Red on the Inside?
A funny comment at Colorless Green Ideas, and some good discussion, led to this, another comment-turned post. Also check out the new post and my comment!)
In response to the above (this comment), you don’t seem to realize that socialism neccesarily requires totalitarianism. It is no coincidence that the Soviets were brutal and totalitarian.
Most people don’t give up what they’ve worked for voluntarily, unless what they are getting in return is worth it to them in their view. Thats why free market capitalism works so well, and why all attempts at widespread socialism fails so miserably.
I’m all for socialism that people enter into consentually. But every proposal of the Greens, for example, require that I support something that I do not believe in, against my will. But thats ok because its for my own good, because, of course, they know better than I what’s good for me.
When you say nobody you knows believes in brutality, what you really mean is that nobody you know understands that socialism requires totalitariansim. And I’m not sure if that is scarier than those that understand this yet still want socialism.