The following is another excerpt from “Bert and I,” a collection of Down East stories collected and written down by Marshall Dodge and Bob Bryn in the 1950s and 1960s. With all the blather from self-appointed political explainers about Bernie Sanders’ Presidential bid as a Democratic Socialist, I thought it might be useful to hear the two crusty old Mainers debate the pros and cons of socialism.
Bert and I were down at the dock getting the Bluebird reading for another day’s fishing, and I happened to mention that last week I’d gone over to Bangor to hear Norman Thomas speak about socialism.
“In socialism,” I sez to Bert, “everybody shares things.”
“Well, that sounds neighborly,” sez Bert. “You mean if you had two barns, you’d give me one of them?”
“Ayup,” I sez. “If I had two barns, I’ve give you one of them.”
“And if you had two hayricks, you’d give me one of them?”
“Durn tootin’,” I sez. “If I had two hayricks, I’d give you one of them.”
“And if you had two hogs, you’d give me one of them?”
“Damn you, Bert,” sez I. “You know I got two hogs.”