Outstanding little article. I did not know that Oskar Lange supported violent mass expropriation, but that's obviously what he's calling for here.
There is no such thing as democratic socialism. It's either a grandiose and inaccurate term for capitalism with a lot of redistribution (as with various social democracies) or it's a mask for violent communists (as the Democratic Socialists of America recently revealed themselves to be with their open support for Hamas baby killers).
I wish Lange had done some back-of-the-envelope calculation about how expensive it would be to gradually buy out private enterprise. If the US government spent as much on this as it does on Medicare, they could own a controlling stake in every Fortune 500 company in a little over 21 years, and own them outright in 43.
So, as economists Lange and Von Mises are in agreement: both understand Socialism requires replacing voluntary action with government force. Yet Lange embraces the use of force completely. Anyone who thinks economics is "value-free" should take note of this essay.
"Born based on the swift expropriation of all major capitalists" - yep, that seems a valid first definition of what "socialism" requires. Would true socialists lose sleep about those capitalists not being fairly compensated? Hardly, lol. - And still, they would not consider it "bad". I take away: Lange was smart about it - well, his father was a "Protestant" manufacturer. Fascinating bio, it seems.
Always useful to discuss ideas but socialism is such a proven failure that it should belong to the history archives. Unfortunately it has the appeal to give power to politicians so difficult to prevent the usual excuse “this time will be different”. It leverages populism, people’s worst feelings like envy and laziness.
It’s striking how clear and logically articulated this argument is, not trying to hide anything - just taking the idea to its conclusion
Yes. One might even call it sociopathic.
Outstanding little article. I did not know that Oskar Lange supported violent mass expropriation, but that's obviously what he's calling for here.
There is no such thing as democratic socialism. It's either a grandiose and inaccurate term for capitalism with a lot of redistribution (as with various social democracies) or it's a mask for violent communists (as the Democratic Socialists of America recently revealed themselves to be with their open support for Hamas baby killers).
I wish Lange had done some back-of-the-envelope calculation about how expensive it would be to gradually buy out private enterprise. If the US government spent as much on this as it does on Medicare, they could own a controlling stake in every Fortune 500 company in a little over 21 years, and own them outright in 43.
Socialism is a self-affirmation cult for the idle and inept.
So, as economists Lange and Von Mises are in agreement: both understand Socialism requires replacing voluntary action with government force. Yet Lange embraces the use of force completely. Anyone who thinks economics is "value-free" should take note of this essay.
"Born based on the swift expropriation of all major capitalists" - yep, that seems a valid first definition of what "socialism" requires. Would true socialists lose sleep about those capitalists not being fairly compensated? Hardly, lol. - And still, they would not consider it "bad". I take away: Lange was smart about it - well, his father was a "Protestant" manufacturer. Fascinating bio, it seems.
Always useful to discuss ideas but socialism is such a proven failure that it should belong to the history archives. Unfortunately it has the appeal to give power to politicians so difficult to prevent the usual excuse “this time will be different”. It leverages populism, people’s worst feelings like envy and laziness.
Every generation will have to fight some new brand of socialism, forever. It will never go to the history archives.
They are horrible at feeding and providing for people. But they are excellent at marketing. Much better than we are.