SOCIALISM
I agreed with every principle Bernie Sanders advanced during his presidential run, and I was sorry when he dropped out. But I wasn’t surprised. He was elected to the Senate as a Democratic Socialist, and the majority of Americans have always been leery of socialism, because it sounds like a sneakier form of communism. Karl Marx, in his “Communist Manifesto,” described the fundamental economic dynamic of communism as “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs,” and most Americans, even those who agree, abstractly, with the principle of sharing the wealth, dig in their heels when the wealth turns out to be theirs.
Bernie’s from Vermont, the most liberal of the New England states, and for an example of what I mean, I turn to Maine, which is as conservative as Vermont is liberal. Time for another “Bert And I” story.
I went over to Portland to hear Norman Thomas speak about socialism at the college there, and when I got back, I talked to Bert over the back fence about what I had learned.
“In socialism,” says I, “everybody shares everything with their neighbors.”
“Huh,” says Bert. “So you mean if you had two barns, you’ve give me one of them?”
“Ayup,” says I. “If I had two barns, I’d give you one of them.”
“And if you had two fishing smacks, you’d give me one of them?”
“That’s right,” says I, “If I had two fishing smacks, I’d give you one of them.”
“And if you had two bulls, you’d give me one of them?”
“Damn you, Bert, you know I got two bulls.”