important to offer proofs as well. Now I have made the statement that socialism is an unworkable system and so I offer a simple example as proof.
We will take two hypothetical groups as Guinea pigs, one hundred people each. Our scenario is a colony with only the basics necessary for survival.
Group A is a bunch of greedy self absorbed capitalistic pigs. Everyone in group A is required to work if they want to eat, each at their own trade. The farmers farm, the loggers log, those who can’t perform heavy physical labor do such tasks as they can, cooking, cleaning, book keeping and the like. Each person produces more than they need so they trade their excess for the things they need. Group A is going places all because each person is motivated by self interest.
Now we move onto group B. These people feel that they are owed a living. No food is grown because that is someone elses responsibility, houses are not built because no one knows how and their is no cooperation to survive. As hunger takes over they will forage but once again there is no sharing. This group is heading for starvation and death but first their society (if you can call it that) is going to collapse into a bunch of savages fighting to stay alive just a little bit longer.
Self interest is the primary human motivator. We choose the job that will give us the best return on our effort. We choose the boy/girl friend whom we perceive will bring us the most happiness. To paraphrase Brian Adams (everything I do, I do it for me) and think about it, why would we do anything that would make us unhappy?
I have a computer which I couldn’t have built in a thousand years on my own, same with my car, cell phone, TV, shoes, clothing, DVD player, fans, knives, plates etc etc etc. These are all things that others have chosen to build which they trade to me for money. I trade to others the things that I have created, once again for money.
I live well because of the efforts of countless others whom I will never know but who in return live well because of, in part, my efforts.
Very good analogy, and so true! As much as people often want to deny it, we are motivated “primarily” by what makes us feel good.
In The Bible, Jesus said to Matthew, “Love your neighbor as yourself”; note: he doesn’t say more then yourself.
The people who claim to be completely self-sacrificing are often the ones that are completely unhappy; as a result, not very good to themselves or anyone else around them.
Capitalism gives us the freedom to earn as much as our potential allows, while maintaining our own person freedom. The more a person takes, especially from the hand of the government, then the more enslaved then will become to the government.
In a Socialistic society, I can not even begin to imagine what would motivate anyone to want to work harder, if the government is going to decide where the fruits of your own labor are allocated.
Personally, I think I would rather die then be a slave to the government. I was born a free man, and intend to die free man.