by Ron Lawrence

DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) really is a communist plot. Anyone who is still not convinced should listen to this podcast, Korenizatsiya: Stalin’s Soviet DEI Program from James Lindsay.  James compares, in excruciating detail, today’s DEI initiative in the U.S. to Joseph Stalin’s, book, “Marxism and the National Question”, published in 1913. Stalin’s book is the definitive “communist plot”. Communism and DEI are identical in philosophy and execution. You can listen to this podcast at any time; but today, I hope to bring to mind things we probably already know about DEI and Communism. 

So, what’s wrong with a little “Communism”? Most people of my generation got some exposure to the evils of Communism when we were in school. It was not long after WWII, and the Cold War was looming. The Russian and Chinese Revolutions resulted in millions dead—dwarfing the Holocaust.  

These days, the question of “Communism” seems like an intellectual exercise. It has lost the emotional edge of surviving war, the air raid drills and hiding under our desks in our classrooms. Could Communism just be an alternate form of governance? (Dr. Seuss compared it to which side of the bread we butter.) Could it be every bit as good as our “Representative Republic” in the U.S.?  

In short, the answer is “NO”, and here is why… 

The Declaration of Independence frames the philosophy of our governance… and really, the philosophy of the entire Western world… 

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…” 

Our U.S. Constitution gets a lot of bashing these days (mostly due to DEI), but it outlines a government of 3 equal branches that are designed to check and balance each other. The aim is to limit the force of government in our lives. Our Constitution and the Bill of Rights clearly seek to recognize and preserve the rights of the individual.  

Some argue that we have fallen short of this ideal, and we have. We also paid an enormous price in our own Civil war to right a terrible wrong. We’re still working on it. But at the center of this philosophy is pride in oneself, a sense of unity in our equality, and at least an attempt to eliminate class. 

By contrast, the Russian Revolution and today’s DEI initiative seek to separate minority groups from the majority. They pit the “oppressed” against the “oppressors”. Rather than foster unity and affinity for all, the motivation is envy for what the majority has and hatred for having them. Stalin and Lenin pitted the “proletariat” (the laborers) against the “bourgeoisie” (the middle-class). That sounds an awful lot like “blacks” vs. “white supremacists”, or LGBTQIA+ against “Christians”, “Nationalists”, or “MAGA-types”. The words are different, but the intent is the same. To align minority groups in a loose confederation to oppose the majority. It is the classic “divide and conquer” strategy. The motives are hate and envy—rather than love and unity.

Some of the words used sound a lot like our own. There is a promise of “self-determination”, but only to a point: “You have a right to live by your own cultural standard”, but!… “you cannot go against ‘social democracy’—the very thing that promises your right to self-determination.” So, built into this promise is a limit… which makes it a lie. 

Communism (or “Social Democracy”, which was, indeed, Stalin’s term) has a built-in flaw: It promotes the promise of an equal share in the fruits of society. Doesn’t that sound great? The problem is that in order to ensure an equal share, you need a powerful arbiter to make sure that the shares are “equal”. Humans being what we are, those with the power to dole out wealth, generally do pretty well for themselves. So, there is a class system actually built-in to the notion of “Social Democracy”.  The promise is a deception that appeals to our sense of envy. 

This is precisely the intent when politicians in our current day cry out, “We need to get the rich to pay their fair share!” If our government were to take everything that some faceless rich person has, it will not result in a single penny added to your own pocket. These days, it would hardly put a dent in the national debt. But it flames the natural envy that people feel when they realize that others have more than they do. 

The first Amendment of our Bill of Rights affirms our right to free speech, freedom to assemble with those of like mind, and the freedom to worship as we see fit. I’m borrowing from my former church, but “freedom” is not something we can simply claim for ourselves. If we expect others to honor our freedom, then we must also honor theirs as well. This is essence of the golden rule. 

By contrast, DEI and Social Democracy do not allow the criticism of the oppressed. “How can you know the indignity of being black, or gay, or indigenous, if you have never lived it?” This philosophy depends on shame and frequently, violence, to curtail your speech and your actions. There is no respect for the “other” if you do not agree with the “proletariat”. 

The philosophy enshrined in our Constitution and representative republic recognizes the dignity and rights of the individual as central. Our republic focuses on equality and equal rights under the law. The concept of “freedom” is built on mutual respect and the golden rule. It cites the truth of the Bible as its root.  

Communism and DEI (i.e. “social justice”) use deception and envy to lure minorities into the trap of a ruling class. They are based on a lie and depend on the uneven treatment of groups to achieve a common outcome. They use shame and punishment to compel their subjects into submission. 

Do these sound like equally legitimate philosophies to you? Tell me, do you not feel the truth of this comparison in your gut? I pray that you will have the courage to stand up and say so—particularly when it comes to our schools. 

Ron Lawrence has lived in Jericho and Essex since childhood. The Lawrence family goes back generations in  Vermont. Ron has been active in Essex community projects, research, and school issues and is the current chair of the Essex Republicans, as well as a member of SPEAKVT.