by Michael Bielawski
Former independent candidate for the Chittenden-13 District, Tom Licata was interviewed by TV news commentator Linda Kirker earlier this month on her show Sound Off, he gave warnings about our society sliding towards totalitarian tendencies.
“They believe in the collectivist ideology,” he said of America’s current ruling elites.
“They don’t believe in Constitutional Republicanism, and they want to destroy the Constitution,” he added. “And other examples are they attack institutions such as the Supreme Court, they want to delegitimize the Supreme Court.”
He further explained how the ongoing split in American politics today is the manifestation of competing ideologies.
“You have an ideology that believes that your rights come from God, a transcendent God gives to the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” he said.
Of the other ideology, he said, “It does not believe that your rights come from God. They believe that the best society can be run by a strong centralized government and they want power to do that.”
He further described this as a struggle “between the human soul and the collective society.”
Other concerning trends include the ongoing inflation and what that means for the economic health of the lower and working classes.
“And each time they print more money they flood the market with more dollars and so that’s another precipitation for inflation, and we’re almost in a death spiral at this point,” he said.
He said this process will result in increasing economic hardships that are going to cause working-class Americans to struggle. He suggested this economic squeeze will hopefully help to wake up Americans that they need to get more politically involved.
He explains how each political cause that emerges from the ruling class has a common feature which is that the solutions are always for greater government control over the public.
“They use things like the environment, climate change, and those are means, it’s not an end,” he said. “Anti-racism is a means, transgenderism is another means, and the end game is a totalitarian society defined by Mussolini as everything in the state, nothing against the state.
He noted that the family unit was identified by early Marxists as an obstacle to be dismantled.
“They don’t believe in the nuclear family,” he said. “You’ve heard the founders of Black Lives Matter, they’ve said on TV in interviews that they are trained Marxists. That’s public knowledge and Black Lives Matter is painted on Main Street in Burlington.”
Licata added that during the early 20th century it was observed by Marxist leaders that citizens were most loyal to “family and love of country” which is incompatible with the Marxist agenda. He referenced the writings of Italian Marxist philosopher Antonio Gramsci who identified capitalism as another obstacle.
“He said that you had to attack the culture, he saw that the economic Marxism of Marx and Engels didn’t work because capitalism actually did work, it created a mass middle class,” he said.
When they realized that the capitalist-created middle class wasn’t interested in overthrowing their economic systems, Gramsci said the Marxists should refocus on attacking the nation’s culture. Licata talked about what these efforts have meant for the U.S.
“And so then they went after race, you know blacks versus whites, they went after sexualities, homosexuals versus heterosexuals, now they are going after the whole concept of male/female,” he said. “Now it’s not God or nature that determines reality but mankind himself, he can be his own God.”
On what to do, he said that Vermonters and Americans need to be brave and speak out on issues. He said running for local office such as select boards or school boards is a great way to start.
The host Kirker commented on this.
“It’s going to take one heck of an effort, awareness, and disgust about what is being done to this country and to our children and to just about every facet of our lives,” she said.
The whole interview can be seen here.
The author is a reporter for the Vermont Daily Chronicle
Categories: Society & Culture, Vermonters Making A Difference
“They believe in the collectivist ideology,” he said of America’s current ruling elites.
“They don’t believe in Constitutional Republicanism, and they want to destroy the Constitution,” he added. “And other examples are they attack institutions such as the Supreme Court, they want to delegitimize the Supreme Court.”
Who is “THEY” ? whenever a political candidate regardless of party says they , like we all know who they are talking about, why do people have to believe in Constitutional Republicanism? does it make it wrong that others have different Ideas of what their political belief is? is one party really better than the other ?
Chris Bates, you trolls are proliferating. The United States is a constitutional republic. People are guaranteed certain autonomy. People who prefer the curtailment of individual liberty can choose any number of countries in which to live. Furthermore, what the “woke” movement and the more fanatic supporters of Biden either defend or are, in some cases, actually ignorant of, are the violent tactics and the perpetual lies by which Marxian policies are being promulgated here.
You can believe in anything you want. When you try to deprive others of rights, that is a different paradigm.
Chris Bates; I stood outside of the chamber as ‘they’, the supermajority filed in to vote on a bill that smacks of elitism as it relates to heating our homes and businesses in Vermont. It felt like a Hollyweird movie set with Phil Baruch directing the new female legislators. ‘They’ are paid actors.
“Everything faded Into mist.
The past was erased,
the erasure was forgotten,
the lie became truth.”
– George Orwell, 1984
What concerns me is that Tom Licata’s observations are nothing new.
The first instance of this understanding, that I’ve come across in this country, occurred in the 1623 Plymouth Plantation, when the then Governor, William Bradford, abandoned the Mayflower Compact’s basis of a ‘commonwealth’ as being ‘Plato’s Conceit’, and created the first instance of private property for all – the systemic change credited for saving the remaining Pilgrims from starvation.
Little did the Pilgrims realize that their innovation would result, 150 years later, in the formation of the governance of free enterprise… The U. S. Constitution.
Instead, today, we focus only on that other colony in Virginia when, in 1619, faced with the same possibility of demise, and governed by the English Monarchy, the political elite chose slavery as its economic strategy.
And we all know what happened when the conflicting systems finally resolved their differences in 1860.
So why haven’t we learned our lesson?
Because one of our political parties still prefers slavery, while the other promotes individual freedom, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness.
While I may be wrong, I’m afraid history is about to repeat itself… again.
The march thru the institutions was their revolution, without a shot being fired.
I’m sorry that people in positions with nice retirement packages refused to speak up.
It really is their fault for failing their coworkers who tried to warn others, but were accused of being racist and transphobic. Indeed, even the CEO’s are being paid off with millions of dollars to go along with the agenda while the public thinks the free market alone makes these men and women greedy.
There is no mechanism to “speak up”. Republican administrations agreed with many of the policies, enacted in the 1970’s, which are causing societal division today. For instance, Carter began liberalized the investment banking system (under the umbrella of Monetarism) and removed restrictions on medical profiteering. Reagan doubled down on those policies and he weakened our ability to manage immigration because he agreed to an amnesty.
Today, the US economic system has been all but destroyed. We are hiding the full extent of the destruction by stoking asset price inflation and encouraging the struggling middle class to borrow its way out of trouble. Unfortunately, this is a one generation trick because young people can’t afford to buy assets at inflated prices and they often begin adult life already deep in education debt (another profit protected industry).
The only way to “speak up” is to refuse to play. Many are working this out.
RGB, thank you. I’m an old radical. Currently being stalked on the internet. I won’t quit speaking out. Apparently, it is “transphobic” to object to transitioning children, destroying Women’s Sports, and sending violent rapists and murderers to Women’s Prisons.
I actuality, the situation is so extreme that now countless trans people are speaking out against it. “Not in my name.”
I’ve even been warned to leave VT.
Sliding towards totalitarian tendencies? More like speeding towards them, as in they’re already here for the most part. The 45th President of the USA has been indicted yet again, and the last federal election was fraught with fraud/interference that is going unaddressed, and the FBI is undermining religious freedom & referring to people of certain faiths as “terrorists. Just for starters.
Can you say “Banana Republic” as opposed to “Constitutional Republic”?
Huh.
Who is they?
Are they Americans?
Are they Vermonters?
Where do they live?
Where do they work?
What do they look like?
Do they have families?
Laura,
Begin by looking in the mirror to find out who
“they” are. Then, Laura, begin to look at party affiliation: “They” are progressive-Democrats.
“They” want near total control of society: first by destroying America’s heritage; then reeducating an entire generation into Marxist ideology.
“They” are described in the book of Genesis: ‘Ye shall be as Gods’.
“They” have already achieved near total control of society: first by destroying America’s heritage; then reeducating an entire generation into Marxist ideology.
On my island of reality, I simply refuse to conform.
They are unelected international entities mandating policies through treaties and agreements that include the United Nations 2030 agenda, and sustainable development goals, the UN Treaty of Human Rights , the UN Charter on Children’s Rights, as well as central banks financing and promoting the UN agenda to include the World Bank, IMF, and BIS. There are many others involved to include the National Education Association Foundation, funded through NEA dues, and institutions of higher education like Harvard, and nonprofits like the Ford Foundation. The progressive agenda is the United Nations 2930 agenda, which includes the global redistribution of wealth in all participating nations, nationally and internationally. A form of global socialism. This means the wealth and financial resources of all Americans.
Christine Stone, some of the documents which you mention have their favorable details. It is in the wording, the interpretation.
I agree, it is ominous.
You, ms. sibilia, is the “they”. Your actions in the legislature secure your place as a totalitarian politician, in addition to whatever else you choose to be labeled as. You, ms. sibilia have chosen to support ideology and legislation that is detrimental to the citizens of this state, whether they realize it or not. From your vocal support of the GWSA and it’s myriad of required regulation to your mysogonistic support of the gender dysphoric in our society- and that these people somehow have different rights that the rest of society- your actions as a state legislator fit perfectly with the descriptions given in this article. It may well be that a slim majority of Vermont’s citizens hold views similar to yours, but there is a closely equal number that hold dear the promises of both the Vermont and US Constitutions.
Only 1 Republican candidate from her district in all the elections since 2014? Put up or shut up.
Laura Sibilia, another troll? Keep coming. We won’t be silenced.
As the Gay Rights movement used to proclaim “Silence Is Death.”
Define gaslighting. Sadly, it appears a segment of the population remains out of touch with reality (binge watching too much MSNBC or CNN), gleefully and woefully ignorant, or willfully pretending all is well in Mystery Babylon. I recommend listening to Pink Floyd’s song, Us and Them, released in 1973. The lyrics will explain in more detail. Actually, listen to the entire album, Dark Side of the Moon. Enlighten and expose yourself to 50 year old cultural art that doubles as prophetic reality for many. Aside from that observation and recommendation, I wish to thank the DNC, Open Societies, the muthah WEFffers, RINOs, Fulton County GA, and the Deep State for arresting 45 and making him the figurehead martyr of the People. The mugshot is an international sensation! So much so, 45’s poll numbers among the Black community rose 20% in two days. The memes are gold! T-shirts flying off the shelves! It’s all about merchandising baby! Well done! Brilliant move!
Who were “they” in South Africa?
Who were “they” in Venezuela?
Who were “they” in Cuba?
Did you ever take history classes in high school or college, Laura?
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Ring a bell?
Apparently not; how sad.
Are you the same person I listened to yesterday on StoryCorps Archive? What happened between last year and this year? Very nasty, insulting and uncalled-for responses, especially to other women. What changed? How sad.
So you don’t know the answer is what you’re saying?
Actually, I thought of a better song to listen to that will answer your questions. Black Sabbath, War Pigs, 1970.
Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerer of death’s construction…
That is exactly where the progressive/ dumbocrat agenda is driving society
“THEY believe in the collectivist ideology.” If a person believes a tax should be collected from the property owners to maintain public highways, Wouldn’t that be an indication of collectivist ideology? Trouble, trouble right here in River City!
Re: “If a person believes a tax should be collected from the property owners to maintain public highways, Wouldn’t that be an indication of collectivist ideology?”
Yes. That is a ‘collectivist ideology’. Public highways should be paid for by those who use them. The more one uses them, the more they should pay.
And that is how the gas tax works. You buy more gas to drive more on the roads you pay more to maintain the roads. If you choose to drive less or not at all, you don’t pay the tax to maintain the roads. Very fair! Would that all of our taxes worked that way!
American is a country based on individual rights, not collectivism. Communities countries, like China, are based on collectivism. This is what is being referenced. The progressive agenda wants to eliminate individual rights because individual rights hinder progress in achieving Social Justice, a cause championed by progressives. According to the United Nations document titled Social Justice in an Open World, 2006, Social Justice requires strong redistribution policies and Social Justice hasn’t been achieved because balance hasn’t been maintained between individual freedom and Social Justice. I recommend reading the document.
Christine Stone, human history is just that. The history of humans. Such schemes result in chaos and inequality. Who is to decide what should belong to whom? As i stated above, there are countries to which people can go. These countries supposedly practice such a system. In reality, power and wealth reside in the hands of government elite. Government has less accountability than here.
The context in which “collectivist” is presented obscures the reality that it refers to a central government in control of people who are forced to labor and produce, without “control of the means of production” which Marxism preaches they should have.
I believe the issue is more complicated. These people are really neo-marxists. It is also difficult to discuss because the issue involves many entities. Again, this all stems from the United Nations Agenda 2030 and its sustainable development goals and the World Economic Forum, and others. This agenda gives the UN and WEF control of the production and consumption of all global resources. They are moving America from a free market (capitalist) system to a new stakeholder capitalist system. A system where only specific stakeholders have input not shareholders. These stakeholders consist of the UN and UN entities, WEF and it’s stakeholders like the folks who attend DAVOS, powerful corporations that support the UN agenda and comply with ESG. The S is ESG stands for Social Justice. This is why I directed you to the UN document Social Justice in an Open World. ESG is a financial scoring metric that rates companies on the S&P on their compliance with ESG. THE S component of ESG stands for Social (Justice), which mandates compliance with diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as trans and gender activism to include supporting gender affirming care for minors. Gender, according to the UN and WEF, is a social construct. Children have the right to change their gender.
I have more detailed documents on this if you are interested email me at transparencymatters.info@gmail.com.
Way too complicated to discuss over this type of communication channel.
I’m a property owner and have worked at home for 20 years prior to retirement. I drive less than 2500 miles a year and rarely if ever, use public highways (or public transportation for that matter), so when can I apply for a tax refund?
I sure could use the money.
Me too.
BTW: You’re only required to pay 5% of your ‘adjusted’ annual income in Vermont property taxes.
And, yes, Vermont’s ‘adjustments’ are somewhat convoluted. But you can apply for a tax rebate.
No smug and insulting remarks today? Must be a holiday. Yes!!!!
It’s National Kiss and Make Up Day!!!!! There’s always tomorrow…
Apparently, you can’t stand prosperity, JD.
Rest assured, I’ll exceed your expectations when the situation warrants it.
I’m on SSI due to a real and debilitating “invisible disability”. I was cheated out of almost $800 on my last rebate.
Guess you don’t much like it when “snark” gets retorted to with “snark” huh, “JayDee”? I responded to Laura Sibilia with the same phraseology that she used here on VDC. And YES! I participated in StoryCorps…..no secret, or I wouldn’t have chosen to do so.
But that only leads me to ask…… what is YOUR given name, “JayDee”?
And the way I respond to others never has anything to do with their potential gender, after all, your party now claims that there are over 112 or so of them and frankly? I can no longer keep up. Besides, communicating with another poster based upon their sex would be, I believe, “sexist”.
But by the way, when will Laura be answering my query? Any guess, J.D.?
Actually Gramsci naturalizes hetero sexual monogamy, and holds such relations as essential to the achievement of communist hegemony.’ He also criticized the Covid lockdowns and mandatory ‘vaccine’ campaign, alienating himself from the fake Left.
What are you talking about? Gramsci lived and died almost a century ago.
He’s 100% right and if you are not pushing back on our current cultural revolution, you are “they”. Can’t believe he’s from Chittenden county, or Vermont’s little Babylon.
Who are the “they”?
UN 3030 AGENDA: 17 GOALS – The 17 “Sustainable Development Goals” that make up UN Agenda 2030 essentially serves as the recipe for the upcoming technocratic new world order. The UN plans to have nations to continue to impose new laws and initiatives upon their citizens in effort to achieve these goals which they lump under
“sustainability”. Agenda 2030 is a ramp up from it’s predecessor Agenda 21, as it aims to control everything. Control of all Lands, Water, Food, Energy, Technology, Production, Information, Animals and all Humans through AI, 6G Blockchain and
RFID. The “Elites” are setting the stage to enslave humanity under the rule of the Antichrist.
1. NO POVERTY
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. All will receive digital Universal Basic Income & identity on the block chain. 2. Wealth distribution from rich to poor. 3. The elimination of Lower Class.
2. ZERO HUNGER
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: End hunger, achieve food security & improved nutrition and agriculture.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. More synthetic lab grown Frankenfood, GMOs & Nanotech that effects DNA. 2. Those with RFID chip will be able to buy food resulting in “Zero Hunger”
3. GOOD HEALTH & WELL BEING
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Ensure healthy lives & push wellbeing.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. More job production & propaganda for future plan-demics to alter DNA. 2. Biometric sensors to monitor the body. 3. Medical history will be on a blockchain.
4. QUALITY EDUCATION
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Dumb-Down education to indoctrinate. 2. Upskilling and Reskilling for a new lifelong learning GIG economy, as AI and robotics will replace many jobs.
5. GENDER EQUALITY
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Gender equality and empower women.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Replace human intelligence with AI to avoid “incorrect judgments”. 2. Promote radical feminism, the Trans-Sodomite Agenda & multiple genders. 3. Teach women to have less or no kids. 4. Abandon gender identity and promote trans-humanism as the new gender.
6. CLEAN WATER & SANITATION
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Ensure sustainable water management.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Control and monitor all water systems. 2. Metals, fluoride & Nanotech in water.
7. AFFORDABLE & CLEAN ENERGY
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Monitor all energy systems in homes and corporations in real time. 2. Cities and towns to institute blackouts to save energy.
8. DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Promote sustainable economic growth, productive employment & decent work
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Replace workers with robotics and AI. 2. Connect workers to VR headsets, as the metaverse will be the future of work.
9. INDUSTRY INNOVATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Build resilient infrastructure, promote industrialization and innovation.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: Use robotics and AI to fully automate infrastructural projects and innovation making people useless in the industries.
10. REDUCED INEQUALITIES
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Reduce inequality within countries.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Bring developed countries down to near poverty levels, while raising poor nations slightly above poverty level. 2. Set up short term GIG jobs in a race to the bottom economy.
11. SUSTAINABLE CITIES & COMMUNITIES
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Make cities safe & sustainable.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Move everyone into smart cities with a social credit score system. 2. Everything connected via Blockchain, 5G, 6G, IOT, IOB & AI.
3. Constant surveillance and gun control.
12. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Food & Water are ration based off of social credit score. 2. Punish those that throw away food. 3. Consumption of Frankenfoods & GMOs
13. CLIMATE ACTION
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Take urgent action on climate.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Create a circular economy. 2. Both natural and man made disasters to be blamed on climate change, thus keeping draconian measures in place, 3. Carbon Footprint Taxes
14. LIFE BELOW WATER
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Monitor and restrict access to the open seas, lakes and rivers with sensors and satellites and punish those found guilty. 2. Feed people genetically modified farm bred and lab grown fish.
15. LIFE ON LAND
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Protect restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystem.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Force people off of rural lands, ranches, forests and farms into smart cities. 2. Restrict and minimize travel to natural land habitats and forests.
16. PEACE – JUSTICE & STRONG INSTITUTIONS
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Promote peaceful societies and inclusive institutions for sustainable development.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: 1. Only those with RFID chip and a digital ID Passport with bio metric data on a blockchain can be a part of the peaceful society. 2. Social credits will be used to get the population to obey the New World Order and punish unwanted behavior. Those who do not comply will be imprisoned or have all benefits on the blockchain turned off.
17. PARTNERSHIPS & GOALS
WHAT WE ARE TOLD: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize global partnerships for sustainability.
WHAT IT REALLY MEANS: In order to implement all 17 SDG’s and maintain global partnerships for the goals, a number of key technologies need to be further pushed on society, such as; CDBC, blockchain technology, CRSPR gene editing, AI monitoring sensors, AI and bio metric facial recognition cameras, 5G, 6G, Smart Cities, RFID Chips, IOT, IOB, robotics, etc., to fully control the world.
ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT – One-unit monetary system, under permanent non-elected hereditary oligarchrist’s who self-select from among their numbers as it was in the Middle Ages. In this One World entity population will be limited by the number of children per family, diseases, wars and famines until one billion people that are useful to the ruling class, in areas that will be clearly and strictly defined, remain as the total world population. There will be no middle class, only rulers and servants. All laws will be uniform under a legal system of World Courts practicing the same unified codes of laws, backed up by a One World government police force, One World unified military to enforce all laws in all former countries where no natural boundaries shall exist. The system will be on the basis os a welfare state; those who are obedient and subservient to the One World Government will be rewarded with the means to live; those who are rebellious will simply be starved to death or be declared outlaws, thus a target for anyone who wishes to kill them. Privately owned firearms or weapons of any kind will be strictly prohibited.
…And the world’s few evil people have little power without the help of the world’s many stupid people. As a result, stupidly is a far greater threat than evil – Gurwinder Bhogal
Thank you for such a great summation.
Excellent James, and thanks!
By the way, whatever could have happened to Laura Sibilia?? Perhaps as a dedicated state representative, she is busy helping to install Tampon machines in the school public bathrooms of her districts or taking her own children, should she have any, to her local library for a nice Drag Queen Story Hour.
Laura, wherever you are – it appears you are out of your league…..we realize VDC, as a free press, is threatening to you & your leftist buds in Montpelier, but coming on here unprepared for battle amidst a group of intelligent and quick-witted conservatives, might not be the best decision you’ve made for yourself.
I SO appreciate that free speech is still alive and well at VDC!
Thank you Guy!
HJE: I’m all for prosperity, just not your version of it. More than likely, at least 50% of the people who post here or their familys will eventually need the social programs they seek to abolish. When that happens, “Let ’em eat cake?”
Looking forward to more of your smug, condescending, know-it-all barbs.
What “version” of prosperity or a somewhat typical “American success story” do you dig precisely?
I have no idea what you are referencing. No one in this conversation spoke about abolishing social programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, heating and food assistance. What we are talking about is transforming America from a capitalist, free market system to a neo-socialist or democratic socialist system governed by ESG and a high tech surveillance state, as mandated by an international, non-elected entity, the UN. I believe you are an intelligent person, but this has escaped your understanding or are you intentionally misrepresenting people’s concerns.
Pretty sure it’s the latter; always is.
Ms. Sabilia,
To ever so slightly modify a quote from one of the greatest philosophers of ALL TIME, POGO: “We have met the enemy and they is YOU”
Grammatically incorrect, yes, but if the shoe fits, we’ll help you to put it on!
It appears the folks on this site definitely have your number, and then some, so a sincere thank you for stirring a hornet’s nest and giving us a good chuckle at your “come downance”.
Re: HJE, I’m all for prosperity….”
I almost missed this quip.
For some it’s always an all or nothing proposition. I recall debating with a philosophy professor in college when he said a libertarian free-market economy was tantamount to anarchy. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
The point is that Medicare, Social Security, and numerous other social programs are but one way to provide a service to a group of people. Letting some ‘eat cake’, as it were, is another. And to the unimaginative, those are the only choices.
What version of prosperity do I espouse? It matters not. Anything I say will be interpreted by some as being a smug, condescending, know-it-all barb.
The irony in JD’s remarks is that, even when offered a constructive observation on how he can, indeed, pay lower taxes, he deemed it to be a ‘kiss and make up day’ on one hand, and a ‘smug’ and ‘insulting’ remark in the waiting on the other.
Of course, JD will surely then say – well, if you’re so smart, what other alternatives to established social programs are there – other than eating cake?
Well, JD, the point is that I’m smart enough, at least, to know that in a free-market economy I can’t possibly know how many alternatives there are because one size never fits all. I’m also smart enough to realize that those who adhere to a one-size-fits all methodology have every right to think that way – and to associate with those who think similarly. But I know too that you can’t force me to adhere to your sensibilities any more than I can force you to adhere to mine.
If you find my self-determination to be offensive to your liberty and freedom, that’s your right. And it should speak volumes to you on how I interpret the self-righteous indignation you assign to my liberty and freedom.
In closing, Milton Friedman, I think, describes free markets as well as anyone, and I hope everyone takes the time to read his points of view.
Here is one of his most prescient observations.
“The key insight of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations is misleadingly simple: if an exchange between two parties is voluntary, it will not take place unless both believe they will benefit from it. Most economic fallacies derive from the neglect of this simple insight, from the tendency to assume that there is a fixed pie, that one party can gain only at the expense of another.”
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/5001.Milton_Friedman
On the other hand, if anyone doesn’t want to read Friedman….don’t. And if you find my graciousness in respecting your choices to be ‘smug’ and ‘insulting’, that’s your problem. Don’t expect me to forego my choices to satiate your misgivings. That’s not going to happen.
Again, Friedman addresses this issue as well as anyone does.
“The great virtue of a free market system is that it does not care what color people are; it does not care what their religion is; it only cares whether they can produce something you want to buy. It is the most effective system we have discovered to enable people who hate one another, to deal with one another, and help one another.”