Lessons learned in Communism

In 1956, Soviet Premier Khrushchev proclaimed that our children and grandchildren would live under communism. He said it would happen without military conflict, but by people gradually accepting more and more socialism. Today we’re increasing American’s dependency on ever-bigger government.

We allow exponential increases in national debt and deficits. We’ve just re-elected a leader proven to be a strong advocate of socialism and lesser advocate of constitutional founding principles. Now as we approach Thanksgiving and continue to expand experiments in socialism, it’s useful to remember a lesson from the pilgrims of Plymouth Colony (that is not being taught in most American history classes).

The first successful European settlers in America, led by William Bradford initially set up a commune system for planting, growing, and harvesting where all were expected to work common land according to their abilities and receive food according to their needs. Before long, human nature and lack of personal responsibility led to people faking illness or injury and working at less than full capability, while they received the same food as more productive workers. This led to internal strife and famine. It was only when Gov. Bradford assigned family plots and allowed each family to plant, grow and harvest what they produced that results changed. Hard work, individual responsibility and some help from friendly natives changed the colony from famine to fortune, leading to our first Thanksgiving.

The lesson for us is that socialism and communism may work at the family level, but for nations to prosper economically, principles of individual responsibility, hard work and competition must be retained. Be thankful for our still-great country but don’t forget lessons from our history and of countries, which have already taken the misguided national journey we find ourselves on today.

Richard Eichler