Nationalization has never worked. Some may point to China as an example of socialist and communist principles being successful, but they have benefited from the sheer mass of their production and population—not to mention currency manipulation and intellectual property theft—to prop up their failed economic ideology. It cannot be duplicated and will not last for much longer. In fact, the coronavirus crisis may be enough to sink China’s economic future now.
Then, there’s Venezuela. This should be the poster-child for how to take a rich and vibrant nation and decimate its wealth as well as its citizens through nationalization and socialistic principles.
Venezuela Timeline:
* 1992: Became the 3rd richest country in the Hemisphere
* 1997 Became the 2nd largest purchaser of the F150
* 2001: Voted for Socialist President “Income Inequality”
* 2004: Private Healthcare is completely socialized
* 2009: Socialist ban private ownership of guns
* 2012: Bernie Sanders praises their “American Dream”
* 2014: Opposition leaders are imprisoned
* 2016: Food/healthcare shortages become widespread
* 2017: Constitution and elections are suspended
* 2019: Unarmed citizens are massacred by governmentIt only took one generation of socialist/leftist leadership to destroy this country.
Unfortunately, there are many who see it not as a warning but a model to be adopted in America with a few tweaks made to it that will allegedly save us from their fate. One such person who believes this is Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant to call for “nationalizing” Amazon. The video is long but worthwhile to watch what the future will bring.
It’s a standard argument for “radical” progressives. They establish a boogeyman, usually the rich, and blame them for all of the problems faced by average Americans. It’s an easy sales pitch, especially during a crisis like the coronavirus pandemic, because people are susceptible to believing rhetoric that barely touches on their sense of logic. Of course it’s the rich who are causing all of their problems and yes, a nationalized Amazon makes sense, right?
Digging beneath the surface reveals the reality of dangerous ideals like Sawant’s. Even if we dismiss the fact that nationalization has taken down empires and small countries alike for centuries, the notion doesn’t even pass the logic test. If the so-called “mega rich” and the corporations they control are targeted, they will not drive the innovation and entrepreneurship that has helped make this nation great. With no incentive to succeed, the people will soon be owners of companies that are no longer able to operate.
Her ideas are romantic in a way. They appeal to the belief that a democratic system is ideal at all levels, even in private industry. But invariably we’ve seen through history that progressive attempts to mandate the social good are far less effective at achieving their goals than the “selfish” notions of personal responsibility and individualism.
When Americans are unleashed to do what they can without interference, we excel. When government steps in and tries to do things better, they fail miserably. Amazon is Amazon because of the people who built and now operate it. Nationalizing it and allow democratic public ownership would be its death knell.
Left Wing “radicals” like Kshama Sawant are not selling functioning ideas that benefit the people. They’re promoting a pathway to the Marxist “utopia” they envision as their endgame.
Meanwhile, the leftist sheep that buy into it would be the first sacrifices if their goals are ever achieved.
How to pronounce Kshama Sawant’s name:
Note: If she meets presidential candidate Joe Biden, she might want to tell him “Please don’t finger the Shama!”
Breaking Up Amazon Doesn’t Go Far Enough—We Must Put It Under Public Control