In the latest Newsweek, Vermont’s Socialist U.S. Senator offers an explanation for the demonization of socialism.
You call yourself a democratic socialist. How did “socialism” become a bad word in America? I think what obviously happened over many years is that some of our right-wing friends decided to equate socialism with Stalinism, or the authoritarian Soviet Union with democratic socialism. Obviously, those are two very different animals.
If he really thinks his brand of socialism is that different from Stalinism — or Maoism, Castroism, or any of the other brand names — perhaps he should read some Hayek, who explained how the socialist penchant for central planning paves a “road to serfdom.”
Too lengthy and complicated? Well, he could try Kevin D. Williamson’s recent Politically Incorrect Guide to Socialism, which explains why all forms of socialism suffer from the same basic fatal flaws.
If it’s too much to ask the senator to read a book, perhaps he could just flip about 30 pages back in the same issue of Newsweek. There he would find a brief sidebar article titled “The Saga of the Stinky Cheese.”
It depicts the efforts — new ovens, enhanced cleaning, ventilation improvements, ingredient experimentation, etc. — Starbucks used to improve its breakfast sandwich.
Why? To rid Starbucks’ stores of a cheesy aroma that annoyed customers. Why? Because enhancing the customer experience is likely to boost sales. That boost, in turn, leads to more profit.
It’s the type of motivation notably absent from any socialist endeavor. Anyone willing to bet that a socialist “breakfast sandwich” bureaucrat would worry about anything beyond meeting a production quota?
