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John Stossel: Socialism Almost Ruined Thanksgiving

(via TPM)

Comments (103)

  • CultureWarriors
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 10:18am

    History is full of examples of the failure of socialism. But beyond that, it should be obvious to anyone with half a brain why it is, it always has been, and will always be a failure. A philosophy that obviously can’t work is only worshiped by those with very little intellect and promoted by those who wish to enslave the masses. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

    Please remember the troops this holiday!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIoEUTqhYmA

    Report Post » CultureWarriors  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 7:56pm

      I agree, as you stated, those with very little intellect always support Socialism.

      Report Post »  
  • 5
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:38am

    For anyone who doesn’t know.

    1. The Pligrams lost 1/2 their people on the trip over.
    2. The first 3 years everyone worked the GARDEN and the Gov. picked who needed food.
    3. 1/2 the people died again.
    4. Then you got to keep what you grew and ‘Everyone worked’, even the lazy people or they wouldn’t get to eat so, everyone had more than enought.

    The 1st try and Socialism fail. Capitalisum worked and still does.

    THE END

    Report Post »  
  • Lydia
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:26am

    We have an excellent article about the tragedy of the commons on our website.
    http://nopom.info/articles/commons.html

    Anyone who thinks we can “all just get along” and “share and share alike” is at best idealistic and at worst delusional. If you’ve ever seen brothers and sisters squabble over “who gets the last piece” then you know that while it’s possible, it’s just not probable.

    Report Post » Lydia  
  • warner
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:22am

    Stossel nails it again! I don’t agree 100% with John on his Libertarian views but he usually makes a valid arguement. This artical on Thankgiving is spot on!

    Report Post »  
  • HumanDoing
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:20am

    Today I am spending my day my with my 83 year old father, I will be telling him how thankful I am to him for my life, and for the values he taught me through action and example. allowing me to learn and make mistakes, and never enabling me in my younger wild years. For all the lesson they learned from being raised through the tail end of depression. For making God a personal center without the preach, and allowing me to question and find my own keys to faith. I will remember today also to be thankful for my set of problems, as I can name so many people easily who would gladly trade their problems for mine. I will remember today what I have. Not the material things, but the things that have enriched my soul…. the persons who have touched my life, the lessons I have learned.

    God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
    The courage to change the things I can,
    and the wisdom to know the difference.

    I wish ya all a thankful day :)

    Report Post » HumanDoing  
  • ItsallaboutJesus
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:12am

    Just Thankful!

    Report Post »  
  • Dustyluv
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:06am

    LOSERS are thankful for my taxes. I will ONLY be thankful when they can’t get it anymore. If you don’t work, you don’t eat. Stop depending on me to feed you unless you are sick, old or retarded. If a man gets hungry enough he will work or turn to crime. If he turns to crime lock his sorry a@@ up and don’t let him out. That will be my Happy Thanksgiving…

    Report Post »  
  • SueDinNY
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:06am

    I don’t believe the pilgrims said “screw you widow and die”. We are talking about devout Christians here. The reason people died was the weather, the extreme conditions of making a home in the wilderness, and no antibiotics. Life was very hard. Mortality was very high in that period anyway. It had nothing to do with socialism OR free enterprise. Let’s get real here. Thank you, lord, for the Pilgrims, their deep religious views and their willingness to persist despite hardship for religious freedom. In my small town in Central New York there was also a significant Thanksgiving in the very early 1800′s. At the time Native Americans and settlers lived side by side and had a friendly relationship. One summer was unusually cold, so cold that crops failed and the Native Americans almost starved to death. They were kept alive by the generosity of the settlers who fed them. THAT is the way we all should treat our neighbors. Whether from the generosity of the Native Americans, or the settlers, we are all human beings and should do for the less fortunate in times of trouble. May God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

    Report Post »  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:58am

      The real Pilgrams were devout and Godly people and few it any were greedy. There were settlements of people from England who were not devout or Godly. The northern settlements around New York and Massachusetts were very devout. Living in New World settlements in the 1600′s was very tough to endure even so the Pilgrams were devout and benevolent to each other and to the native Americans.

      Report Post »  
  • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:02am

    To the left, the answer for the socialism talk is the sheer desperation they are showing. The end game is in play and they have only a limited amount of time to take action before the window will close. So the true colors are showing, the communist-socialists coming out, and now like a caged and wounded aniamil are at their most dangerous.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:09pm

      One of the negativies of this web site is that it allows socialist to engage in extreme propganda. These doomsayers use current events twisted to their agenda to convince us that all hope is lost politically and our only recourse is just accept socialism as inevitable. I refuse to buy their baloney, maybe the people on the two coast can’t figure it out but the rest of us are engaged in draining the swamp and vow not to cease until the bilge is gone.

      Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on November 26, 2010 at 7:12am

      @Bravehart..time to take your next pill

      Report Post »  
  • tower7femacamp
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:00am

    Speaking of socialism I was censored on John’s site
    he did a story about our fears and Fluoride Aspatame and Vaccines are
    Save so i tried to post a different view and was blocked. A doctor posted about
    the crazies being afraid of Fluoride and I asked him if he prescribed fluoride drops
    to infants ? IT WAS BLOCKED why ???? What are they afaid of ? After all John I’m just a crazy man .
    http://www.fluoride-history.de/chemicals.htm

    you may also wonder why MSG is in 90 % of our food
    http://preventdisease.com/home/tips100.shtml

    I wonder if John ever researched Agenda 21 population control ?

    Report Post » tower7femacamp  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on November 26, 2010 at 8:14am

      Your correct, Stossel is a fraud. Research has shown that poisons like Aspartame, fluoride, Monsanto engineered corn that is fed Agent Orange (Roundup) is in most of our food products. No wonder Americans are so obese and we have a Diabetic Pandemic. GE corn has been banned in most countries around the world for a reason. Watch Food Inc. to get the truth.

      Report Post »  
  • pblen
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:52am

    Just to set the history straight. It was Jamestown, the Virgina Experiment, that was the initial socialist colony not Plymouth.

    Report Post »  
  • nooffensebut
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:48am

    Wait…doesn’t that make pollution and global warming a socialist tragedy of the commons? Did I just metaphorically fart at the Thanksgiving Day dinner table?

    Report Post »  
  • Atilla
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:44am

    State capitalism, as China rewrites Communism, or whatever the ism other than the capitolistic system, that depends on centeralized control of industry and deminishes individualism as per the US Constitution, is all dangerous to the fundamental expression of freedom of thought and association.
    Collectivist mentality and responsibility is all the rage in institutions of alleged higher learning. In fact Universities are adopting the “collective” morality concept that destroys the root of the Christian concept of individual salvation. Welcome to the new world order as per Bush 41. Fools.

    Report Post »  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:31am

      Communism, Socialism or Collectivism … call it whatever you like, Its basically stealing from those who labor and illegally giving it to those who won’t. Giving something a high sounding Name doesn’t make it any less immoral!

      Report Post »  
  • woodydad
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:43am

    Rush tells this incomplete, almost true story of the first thanksgiving every year. But substantial pieces of the story are always left out because it doesn’t make capitalism look so wonderful. While I believe that capitalism is the best system we‘ve ever come up with it does have it’s flaws, namely us. Conveniently left out of this common conservative retelling of this story is the bit about how after they were each given their own plot of land to raise their own crops on they became EXTREMELY greedy, selfish, cold-hearted and truly unchristian in their hearts. Widows with children whose husbands had died from starvation were basically told, “screw you lady, I‘ve got my own and I’m making the most of it, you’re on your own”. It didn’t rain, not one single drop, until they were just days away from losing everything they were growing. Every single thing, and Total starvation that coming winter with absolutely no survivors this time.

    Their Ministers realized what was happening and called for a Three day fast. For 3 days they fasted, preached sermons on, and extolled the people about, their evil selfish and unchristian behavior. The people had an awakening, as Glenn says “A come to Jesus moment”, and changed their hearts and ways. Immediately at the end of the fast clouds came up and it started to rain, saving the crops and producing a bumper harvest. Inconvenient point not made by conservative talk show hosts: “Capitalism without morality (God) is greed (Evil). An important point I think Glenn would appreciate much more than the others as he’s been the first of them to realize that the moral aspect is more important than the conservative stand.

    Some other interesting and deleted points about the first thanksgiving are these. #1; that the indians that came brought some deer (3-4) and some turkeys which the pilgrims appreciated very much. Then they stated and became “the things that wouldn’t leave”until they had eaten up almost all the pilgrims surplus food from that summers bumper crop. Nearly sending them into yet another year of subsistence living. #2; The pilgrims themselves at the first thanksgiving had two plates apiece set at each of their places at the tables. The first plate was completely empty except for three kernels of corn (about the same size as popcorn kernels) to remind them of what their DAILY ration had been during the worst of it. First among the things they thanked God for that day was the three kernels of corn they had each day to survive on. It could’ve been only two. #3; The stories of the indians teaching the pilgrims how to grow food are just that, stories. The pilgrims already knew how to grow food, they’d been growing food in England for thousands of years. That’s why they were still around to come to America in 1620. This is just an example of how people will take a real original story like “How the indians grew their own food” and altered it to fit their own political agenda. I think the plate with the three corns would be a great thanksgiving tradition for us to have and practice today and in the future. It may again become very appropriate. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE. TAKE CARE AND MAY GOD BLESS.

    Report Post » woodydad  
    • Atilla
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:56am

      I think that the fertilization of crops as per Indian lore was the story of the help that the indiginous American gave to the English.
      Great thoughts on the necessity of the “voluntary” principle of sharing the harvests. It is a statisical fact that the conservative element in American culture gives far more to charity than the feelings flock. The IRS has those facts as a matter of record. I suggest that capitalism is a method of wealth “creation” and the people involved are no more greedy than John Kerry.

      Report Post »  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:23am

      Most villages have an idiot, some are greedy and some arn’t. However its my conviction that a Capitalist Idiot is always morally better than a Socialist Idiot…… just sayin…..Greed is wrong but Socialism is lying stealing and cheating.

      Report Post »  
    • TheGreyPiper
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 12:53pm

      Um, not so much, the Pilgrims themselves were not born farmers for one thing, and for another, growing things in New England is significantly different from growing things on Old England because of a different climate and different crops. Squanto definitely taught the English a few things and they may not have survived at all without th help of the Indians. BTW, I was raised in Plymouth and am somewhat familiar with the history.

      Report Post » TheGreyPiper  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:28am

    Socialism “What’s it good for“ ”absolutely nothing” except for the few elite. Look at Stalln, Mao, and all the rest of the Socialist countries. Everyone is the same except the elite. They never distribute their wealth. They will re-distribute your wealth, as much as they can. I haven’t notice Buffet, Gates, Sorass, and all the rest of them re-distributing their wealth except for their agendas to make more money. So if you look at it in one way, all the socialist elite are hypocrites. Because they don’t actually believe in Socialism except for everyone else.

    Report Post »  
  • mikenleeds
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:26am

    JOHN IS CORRECT ,Socialism WILL NEVER WORK BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WANT WORK AT ALL ,, THEY ARE ALL ABOUT YOU WORKING AND THEN THEY TAKE IT …..

    Report Post » mikenleeds  
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:22am

    Socialism is a FAILURE. It is destroying the EU and it will soon destroy America.

    Progressives would rather feel good than actually do good.

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
    • 13thGenerationAmerican
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:55am

      Actually the EU is Capitalistic and that is failing. Get your facts straight, will you.

      Report Post » 13thGenerationAmerican  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 11:19am

      Actually most of Europe is Socialist or communist. Don‘t worry about the facts 13th you wouldn’t know what to do with them if you had them!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 2:01pm

      BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 11:19am
      Actually most of Europe is Socialist or communist. Don‘t worry about the facts 13th you wouldn’t know what to do with them if you had them!!!!
      ________________________________________________________________
      Are you kidding me….Europe is Communist, You are so wrong on that statement that to even try to educate you would be futile. But it goes to show how poor our education system is. I think maybe you should go back to watching Jersey Shore and leave serious political dialogue to the adults. God Help America and the illiterate that is becoming a majority. Wowsa!!

      Report Post »  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 3:53pm

      @ zorro
      We all know your basically an Idiot and don’t know the difference between Socialism and communism. I”m actually wondering why a commninst like you isn’t living in Greece, Spain of some other wonderland in Europe.

      Report Post »  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 3:56pm

      @ zero
      What could an idiot like you possibly know about God or America??????

      Report Post »  
    • iamhungry
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 6:10pm

      @Braveheart, You’re an example of why Socrates only thought the well educated should be allowed to vote.

      Report Post »  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 7:25pm

      @ Hungry Are you going to defend Socialism like Zorros, Are you really going to defend a totally anti- American political system that has failed repeatedly and is the pathway( according to avowed communist) to full blown communism?? Zorro is a socalist and in all likely hood will never be able to overcome the total ignorance of those who’ve been indoctrinated with that posion. If your that stupid then all I can say to you is **** luck comrade commie!

      Report Post »  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:37pm

      I guess IamHungry is to stupid to defend Socialism or needs to go back to indoctrination school, you could just keep watching MSNBC or msm you’ll get there with their help

      Report Post »  
  • BobParker2003
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:21am

    Socialism = Starvation. Capitolism = Thanksgiving.

    Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:29am

      Wow..Deep!!

      Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:50am

      Selfishism is never good, that is what we have. Greed and Power and screw the little guy. Nice concept..Patriotism is what we need, from the top down.

      Report Post »  
    • BRAVEHEART
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 11:15am

      Benevolence for the poor and under priviledged comes from the Voluntary HAND of the People, not the
      IORN HAND of a Socialist of Communist Government. These pseudo political Saviors like Obama are not only robbing us of our money, they are taking our rightful place as patrons of the poor and needy.
      These liars glorify themselves as hero’s while robbing us of our labors and our position as true neighbors and friends of the needy. Who made these criminals hero’s??

      Report Post »  
  • ccmill
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:20am

    Rewriting history again. Sigh.
    Happy Thanksgiving.

    Report Post »  
  • uncleherbert
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:10am

    John has got it right again. Look at what socialisum has done for for anything, zero, na-da and zulch!

    Report Post » uncleherbert  
    • heavyduty
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:23am

      Well that’s not entirely true. Socialism has gotten a lot of good people killed, it has caused starvation, it ruins every ones self esteem. Because you don’t have to work, you just have to wait until the government gives it to you. Socialism puts all the power into the hands of a few of the elite. It redistributes the wealth of the common people not the rich. See Socialism has done a lot to ruin countries, and people’s lives.

      Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:40am

      Okay, on the premise that all countries are Socialists and they are going down the tubes., Germany, China, Canada, Australia, Israel, Netherlands, Denmark,…..actually these countries are doing just fine.
      The Oligarchs like the USA is sinking fast. I would not use Socialism so loosely, just because Glen labels everything that moves Socialist. A more accurate Term would be Social Democracy as the powers are elected by the people, with the exception of China, which is a Communist Regime that owns us. Our elected politicians essentially turned China into a super power and all we do is keep importing more poverty. What is wrong with this picture? Who are the idiots? One more thing we are the only democratic nation that has 2 party system, in my opinion one party Oligarch.

      Report Post »  
  • Cemoto78
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:07am

    Personal responsibility, what a concept. Imagine where this country would be if there was more personal responsibility, less political correctness, and a whole lot more of common sense.

    Report Post » Cemoto78  
  • dablooz
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:04am

    Socialism, great in theory, disastrous in practice.

    Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:15am

      How stupid can people be. We are the furthest thing from socialism. What we have is Socialism for the Corporations who get the bailouts and buy the politicians and we have Capitalism for the Citizens who pays for the elites bailouts. I think this is called an Oligarchy. See the list below of the countries considered Oligarchy. Maybe then you will be educated.

      http://www.ask.com/questions-about/Oligarchy-Countries

      Report Post »  
    • Jeetman
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 11:08am

      Zorro6821
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:15am
      How stupid can people be. We are the furthest thing from socialism. What we have is Socialism for the Corporations who get the bailouts and buy the politicians and we have Capitalism for the Citizens who pays for the elites bailouts. I think this is called an Oligarchy. See the list below of the countries considered Oligarchy. Maybe then you will be educated.
      ————————————————————-
      Actually, how stupid can you be? We are the farthest thing from socialism? Really? All we have is socialism for the corporations and capitalism for the citizens? Really? Well let’s see….

      Social security, Medicare/Medicaid, government stipends, government housing, ssi, government run transportation, government run banks, government run car maker, government run (and forced health care), government controlled subsidies, EPA, FDA….

      You’re right! We are the FARTHEST thing from socialism LOL. I think it is YOU who needs the education.

      Report Post » Jeetman  
    • Agentuntomyself
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 2:15pm

      Um, actually what you are describing is cronie capitalism, and we are moving swiftly toward socialism. But it has been a long time in the making, so if you don’t know much history, you probably can’t see it. Educate yourself.

      Report Post »  
    • komponist-ZAH
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 2:43pm

      @zorro6821–

      “How stupid can people be.” Very, but you should probably not be critizing the “illiterates” (as you do below) when you put a period (.) at the end of question (?). ;)

      AgentUntoMyself is right: what you are describing is crony capitalism, but that is hardly the “farthest thing from socialism”, it is a step in the devolution towards socialism.

      Report Post »  
    • Rowgue
      Posted on November 26, 2010 at 12:38am

      I second the motion to declare ZORRO a moron. The motion carries. Sorry ZORRO you’re a moron.

      Report Post »  
    • Okie from Muskogee
      Posted on November 26, 2010 at 2:39am

      Yo Zorro National Socialists…look it up, it’s what you described…

      State propped up institutions while draining and devaluing the currency with handouts…

      Report Post » Okie from Muskogee  
  • clockwatcher
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:03am

    A lesson the Black Jimmy Carter and the MSNBC cry babies will never understand. Less than 2 years till American is free of this social justice crew. Vote as if your life depended on it. God bless America.

    Report Post » clockwatcher  
    • ItsallaboutJesus
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:02am

      Amen to that!

      Report Post »  
    • kreese
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:34am

      I hope you’re right, but we have too many people who will always believe the BS from the Left.

      Report Post »  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 10:03am

      I think your missing the Big Picture. As long as any elected official supports Globalism we are screwed. That is what is bringing down the EU and The USA. So branding does not mean a thing. Basically All Presidents since FDR supported Globalism and that was the beginning of the great decline. Once we start making things again and protecting our borders and markets we have no chance.

      Report Post »  
    • 5
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 10:09am

      We have many people who are not even in denial yet. They don’t see the problem. Beck is right, stay clam, don’t fight (UNLESS YOUR LIFE IS ON THE LINE) safe for all the people who are not awake. They will need to eat. You all know at least 10 people who think everything is going to be fine, right? SAVE FOOD FOR THEM and don’t forget water. Each person needs a gallon of water a day. That’s a crap load of Clean water. I know, you think you can get it from any house. I hope so, but what if the water sucks and you need good water?

      GET READY TO HELP JUST PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND YOU WILL BE VERY BUSY.

      Report Post »  
    • nostikskull
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 2:07pm

      yes, but it is going to be a long hard 2 years!

      Report Post » nostikskull  
    • blacksmith
      Posted on November 27, 2010 at 2:03pm

      TO 5, I prefer the original story of the ant and the grasshopper. The ant was prepared and prospered and the grasshopper died in the cold. If you are going to help everyone else survive then you are lessening you and yours chances of survival. Those ten you talk about know ten more and those ten know ten more and so and so on to infinity. Your preparation should be to take care of you and yours first and any extra to help others.A posted you sounded like what Stossel was warning against, the collective good of all. Many lessons are learned but the hard earned lesson is the one that sticks with you.

      Report Post »  
  • jmbogstad
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:01am

    The truth is so inconvenient to the left.

    Firsties

    Report Post »  
  • HKS
    Posted on November 25, 2010 at 8:01am

    When everyone is in charge of an outcome, no one is in charge.

    Report Post » HKS  
    • sbenard
      Posted on November 25, 2010 at 12:37pm

      Thanks for that post. I reminds me of something similar I heard years ago but had forgotten until you said that: “Everone‘s responsibility is NO ONE’S responsibility!” Both describe socialism and its destructiveness.

      Report Post » sbenard  
    • Lucy Larue
      Posted on November 26, 2010 at 4:28pm

      Yeah,,,,it’s called “A panel of experts”.

      Report Post »  

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