Socialist Junkies

By Tammy Derouin

Throughout the ages, puppet masters have employed the useful services of the uninformed, as well as those uninterested in reality or finding the truth. The effort to distort truth and convince the masses to follow a beating drum are matched by the eagerness of the foolish to blindly follow anyone leaving a trail of imaginary entitlements. The more generous the hunter is with his bait, the easier it becomes for the hunted to ignore the warning signs.

The victims of past expeditions of doom clearly posted and recorded their experiences to warn future travelers. However, when the senses are distracted by magic dust, causing unrealistic visions of government provided goods and services to start dancing in their heads, the Utopian dream is just too hard to resist. The slippery slope is ready for the next round of victims.

The deep canyon of reality is waiting for impact. The bedrock is not lined with cushions to soften the blow. Why should it be, you've accepted the false facade; time to accept reality. If you survived the initial impact you quickly realize that you have become a prisoner. The shackles may be invisible but the truth of where you just landed is all too real and almost impossible to escape.

The lack of knowledge and understanding of socialism, right here in the United States, has become a dangerous alternative for far too many unsuspecting Americans. Their eagerness to revisit past mistakes is beyond alarming. I saw a post circulating on social media pushing the joys of socialism. The preschool tactics used to lure the uninformed into the socialist trapping reinforce the lack of knowledge most people have on socialism.

The example of a Utopian paradise in this round of ignorant bliss was Denmark. The meme stated some of the wonderful delusions that socialist junkies want you to believe. Sadly, it works. How many blindly and foolishly re-posted the fairy tale of deceit? I can't just blame the millennial generation on this one. Although, they have probably received the least education on American history and what makes this country great. Considering the age of some of those posting, it was even more baffling. They were taught and they lived during the expansion of socialism and communism. They should know better.

Socialism was being praised because in Denmark health care and education are free. They have a higher minimum wage. These were some of the reasons that Denmark is supposedly the happiest country in the world. There are also two sides to every story. It didn't take much digging to get the truth.

I read several articles on this topic to get a better understanding of why the statement at the end of the meme said that we should be more like Denmark. As an American, I am offended when anyone claims or suggests that we should be anything less than what we are, a free and independent people. To suggest that we, the United States, should follow any other country is completely foolish and should be avoided at all costs. The United States is exceptional because we are free. To revert to what we escaped and become more European or God help us, Middle Eastern, would be a national disaster.

It didn't take long to quickly realize that Danish citizens do not share the sentiment of the meme. In fact, there's a lot of complaining and unhappiness in their lives. I would dare say if they could reach across the ocean and smack us on the back of our heads for even considering socialism, let alone believing that there are joys in socialism, they would with do so with pleasure.

When the government controls everything, the government calls the shots. Free stuff does not equal freedom. Free health care equates to underpaid medical providers, poor medical quality and long waits to receive poor medical quality. Free education is not free; it's paid for by taxpayers. Speaking of taxes, the Danish people pay an enormous amount of tax. One article, which appeared in the New York Post, claimed 58 to 72 percent of their income goes to the government. The suicide rate is also much higher in Denmark. I would have to guess that living in such a Utopian penitentiary would cause the sale of alcohol and anti-depressants to be rather high.

To get a better glimpse of the happiness which socialism has provided for Denmark, check out some of the readily available articles on the subject. You will find that sarcasm is an unavoidable side-effect. Key words include free health care and education in Denmark and Denmark, the happiest nation in the world.

We are blessed to live in the United States. We already have freedom. Why would we want to exchange it for shackles?

“Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.”

Mark Twain