Copacabana

Self-imposed disillusionment

I used to work with a woman who, after I told her that one reason my relationship with a former boyfriend would never have worked is because he was a believer in socialism as a viable form of government, decided that there was something wrong with me because, as she said, "I can get behind that Socialism idea."

Dear Lord.

I always find it amusing when people born and raised with the benefits of a free society begin spouting off about the evils of the capitalism/democracy axis and somehow, and I really don't know how they manage it, romanticize a form of government that has produced some of the most bloody tyrants in history.

And then it occurs to me -- almost every situation I've been in where folks talk socialism as a utopian ideal, there is a propensity for these same people to deal with dissent by isolating, disenfranchising and otherwise slandering anyone with an opposing opinion. Sending them to a work camp in Siberia, as it were.

This woman, when she discovered we had opposing opinions, managed to surreptitiously spark a campaign to have me fired. She did not succeed.

You see, I have always blamed my disillusionment on these people, saying that they promote one thing publicly but believe another privately. But the truth is, I've been very naive. I have always had the wrong idea. I believed that these folks believe in this ridiculous form of government because they care about the good of society. Hence the name "socialism."

But the hard truth, and the thing I've only recently come to accept, is that these people make no such claims. I imposed their love of the common man on them. They have no such love. They are elitist and tend to believe in ruling by the elite class. This is all clearly spelled out in the socialist credo; I'm not sure where I got the idea that these folks cared for people en masse.

Debate and dissent breed a democratic society. Our founders in this country had radically opposing views and fought and died for their various beliefs. But they all stood firm on one basic precept -- their right to have opposing beliefs. This, I believe, is the true strength of the democratic society. And I'll work for this idea. Every time. Because, I think it might, in the long run, in this life or the next, be the right thing to do.

And the socialists can shake their heads at me with false pity and live in their disillusionment and deceit (did I mention how much disingenuousness is required to be part of the ruling elite. I've seen it in action...). I think I might rather be shaped and led to make decisions based on the ringing of my soul rather than by the dagger in an elitist's eye.

posted by Lola @ 9:07 AM