Close relative went into government service a conservative and retired a communist

Hope you took him off of your Christmas Card List.

(no message)

Communism has routinely been embraced by so-called intellectuals and academics because it presupposes a drone-like, poorly educated population (proletariat) that will inevitably need to be lead/guided by their non-materialistic, "altruistic" betters (as they view themselves). They believe they would naturally be at the top of that society and because they are so smart, they will be able to make it work without the brutal oppression that is absolutely essential for such a system to even function for any appreciable period of time.

The number of avowed/open communists in America in the 20s and 30s would have shocked you. McCarthy was absolutely correct at how pervasive they were in the US government, especially the State Department. Some things never change.

If you work in any field long enough, you will come to believe it normal and eventually a positive good. No one wants to believe that they are living off lies, waste, and corruption.

Even armed robbers cloak themselves in the “sticking it to the man” narrative.

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Communism has routinely been embraced by so-called intellectuals and academics because it presupposes a drone-like, poorly educated population (proletariat) that will inevitably need to be lead/guided by their non-materialistic, "altruistic" betters (as they view themselves). They believe they would naturally be at the top of that society and because they are so smart, they will be able to make it work without the brutal oppression that is absolutely essential for such a system to even function for any appreciable period of time.

The number of avowed/open communists in America in the 20s and 30s would have shocked you. McCarthy was absolutely correct at how pervasive they were in the US government, especially the State Department. Some things never change.

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Bingo. These are the "Inner Party" types a la 1984.

Interestingly, these types are routinely the faction that gets executed in droves by the tippy top of the Communist power pyramid as regimes consolidate power or transition from a prior ruler.

Your friend doesn't get that he would actually be one of the first to die in a purge/pogrom if his commie buddies ever took power.

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15 years ago he told me the government should confiscate the wealth in America and distribute it on a need basis which would lead to an ever lasting peace and a forever economic boom.

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Just go over to his house and start distributing his stuff to you. He should be ok with if you tell him you wont beat his arse.

When your income comes from tax dollars, it’s easy to adopt a pro-public dole outlook.

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If you work in any field long enough, you will come to believe it normal and eventually a positive good.

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Communism has routinely been embraced by so-called intellectuals and academics because it presupposes a drone-like, poorly educated population (proletariat) that will inevitably need to be lead/guided by their non-materialistic, "altruistic" betters (as they view themselves). They believe they would naturally be at the top of that society and because they are so smart, they will be able to make it work without the brutal oppression that is absolutely essential for such a system to even function for any appreciable period of time.

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The funniest ones are the wind-up airhead Hollywood frickdoll actors, who seem to think they too will have special places of honor and authority in a communist world.

Good to know that Tim Robbins and Matt Damon will be digging holes right next to me at the sorghum farm.