Conservatists invoke Lenin in promotion of SS privatization

[katinmn]

I saw this linked from the Rawstory homepage http://www.rawstory.com.
It's a Cato report but doesn't say where it came from and it gives no date, but it's interesting reading. Talks about fractionalizing the opposition to privatization. They ARE a cult. A dangerous one. http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj3n2/cj3n2-11.pdf

[despairing optimist]

1. Not surprising, since the Republicans called it socialism 70 years ago

I wonder if the argument stinks of mothballs. It hasn't been out for an airing in generations. There must be links to the GOP's original comments on SS on the Web somewhere.

[CindyDale]

2. This proves that these "Leninists" [LOL] are actively trying to destroy

it and turn the younger generation against the older.

How Christian of them!

[CindyDale]

3. It would make for some good headlines

e.g.,

Right Wing Vows to Destroy Social Security with Communist Plans!

[countbad]

4. Liberty Bolesheviks

The major difference between the Bolsheviks and other democratic socialist/communists of the 2nd International was how they would achieve "communism". The democratic socialists believed that communsim should be achieved through the democratic process; the Bolsheviks believed that Communsim could only be achieved through violent struggle. Both believed in the eventual achievement of a "communist utopia" that was both democratic and free of capitalism. They just had different ideas on how to get there.

Now isnt it a little frightening that the current Republican Party believes that democracy should be spread through force of arms!!! (However, I doubt there intentions on spreading democracy are genuine) Is this any different then the Bolsheviks?

Jefferson must be spinning in his grave.

[newyawker99]

6. Hi countbad!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Toucano]

5. That is an amazing find.

Thank you for sharing it.

But doesn't it say it came from here:

"Cato Journal, vol. 3, no.2 (Fall 1983). copyright © Cato Institute. All rights reserved. Stuart Butler is director of domestic policy studies and Peter Cermanis is a policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, washio~ton,D.C. 20002,"

Maybe I've misinterpreted a footnote.

[katinmn]

7. That's one of several references for the paper.

It looks like the cover page is missing which would say when it was published and who it was for.

But, I agree. It's a good find and adds to our body of knowledge about these people who want to re-create America into something really ugly.

[Toucano]

8. Kick

This is too good to miss!

[Toucano]

9. Another kick.

I can't believe this isn't causing more discussion.

I find it fascinating, but hardly know where to begin. :nopity:

[Toucano]

10. Okay, maybe this will help.

Quote from the link:

"First, we must recognize that there is a firm coalition behind the
present Social Security system, and that this coalition has been very
effective in winning political concessions for many years. Before
Social Security can be reformed, we must begin to divide this coalition
and cast doubt on the picture of reality it presents to the general
public."

<snip>

"According to John Goodman, the payroll-tax reduction available to
those who contract out is carefully designed to be just large enough
to encourage enough workers to opt out (thereby reducing future
liabilities), while ensuring that these workers still provide considerable tax revenue to subsidize existing beneficiaries."

<snip>

Sounds fair. They're praising the British program which was not yet a complete failure as it is today.

Later...

"The first element consists of a campaign to achieve small legislative
changes that embellish the present IRA system, making it in practice
a small-scale private Social Security system that can supplement the
federal system. As part of this campaign, the natural constituency for
an enlarged IRA system must be identified and welded into a coalition
for political change. If these objectives are achieved, we will
meet the next financial crisis in Social Security with a private alternative ready in the wings—an alternative with which the public is
familiar and comfortable, and one that has the backing of a powerful
political force."

<snip>

Sounds a bit like class warfare, doesn't it? The "natural constituency" for an enlarged IRA system is who? Rich people?

[Stirk]

11. "modest changes in the law must be undertaken to demonstrate

the weaknesses of the existing system..."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but they seem to be saying that Social Security must be sabotaged in order to show how weak it is. This "Leninist Strategy" they talk about is not about "hastening the collapse", it's about creating a collapse.

This is a pretty damned shocking document.

[Toucano]

12. Yes, that's what I was getting at.

Sabotaged is the word that eluded me.

Thanks.

[Vladimir]

13. I don't get all this shock

so they are going to play dirty - play dirty back. Have the last 4 years taught us nothing?

Oh and if they seek to be like Lenin - all I can say is: they wish they could.

[NuttyFluffers]

14. proof that the spectrum loops back

go far right enough you suddenly appear 'on the other' side, but it is the other side through the looking glass. so there really is a method to loop through to the other side, you just have to go through an alternate reality.

either that or the truth is starting to break through their false reality and they are spinning furiously now, grasping at anything, to keep their insane world view together. balseraphs. demons so entrenched in lies that their lies and mad spinning of new ones is all they have. reality has an unpleasant way in shattering illusions -- let's see how much longer they have before they really start to lose it (as if using lenin's ideas wasn't cracking up enough!).