Economics, Media Criticism, Political Commentary

The Gods Of Socialism

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…and the worship of “change”:

“A man like me is born only once every five hundred years,” Ceausescu used to proclaim, over and over. The Romanian media did its part, nicknaming Ceausescu the “Most Beloved Son of the People,” the “Guarantor of the Nation’s Progress and Independence,” and the “Visionary Architect of the Nation’s Future.” In 1989, Ceausescu functioned as the head of state, leader of the Communist Party, commander of the armed forces, chairman of the Supreme Council for Economic and Social Development, president of the National Council of Working People, and chairman of the Socialist Democracy and Unity Front. By that time, the personality cult was extended to Ceausescu’s wife as well. Elena Ceausescu became the country’s first deputy prime minister, chair of the National Council on Science and Technology, and head of the National Council for Science and Education. Elena Ceausescu’s national prominence had grown to the point that her birthday was celebrated as a national holiday, as was her husband’s.

The U.S. Democratic Party also began constructing its own god. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for,” proclaimed Senator Barack Obama during his electoral campaign as the 2008 nominee for the White House. The leaders of the Democratic Party jumped in, calling him an “American Messiah.”

“This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal,” the senator assured the country in his acceptance speech.

After winning the 2008 elections, the Democratic Party’s agenda for “change” began changing the U.S. into a monument to its leader as well. Below is a partial list of projects and places already named after President Obama:

California: President Barack Obama Parkway, Orlando; Obama Way, Seaside; Barack Obama Charter School, Compton; Barack Obama Global Preparation Academy, Los Angeles; Barack Obama Academy, Oakland. Florida: Barack Obama Avenue, Opa-loka; Barack Obama Boulevard, West Park. Maryland: Barack Obama Elementary School, Upper Marlboro. Missouri: Barack Obama Elementary School, Pine Lawn. Minnesota: Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary, Saint Paul. New Jersey: Barack Obama Academy, Plainfield; Barack Obama Green Charter High School, Plainfield. New York: Barack Obama Elementary School, Hempstead. Pennsylvania: Obama High School, Pittsburgh. Texas: Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy, Dallas.

Change is still the Democratic Party’s theme for the 2012 elections. The current target for change is American capitalism, and this new crusade for change started with the article “Why isn’t capitalism working?” by Lawrence Summers, former head of President Obama’s National Economic Council. According to Summers’ essays, Americans are disillusioned with market capitalism: Only “50% of people had a positive opinion of capitalism, while 40 percent did not.” The reasoning:

[Capitalism produces] inequality and declining social mobility…The problem is real and profound and seems unlikely to correct itself untended. Unlike cyclical concerns, there is no obvious solution at hand.

Those who do not know history…

23 thoughts on “The Gods Of Socialism”

  1. Going back much further in history, long past Nixon, there’s another comparison that flows from Fast and Furious.

    Thomas Jefferson wrote a famous Declaration that included this specific complaint:

    He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

    In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

    If the shoe fits…

  2. “The Romanian media did its part, nicknaming Ceausescu the “Most Beloved Son of the People,” the “Guarantor of the Nation’s Progress and Independence,” and the “Visionary Architect of the Nation’s Future.” ”

    There is a man I know, an immigrant from Pakistan and a real “star” faculty member in a STEM discipline, supporting a small army of grad students through funded research and an internationally recognized scholar in a “hot” research area having to do with computers, who refers to the Governor as “Dear Leader.”

  3. [Capitalism produces] inequality and declining social mobility?

    I’d expect much better from Mr. Summers.

    Capitalism is, as far as I know it, historically the only thing that’s ever produced social mobility to any significant extent.

    (I suspect he’s right about it “producing inequality”, but I’d rather be unequal with capitalism making everyone wealthier than equal in a feudal state, where we’re almost all equal … in relative poverty and without any way to change that.)

  4. I hate to point out the obvious, but Obama is the first black President. The man wouldn’t even be able to vote in many states 50 years ago. You may not like him, but his election was and is a historic event.

    1. Chris, none of Obama’s white class mates were allowed to vote in any state 50 years ago. They’ve all come a long way.

      Now, if after leaving office Obama gets convicted of a string of felonies related to Fast and Furious and other scandals, he once again won’t be able to vote in most states.

      1. ” ‘his election was and is a historic event.

        ” ‘So was 9/11.'”

        So was the Black Plague. (Is that racist?). Hey, everybody. let’s continue this thread! Gerrib badly needs a history lesson, anyway.

    3. Chris,

      If you hate to point out the obvious why do you do it so much?

      So is it your point that the left’s hero-worship of Obama is strictly a function of his race? What a racist thing to say. What happened to the dream that one day we would judge all men by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin? Of course, if the left did that they would have no basis for their hero-worship, so I guess it makes sense. So I’ll concede your point. The ONLY reason so many places have already been named after President Obama is that he is the first black president.

        1. We’re not, you’re the one that brought up color as something significant.

          Personally, I’m not surprised about places being named after him. I don’t mind pointing out the obvious, but Dallas has a tollway named after George W. Bush, and it was completed and commissioned with the name while W was still in office. But that’s nothing compared to White Supremist Democrat Robert Byrd and the places named after him in West Virginia while he was Senator. Apparently color doesn’t play much of a role.

          Speaking of West Virginia, how’s Obama doing among Democrats there?

          1. Chris, you’ll be waiting your whole life (free your mind.) The rest of us didn’t even have to move on since it’s always been about content of character.

            Titus, there ya go, playing that race card again. I mean, what are ya going to do when you meet some nice green Orion slave girl to take home to mutha? (That’s mudda for us Brooklyn kids. Hello mudda… hello fadda… it’s your son at… camp grenada…)

          2. lulz, Ken. But don’t get me started, at least not in front of the trolls. They lack the intelligence life experience to understand what it means for men of different backgrounds to crack wise about each other’s past. They would interpret it as a sign of “racism” when the truth is the exact opposite.

    5. And he’s the first incompetent (half) black president, too. Does that count as historic? Will future black presidential candidates be unfairly held back because people will think, “remember the god-awful mess that asshole Obama made of things”?

  5. It used to be ships in the US Navy were named like fish, famous retired boats, or famous dead sailors. Then they started naming aircraft carriers using the names of dead presidents. Afterwards they started naming them using the names of living presidents. I guess it is just one more step in the road to self-aggrandizement.

  6. What about the inequality of streets named after people. I mean, only the 1% of famous rich people get a street named after them. When, does the average Joe or Jane get their street named after them? The 1% couldn’t get that street named after them if the 99% didn’t build it for them. I want a street named Joshua Reiter Blvd and I’ll hold my breath until I get it. Wait, no not boulevard, maybe avenue….or drive? Nah, boulevard; boulevard sounds more haughty.

    1. Head away from populated areas and you can names streets all day long. They start out as dirt roads, but when they eventually get paved they often/usually keep the name. I just saw a crossroad the other day that was funny, but now my swiss cheese memory can’t come up with it!?

  7. They used to name submarines after “denizens of the deep” – USS Parche (SS 384/SSN 683).

    Who cares what they name the targets for?

    BTW, you can judge the leadership and consistency of USN leadership by the naming of the SSN 21 class: USS SEA WOLF (SSN 21), USS CONNECTICUT (SSN 22) and USS JIMMY CARTER (SSN 23).

    1. Yeah and the funny thing is the USS Jimmy Carter was christened when W was president. I think Clinton was president when Sea Wolf was launched but I have no idea when they decided the name.

  8. Ok, trying this again for the third time (apparently Akismet just doesn’t like me): Today I drove into Columbia, South Carolina on the Charles F Bolden Jr highway. Hell, they even name highway interchanges after people in this state.

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