Socialism in U.S. and Hudson

Regular readers of OTBL are served an unusual mixture of economic theory, political philosophy and local news. Most Americans know next to nothing of Von Mises, Molinari or Hayek. A daily visit here is like enrolling in a college course called “Market economics vs. Socialism”. As one reads and learns more about this clash of ideologies in history, the flow of current political events is seen increasingly as a battle between the individual and the collective, between the market economy and the planned economy. The protests in France this month are an example. The French distrust free market economic policies. They cling to a democratic socialism that has paralyzed their country. Almost 150 years later, they still reject Molinari’s argument.

Socialism in the U.S. continues to attract converts, though most American socialists today don’t think of themselves as socialists. In fact they recoil from the label just as they now recoil from being called liberal. Currently the preferred self-label is “progressive”. These political leanings are alive and well. Small “s” socialists exist in all the major American political parties to varying degrees. Writing in the “progressive” magazine The Nation this month, professor Ronald Aronson writes that “We Need More Socialism“.

Aronson is proud to be a socialist just like local Democrat activist Dan Bruch is proud to be a Liberal. His “Live Liberal” philosophy is socialism. As a parish pastor in Hudson he admitted to being a Marxist at heart. Nothing has changed. Just the labels.

Conservative, free market, individualists should take notice that the small “s” socialists will be operating through the Democrat Party to acheive their aims. In a two party system it’s inevitable that one of the parties would play this role. On the other side, defenders of free enterprise, free markets and choice will fight the creep of socialism on many fronts. The Republican Party, despite the presence of a few socialists, will be the mainstay of the defense. Like it or not that is the case.

Some feel that local “non-partisan” elections should be somehow “non-political” as well. “Why can’t we just get along”. “Let’s just elect the ‘best’ candidate for the job” “I’m so tired of conflict, I don’t really care who wins”. This is entirely mistaken. The frontlines in the battle against socialism are found in city hall and school board elections. In some ways it is the purest form of ideological battle since any voter can meet the candidates personally, ask them probing questions, and influence the outcome. A vote for James Mayer for mayor is a vote for socialism. A vote for Ahlin, Bell, Holland or Wyeth for school board is a vote for socialism. It is your right to cast that vote. Go ahead. Raise your taxes. Vote a straight socialist ticket on Tuesday. Professor Aronson will be proud of you.

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