I’m serious. Let’s do it. This appears to be an idea whose time has come [again]. A lot of the people who tried it in the 20th century, 100 million or so of them, are unfortunately no longer alive to tell us that it didn’t work. And, also unfortunately, it seems that we are not teaching students that socialism didn’t work, and so they’re naturally enough assuming that maybe it does.
So let’s give it a try. We can chalk it up as a learning experience.
But let’s not start with those precious luxuries, food and medicine and toilet paper and hot and cold running water, that we have grown to take for granted. The people of Venezuela have learned not to take any of those things for granted. Let’s try not to repeat their mistake.
Let’s try socialism in the entertainment industry. Let’s try it in Hollywood first, and not roll it out to the rest of the country until we are satisfied with the results there. There are an awful lot of rich people in Hollywood, and a lot of them are socialism enthusiasts, so it seems the perfect microcosm in which to experiment with this old new idea.
I don’t care what flavor of socialism we try. Make it real socialism, or “democratic socialism,” or tax-all-their-money-away-and-spend-it-on-social-services socialism. Let a thousand socialist flowers bloom — but let them bloom in Hollywood.
Sure, it will tend to destroy everything it touches, but I am willing to make that sacrifice, if that’s what it takes to teach the next generation. I really, really like food and medicine and toilet paper and hot and cold running water. I can live without Hollywood.
So come on, Hollywood. Show us how it’s done. I can hardly wait to see what central planning produces in the way of great art.
Svetlana Bogomolny says:
Hollywood, with its enthusiastic, albeit ignorant affinity for socialism, is indeed a perfect candidate for being the experimental guinea pig for this “wonderful” old new idea called socialism in the USA. Let them have it with all of the entailing ramifications! Also agree, we must start seriously teaching our young about the true glories of socialism. It [ain’t] happening in this country and that is a big problem, when the ignorant utopia is shoved down our children’s throats as aspirational ideas.
Paul Carpenter says:
Very clever, Hank. Yeah, if we must try Socialism (again), you’ve pointed out the one place where an experiment like that would probably be least destructive to the rest of us, and most instructive for the latest ignorant fans of Socialism.
The good and bad news is that the state of California is actually trying your not so hypothetical experiment now. Our youngest Socialists, when they are actually “woke” to reality, should see the results there over the next decade.
But then, you know me. I always was a cockeyed optimist.
Charles Racette says:
Hank:
I wish I had thought of that in 1960. The university instructors would have had a real case study for students to use for the last 45 years. That would have been refreshing. Nice writing.