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by Gregory Thayer, MBA
Open questions for Vermont’s Democatic Socialist of America members. Where’s Bernie…
Where has Socialism/Communism ever worked? Do you realize that the very smartphone in your hands right now is only because of Free-Market Capitalism competition? Your website declares you want to get rid of the Presidency, the U.S. Senate, Homeland Security and ICE, State and local Law Enforcement, private businesses, prisons, our United States Constitution. What world will we live in with your ideas? Please answer my simple questions.
America was founded on the principles of individual liberty, private property, limited government, and free enterprise. These ideals, embodied in the Declaration of Independence and protected by the U.S. Constitution, have helped make the United States one of the world’s most prosperous and innovative nations. The freedom to start a business, own property, invest, and pursue opportunity has lifted millions of Americans into the middle class and created an economy that has become the envy of much of the world.
Today, many Conservatives believe those principles face growing challenges. Organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America advocate for significantly expanding the role of government in health care, housing, education, labor policy, and other areas of the economy. Supporters argue these policies would create a fairer society and reduce inequality. Critics contend they would move the United States away from free-market capitalism toward greater government control over economic life.
From a conservative perspective, history offers important lessons. Countries that adopted centrally planned socialist systems—including the former Soviet Union, Mao-era China, Cuba, and Venezuela—experienced severe economic hardship, shortages, and restrictions on political and economic freedoms. While supporters of democratic socialism often distinguish their proposals from those systems and point to Nordic countries as examples of combining capitalism with robust social programs, conservatives argue that even those nations rely fundamentally on market economies and private enterprise rather than traditional socialism.
Many conservatives also express concern that some progressive political movements seek to reinterpret constitutional principles through expanded federal authority, increased regulation, and a larger administrative state. They argue these trends weaken federalism, reduce individual responsibility, and shift decision-making away from citizens and local communities. Others disagree, arguing that these changes are consistent with constitutional government and are intended to address modern social and economic challenges.
In Vermont, these debates are especially visible. Critics of current state policies argue that high taxes, extensive regulation, health insurance mandates, and expanding government programs have increased the cost of living, discouraged business investment, and made it more difficult for young families and entrepreneurs to remain in the state. They believe Vermont should reduce taxes, encourage competition, streamline regulations, and create a stronger environment for economic growth.
Capitalism is not perfect. It requires the rule of law, honest competition, and accountability. But conservatives maintain that history has shown free markets consistently produce greater prosperity, innovation, and opportunity than economies where government exercises broad control over production and investment.
Ultimately, the question facing Vermont and America is not whether government has a role—it clearly does. The question is how large that role should be. Those who favor limited government believe America’s continued success depends on preserving Constitutional liberties, protecting private property, encouraging entrepreneurship, and allowing free markets—not government—to remain the primary engine of economic opportunity.
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Categories: Opinion
In Socialist nations that at least lasted more than a single election cycle, they realized that, in order to make the system work, it needed to be a CLOSED system. “Parasites” and less-productive groups are out. Minorities are integrated into the majority or they are eliminated, due to the NEED for equality in the political system meaning that diversity has to die. https://redflagspress.org/ has a ton on these points online.
Greg Thayer, your excellent synopsis is far too complicated for the average leftist to comprehend. Maybe a good way for liberals to grasp these concepts is to use the analogy of the commune, and the reason they dont really exist anymore. Some people want to join a commune and be the philosopher. While everyone else is out chopping firewood, weeding the fields or patching the barn roof, the philosopher wants to smoke weed and think deep thoughts while watching the clouds drift by, and their contribution to the commune will be to share those deep thoughts with everyone in the evening. Someone dares to suggest that you can’t eat someone else’s deep thoughts, so eventually the commune develops an accountability system where you are awarded points for how useful you are to the group as a whole, and you use those points to barter for your essential needs. Voila, you have currency and capitalism and the bum who does nothing beyond thinking and sharing the deep thoughts has to move on to another commune due to hunger. Those who embrace the socialist lifestyle can look up the history of their hero, Bernie Sanders and realize that is roughly the scenario that happened to him in his early days in Vermont. The commune that he moved on to was being in elected office. The only accountability he has to worry about is convincing a majority of voters to embrace his “deep thoughts”.
I would remind Mr. Thayer that the words “capitalism” and “free enterprise” do not appear in the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution. Many of our institutions are already “socialized”. Police and fire departments, electric companies, and water departments.
As Mr. Thayer noted, ” Capitalism is not perfect. It requires the rule of law, honest competition, and accountability.” That is the problem today as through mergers and lobbyist, the giant corporations are getting even bigger. Let us not forget: (1) Many of the largest companies, such as the oil companies, get government subsidies and tax breaks. (2) When the big corporations start to fall apart, for example the auto industry, they run to the government for bailouts.
Well said John. One only needs to look Elon Musk. His car company was only successful because of government subsidies. The same can be said about his space company. Yet people think he is a hero when he took a chainsaw to the US government. It is the US government that gave him his wealth and opportunities.
Mark, there is a difference between subsides like the Minneapolis Learing Centers received and Government contracts. Speaking of Musk, which Democrat enthusiast perfected the electric car which was loved worldwide until he became friends of DJT and refused to patent any of the technology, who was able to perfect a reusable spacecraft dreamed of since 1950’s again not patenting, which one was able to bring internet service via satellite to remote locations and undeveloped Countries across the globe, Democrat billionaire supporter, George Soros? rescue US NASA astronauts when the fully Government spacecraft delivering relief crew malfunctioned and was deemed unsafe to use, which Democrat offered the UN Billions of dollars (believe the number was $30B) as a gift to help lesson world hunger among children, this was rebuked by UN due to the only stipulation of the gift, that the accounting on the expenditures be a made public consistently, like the African American Elon Musk did?
If you mean Trump’s capitalism where he, his family and friends make billions off the presidency and the American people, then no thanks. Never has there been a more corrupt president in the history of the USA
A list should be made out one column the bad things Trump has done and the adjacent column the good accomplishments trump has done. Anyone could add to either for black and white comparisons. Also along side the items put a numerical ranking 1-10, 10 being the best.
There’s been too much Trump is bad and little that Trump has done positively. The same should be done with Obama and Biden. I’m tired reading this guy or that guy was BAD. Mark’s comment triggered this comment. I and suspect others like to see FACTS. This will also highlight who’s Liberal or Conservative.
Perhaps VDC could have asuch a list available at any time to add data and rankings.
More like the documented in Congress Biden Crime Family
Here you go, Tom, courtesy of Jeff Childers (VT GOP take note…)
🔥 Trump 2.0 Accomplishments (as of mid-July 2026) 🔥
USAID and the “Institute for Peace” closed
Negative net migration for the first time in 50 years
2.6 million+ illegal aliens removed (including 650,000 arrests and 400,000 convicted criminals) + 2 million self-deportations induced by ending incentives
Fentanyl trafficking crushed 56%+; overdose deaths down 21% monthly since inauguration
Laken Riley Act signed and aggressively enforced
Catch-and-release ended (99.9% drop); zero releases into the U.S. for eight straight months
Record-low border encounters; Darién Gap migration cut 99%
Largest one-year homicide drop in U.S. history; violent crime (rapes, robberies, assaults) down significantly
Targeted crime operations in major blue cities delivering record-low murders in several metros
Law enforcement officer deaths down 25%
Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and other cartels dismantled; international drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations
Antifa designated a domestic terrorist organization
Gas under $3/gallon in 43 states; record U.S. energy production and exports at all-time highs
654,000+ new private-sector jobs (all net gains to native-born Americans); 671,000+ jobs added since January 2025
4.3% GDP growth in Q3 2025; largest blue-collar wage growth in 60 years; real earnings up ~$1,100 annually
Inflation tamed to ~2.4% core CPI (down ~70% from Biden peak)
One Big Beautiful Bill passed (July 2025) — making 2017 tax cuts permanent, No Tax on Tips, Trump Accounts for newborns, senior deductions
$5T+ in deregulation savings + $215 billion in government efficiency cuts ($1,335 per taxpayer)
$10T+ in reshored/domestic investments secured
Trade deficit at lowest level since 2009; $300 billion+ in tariff revenues collected; Predatory global tariffs shifted in the US’s favor for the first time in modern history
Stock market record highs
Gaza ceasefire + hostage release secured; 12-Day War (Israel-Iran) ended; multiple additional peace deals/accords (Armenia-Azerbaijan, India-Pakistan, DRC-Rwanda, Cambodia-Thailand, Kosovo-Serbia, Egypt-Ethiopia)
Iran’s nuclear capability destroyed + maximum pressure campaign (450+ sanctions designations)
NATO allies leaping toward 5% GDP defense spending
OPEC dismantling
85+ detained Americans released; Abraham Accords expanded
Strikes on Houthis, Iranian assets, and narcoterrorist vessels; Nicolás Maduro captured
South America shifts rightwards; Europe shifts rightwards
Record military recruitment goals met; largest military investment in decades with AI integration; F-47 sixth-generation fighter unveiled
VA backlog reduced 60%; 3 million disability claims processed; 51,936 homeless veterans housed; benefits restored for vaccine-mandate discharges
Transgender enlistment barred; DEI eliminated across military and federal agencies
Over 269 executive orders signed in the term (230 in first year alone — highest first-year total since FDR); 81 memoranda + 158 proclamations
DOGE-driven bureaucracy cuts; IRS IT budget savings of $2B; wasteful contracts eliminated; federal retirement system automated and brought out of a literal coal mine
DEI discrimination banned in federal contracting and agencies; race-based hiring ended
DEI outlawed for college admissions; colleges’ patent revenue shared with taxpayers who funded it
Federal ‘boards’ and ‘commissions’ fired and replaced with conservatives
Washington, DC beautified; reflecting pool refinished
Gender ideology extremism curbed in schools, medicine, and government (minors protected from chemical/surgical procedures); girls’ sports protected from creeps
MAHA reforms launched: Presidential Commission established; Most Favored Nation drug pricing with 16+ major pharma companies; 8 artificial food dyes phased out (40%+ industry compliance); Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act; marijuana reclassified to Schedule III; childhood vaccine schedule revised from 72 to 11 consensus shots; expanded IVF access; $50M autism initiative; new whole-foods dietary guidelines
Massive firings at CDC, FDA, NIH of sold-out scientists; Ralph Baric and EcoHealth debarred; even some arrests
Withdrew from WHO
Crypto regulatory framework via GENIUS Act; Strategic Bitcoin Reserve created; Operation Choke Point 2.0 ended
Sanctuary city funding cuts implemented
Election integrity and citizenship verification measures expanded nationwide; USPS program pending; SAVE Act drafted and run at Congress several times now
Energy dominance unleashed: National Energy Emergency declared; 6,000+ drilling permits approved (55% increase); 13.1 million acres opened for coal leasing; record LNG exports (>100 million tons); nuclear projects advancing toward online status; major energy export deals ($100B South Korea, $200B Japan); Paris Agreement withdrawal
US becomes a net oil exporter for the first time in history.
Trump Accounts launched for newborns with federal seed funding + corporate matching
Farmer aid secured; skilled trades and domestic manufacturing (semiconductors, autos, heavy equipment) expanded
Over 100,000 fraudulent visas revoked; 275,000 illegal aliens removed from Social Security rolls; benefits terminated for 1.4 million illegal aliens; H1-B crackdowns and $100,000 application fees
62,000+ missing migrant children rescued; Alien Enemies Act invoked against gangs
Vice-president-led welfare fraud task force recovering billions and making mass arrests
$2B sent to rebuild Western North Carolina
Massive AI, space, and nuclear investment projects
John Bolton convicted. James Comey arrested. John Brennan under investigation (probably facing a grand jury).
RussiaGate grand jury set up and running in Florida.
DOJ/ODNI seized Fulton County 2020 ballots.
Thank you Mr Austin. This should be a reply to every Trump bashing liberal. Now for a list by them to show how bad Trump has been, if they can produce one. They have the opportunity herein to expose. But the usual Liberal hate statement made by TDS illustrates the intelligence., For example: XXXXXXX TRUMP #$@!!&*?? AND HE $%%#&&&^ AND HIS WIFE AND FAMILY %$&*&#%% THEY ARE ALL COMMUNISTS. My position is, IF SO TELL ME AND OTHERS WHY. But they can’t. Saul Alinsky liberal talking. Liberals have their heads in the sand exposing their butts, a good target.
I’m copying your comment Tyler. Time was spent assembling this. Now Mark Milazzo it’s your turn to produce. Show me your world.
Tom,
It’s more for the black pilling “conservatives“ who say they don’t care to vote in the mid-terms and neither should anyone else…., some of whom infest these comments.
Socialism no matter what form it comes in has murdered people in the millions.
Soviet Union. Between 1929 & 1953 20 million Russians murdered.
Communist China disarms its citizens. Between 1948 & 1952 20 million Chinese murdered. However, in China they believe it’s more like 100 million murdered.
Germany’s National Socialism (Nazis) disarms its citizens. Between 1939 & 1945 over 13 million Jews and other nationalities murdered.
Another great article! This is exactly what we need to do: explain the principles.
I have just one thing I would like to point out: our modern labels for political ideologies are not correct. The Americanism which you describe is a Liberal form of government. Since the foundation of the USA, The whole world over has marvelled at our individual freedoms and liberties.
Those on the left are not really liberal, they are authoritarian collectivists who are pushing towards the same form of repressive government that people flee from.
We should be clear to make the distinction that liberals wishing for liberty are friends, leftists supporting socialism are not.
John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Say what you want, but you can’t change the facts. When we stop electing people without Christian beliefs or moral character you are giving your government away to crooks and thieves. We’re reaping what we’ve sown for the last 50 years.
I agree with Kelsey Grammer who starred in “Young Washington” that our educational institutions are remiss in overlooking early American History. The genius of the founding fathers is lost on our young and many of advancing years. The same is true of world history. This lack of knowledge and understanding goes a long way in explaining why our up and coming generations are so easily swayed by the promises of the Democratic Socialist Party and its Marxist politics, Communist Government.
The rhetoric and propaganda constantly regurgitated by the legacy press reinforces the falsehoods promoted by all those condemning our history and world history. Without knowledge and understanding of what has come before, and why it came to be, there can be no critical thinking of the promises being made and promoted.