Why is there no Socialism in the United States

From Dan Sullivan.

Werner Sombart, the most influential socialist of his time, came to America in the late 1800s to investigate why American workers had rejected the socialist approach. He published his findings in a series of essays called, "Why Is There is No Socialism In the United States?" and put them in book form in 1906.

I have written a critical synopsis of Sombart's findings, with extensive quotations. It is online at:

http://savingcommunities.org/docs/sombart.werner/nosocialismus.html

It is an important work, even for those who oppose socialism, for two
reasons. One is that it gives a pretty clear picture, from a socialist
perspective, of the American anti-socialist temperament.

Another is that Sombart accurately predicted that socialism would become more popular as American workers lost access to free and inexpensive land. His analysis will help anti-socialists understand why the land issue is the Achilles Heel of anti-socialist ideologies.

Socialists can also benefit from an understanding of how much more important the issue of land monopoly is than the issue of capital monopoly, and that Marx's confounding of capital with privilege was a critical flaw in Marxist thinking. They will not get a full understanding of that from Sombart, as he did not understand it
himself.

Although it is clearly indicated from his observations, he did not "connect the dots." This is understandable, as blaming capital was the core premise of Marx's departure from classical liberalism. The mind shift from blaming wealth back to blaming privilege creates "cognitive dissonance" in the mind of anyone steeped in Marxist ideology.

In any case, the portrait of the American temperament is fascinating. If you think Americans are libertarian individualists today, wait till you see how they were viewed back in the 1890s.

Also, for those who have not seen it, or saw it before the revisions of this last few days, I have a site showing why sales tax destroys commerce. I will soon be adding separate pages showing why it is a terribly regressive tax and why it promotes monopoly at the expense of new business. It is at:

http://savingcommunities.org/issues/taxes/sales/destroyscommerce.html

When and where are those polar bear swims?

When and where are those Pittsburgh polar bear swims? Last year I took the plunge on the Mon Wharf around 9:30 am -- It think.

Update: It happens at 9:30 am!

This year there is a bike ride getting some advance ink too. Nice.

Annual Icycle Bicycle Ride to be held Jan. 1 - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Annual Icycle Bicycle Ride to be held Jan. 1

Saturday night football: Jags to Pittsburgh for a do-over

The last time the Jags played the Steelers, we were there. Grant and I had lots of fun. The game started at 1 pm in a blizzard of snow as they sang the National Anthem.

This week, the Steelers get a do-over. The first round of the playoffs are slated for Saturday evening at 8 pm-ish.

I expect that the results will be the same, sadly. This time, we'll be home and watching on TV.

Poll to the top left -- at 21 votes

Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events Should Mark Rauterkus stand for public office, again, in 2008?

The question is clear -- but the voting results are not yet resolved.

With 21 votes, 12 (or about half) say that I should 'give it a break' and not run for public office in 2008. However, the other half (or so) say I should. Humm....

Your opinion is welcomed. Place your vote now!

The Free Market: A False Idol After All?

I'm a big fan of the free market place. We need more freedom, generally.

In this NY Times article the pros and cons of 'market place forces' are considered.

Peter S. Goodman | The Free Market: A False Idol After All? 'The way they justify it is that you've got to protect the stupid people who can't read a contract,' Mr. Henderson said. 'But they're treating everyone as stupid.'

But in Washington, and under the roofs of many homes now worth less than a year ago, there appears to be a shift in the nation's often-ambivalent attitude about regulation.

Back in the boom, banks made loans to homeowners who did not have to prove their ability to pay, then quickly sold the loans to other companies. By the time it emerged that a lot of homeowners could not pay, these loans had been pooled with other loans and chopped into strange new paper assets that were sold to unsuspecting buyers around the globe. The subsequent reckoning has forced major banks to write off vast sums of money.

"Here you had all these people who were supposed to be sophisticated investors, and it turns out they were buying billions of dollars worth of debt where they didn't even understand what they owned," said Dean Baker, co-director of the liberal Center for Economic and Policy Research. "There is going to be a willingness to re-regulate financial markets."

Liberal critics have long asserted that dogmatic devotion to market forces has skewed American society toward those of greatest means. More wealth is being concentrated in fewer hands, with rich people capturing the best housing, private education and health care services, and, as the argument goes, only crumbs left for everyone else.

What gets me is that there were lots of loans sold. These loans were paper transactions. The assets and/or debt were not valued as they should have been. Big time corporate folks didn't do their homework.

Now what????

Here is where we as a nation cave and do the 'corporate welfare' things. They do a 'bail-out for the bankers.' They do deals that help the heavy hitters.

If the US Gov had 'dogmatic devotion' to the market forces then there would not be any bailout options for the bankers and corporate entities.

The willingness should not be to re-regulate. The willingness should be to let some of them tank. Tough love!

More wealth is being concentrated in few hands, with rich people, because government comes to the rescue for the rich, the connected, the corporations, the elite.

The market needs less supervision than the politicians and their over-reaching promises.

When untethered market forces lead to bad things, and the governmental wonks try to fix them -- then the market is not 'untethered.' When the wonks try to make the bad things okay, they aid their buddies with corporate welfare.

You can't run an economy as complicated as ours today with only ideology and do nice things for your friends. Generally, those with influence hate those who are driven by ideology alone. Those with influence and special privileges who crave more of the same are the quickest to complicate situations to prove their points and justify their special handouts.

---

More to think about.

REPUBLIC MEDIA | THE MEDIA OF THE PATRIOT MOVEMENT - So you're a citizen journalist, are you?

Interesting web site.

REPUBLIC MEDIA | THE MEDIA OF THE PATRIOT MOVEMENT - So you're a citizen journalist, are you? This country needs more original news being generated by independent journalists to cause a flood of information that will seep into the mainstream. This is the entire purpose behind RepublicMedia.tv. We've established this site to be a connecting point between indy journalists who are focusing on freedom-based issues so that they can more easily collaborate and organize, and also to be a powerful distribution and syndication tool to get their works out to the masses!

I found this 10-minute video at the site.

KDKA-TV proves its lack of journalism with year in review slideshow � BurghBoy Blogs

KDKA-TV proves its lack of journalism with year in review slideshow � BurghBoy Blogs KDKA-TV proves its lack of journalism with year in review slideshow

Where Will You Be January 2nd?

Where Will You Be January 2nd? - Pennsylvania Ron Paul Meetup Alliance (Carlisle, PA) - Meetup.com I asked where you would be January 2nd. As for myself, I'll be in New Hampshire, hitting the pavement to spread the message of freedom, liberty, and Ron Paul until January 9th.

Did I mention I'm not spending any money to get there?

Have fun.

Comments from another blog as to a post from another person as to what Patrick may have written

Get a grip on this concept, that came from, so we are to think, Patrick Dowd, a new guy due to take the oath to uphold the consitution, on Jan 7, 2008.

HaloScan.com - CommentsI cannot, however, reach out to some folks without breaking confidences. Thus, I am stuck being silent and taking lumps for falsehoods. ...

Say what?

Here is a novel idea, speak for yourself.

Another idea, break confidences! Don't hold any secrets.

Furthermore, Dowd does offer a pie-in-the-sky approach for council. He wants a 'legislative agenda.' And, after that is detailed, in public, he'll decide who should get his vote for city council president.

How nice. But, it is also filled with irony. How can a member of council reveal something as important as a 'legislative agenda' -- yet be worried about 'breaking confidences' should he speak in public AND need another citizen to post his messages for him.

To tip-toe and then worry about 'secrets' gives two big steps in the wrong direction. And, he's not even on council yet. His last act as a school board member was very bad. And, his recent interview on KDKA about the Pgh Promise didn't wash either.

Since there is a shortage of public policy directions and leadership from members on council, and since they all have a hard time sharing those thoughts (if they exist at all), we might need some citizens to come foward and be front folks for members of council.

Jim Motznik is the chairman of the Citiparks and Youth Policy committee on city council. Motznik has held that role for a few years now. Motznik is bucking for the job as city council president in 2008. In my not so humble opinion, Motznik makes a great case for getting the nod for city council president by doing such a poor job in his role as chair of the committee on Citiparks. As far as I can tell, Motznik's big splash of leadership with his Citiparks duties is his willingness to hand out popcorn and huggies (drinks) at the movies in the park in his neighborhood.

What kind of 'legislative agenda' has Motznik advanced in recent years in his recent positions when he was a chair of a committee?

What have these other members of council done in their roles in council when they are 'at the wheel?'

Looking into the past is a good way to predict what to expect in the future. But it is also prudent to ask people what they hope to do in the future too. Politics is about the future.

What would Jim do?

What would Tonya do?

What would Doug do?

What does a 'legislative aganda' look like?

What was the promise of a 'legislative agenda' for city council in 2007? What there ever such a statement or set of objectives in the past?

DownsizeDC.org's script for the second Ron Paul American Freedom Agenda Act radio ad

DownsizeDC.org Blog | Second Ron Paul American Freedom Agenda Act radio ad No snowflake in an avalanche believes itself responsible ...

Sunday huddle with parents concerned about Pgh Public Schools

The parents are gathering at a meeting at 2 pm at Panera in Oakland on the Blvd of Allies. We'll talk about our Christmas breaks and gear up to write checks for the other hundred million dollars to fund the continual scholarship of our children.

There is a lot to do. High school reform is still ugly and not something I agree with in the slightest. Closing Schenley votes may come in next month. The engineers have taken another look at the historic building with new windows and exterior recently.

City Council fumbles historic building - abandon buildings rise

Glenn A. Walsh reported:

Thursday morning, Pittsburgh City Council approved a resolution which will allow The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to abandon America's first publicly-funded Carnegie Library, the Allegheny Regional Branch of The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (originally, the Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny).

The vote was 7 in favor, 1 opposed. City Councilwoman Darlene Harris, whose district the historic Allegheny Regional Branch is located within, was the lone dissenting vote. She stated that she had to vote against this bill, as the majority of her constituents oppose the abandonment of the historic library. Beyond this statement, she did not make much of a fuss. As a new councilwoman with limited influence, she could "read the political tea-leaves" and realize that the rest of City Council considered this a done-deal.

Bill number 2007-1944, now approved, allows the City's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to sell a vacant piece of land on Federal Street (which formerly held a gasoline station), three blocks north of the Allegheny Regional Library, to The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for construction of a new library building. The groundbreaking for this structure, which was postponed from last Autumn, is now expected in the Spring of 2008.

In addition to Councilwoman Harris' comments, five members of the public also addressed City Council prior to the final vote, all opposing the abandonment of the Allegheny Regional Branch: Yvonne F. Brown, Mark Rauterkus, John Petrack, David Tessitor, and Glenn A. Walsh. Along with the printed statement I submitted to City Council, I included a letter from Heather Steed, who could not attend the meeting, also opposing the abandonment of the Allegheny Regional Library. I want to thank all of those people who have been supportive of retaining a library use for the historic Allegheny Regional Library.

Future action on this issue is indefinite. We are still evaluating the feasibility of a legal challenge to the City's action yesterday.

We still believe that, even if a new library is to be built, the Allegheny Regional Library should be reopened until such a new library is completed. So far, the Lower North Side has been without library service for more than a year and a-half. And, this is despite the fact that $2 million of insurance money was used to repair the damage from the lightning strike, and annual funding from the State and the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) continues to be available for Lower North Side library service.

It is unknown what has become of the State and RAD subsidies, allocated for the Allegheny Regional Library, since the closure of the Library in April of 2006; library repairs were completed in May of this year. We do plan to address the RAD Board of Directors on this issue, next month.

You can read more about yesterday's City Council votes, including my public statement and Heather Steed's letter, at this link.

History and photos of the Allegheny Regional Library

Continue to use the following web site for updates on this issue.

Pew identifies social networking gender split - Social Marketing - BizReport

Time is still ripe for a YOUTH TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT.

Pew identifies social networking gender split - Social Marketing - BizReport Ninety-three percent of all teens are online, up from 73 percent in 2000 and 87 percent in 2004. And, in a culture where it’s increasingly the norm to create and share information, 64 percent of online teens have contributed to online content in one way or another, up from 57 percent in 2004.

watch for a new web site or two

Bruce Kraus - Democrat for City Council District 3
Bruce Kraus, 52 years old makes his home on Pittsburgh's Historic South Side. Raised along with his two brothers to have a strong work ethic through the ...

I don't know if it will be as good as the vanishing Motzinik blog or not. He hired a secret agent to do his site for the primary.

In real news, Dan Sullivan is building a site on sales tax policy. The sales tax drives commerce away.

http://savingcommunities.org/issues/taxes/sales/destroyscommerce.html


Another page shows that the sales tax is a regressive approach, even with Pennsylvania's exemptions for food and clothing. Additional insights show how the history of sales tax disasters.

Anyone who wants to work on this with Dan should let him know.

Dan Sullivan, director, Saving Communities, director - at - savingcommunities -dot- org.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - A local satirical news Web site is slowly being assimilated by mainstream media outlets - Main Feature - Main Feature Extra

Nice ink about media ink for a local blog via the City Paper.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - A local satirical news Web site is slowly being assimilated by mainstream media outlets - Main Feature - Main Feature Extra - Pittsburgh City Paper - PittsburghA local satirical news Web site is slowly being assimilated by mainstream media outlets

I only wish that the CSB was able to take comments within its blog postings. Perhaps they can run an 'open thread' once a week within the blog.

If comments were permitted, that would could prove to increase the humor ten-fold.

UPMC drops tax credit bid - Let the games of the Pgh Promise begin

UPMC drops tax credit bid UPMC drops tax credit bid
Goes forward with pledge of $100 million to Promise
Thursday, December 27, 2007
By Matthew P. Smith, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Citing the controversy that has embroiled its $100 million pledge for a city high school scholarship program, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center yesterday said it was dropping its request for a possible tax credit in exchange for its commitment to the Pittsburgh Promise.

This is what victory looks like.

Now we can get rockin on the challenge grant. Now we can rev up the potential boom for the city.

Now, we can begin to look for the arrival of the three wise men. Faith has been restored, partially.

But, Post-Gazette reporters, understand that the balking that happened within council chambers did NOT come from the majority of city council. Two on council put up some objections. That's Doug and Bill. A third, Darleen, asked some deer in the headlights questions.

Then there was Len who was okay with the deal as long as it stroked his special interest too -- and was able to be go to students at Catholic schools. Len is a dead duck in the same flight path as Barbara Burns, hopefully.

The balking of the Pgh Promise was citizen centric.

Yesterday, I was invited to call into the KDKA Radio Show hosted by Marty Griffin. We talked on the air about the deal for more than 20 seconds! (giggle)

He claimed to have 'insider knowledge' that the Pgh Promise was a 'done deal.' I told blew back his 'honestey, openness and integrity' mantra to me -- asking if he talked to the three new members of city council, yet. He was off base in many ways. The Pgh deal is unlike that from Kalamazoo. And families don't want to move to a city where there are backroom deals, special interest calling the shots and more. The college scholarship won't overcome the corruption in a day-in-day-out setting.

Later that day, I posted over at the Burgh Report. In that post I was asked if I would reject the deal. I predicted that the deal would get major changes.

This is what I posted there:

---

There should be NO business of government within the transaction of one nonprofit giving money to another nonprofit.

It is fine (if not noble) for UPMC to gift money to the Pgh Promise. Wonderful.

However, the city of Pgh has no role in that transaction.

The city of Pgh does have its own budget and its own incomes and expenses. Within the city's 2008 budget, $1.5 (or so) is expected from UPMC as part of the Pgh Service Fund. That is cloaked -- which I hate.

If the city's budget changes, with a loss of $1.5 M, then a new budget must be associated with any new terms.

Finally, if the UPMC deal goes as it was introduced before council -- it is sure to KILL the Pgh Promise. The challenge grant will flop. And, the boom to Pgh among the students, families and potential new residents will never occur.

The side-deal (as structured) makes the Pgh Promise dead in the water.

Changes will need to occur. Mark Roosevelt and UPMC need to think again. And, they will, I expect.

Better to put $8.5 into the Pgh Promise and $1.5 into the Pgh Service Fund -- and do that without any additional strings. Then we can get to work to make the challenge grants come true.

Philly Amber Alert -- seeking 2 young children

AMBER ALERT 12/26/2007 7:00 PM CHLDRN: 3 YR OLD W/F, PINK COAT, FLOWER PANTS; 6YOA W/M, NAVY BLUE COAT, BLUE JEANS. VEH: SILVER 2005 BMW SUV, PA TAG GDF-1692, VEH STOLEN FROM BARING ST, PHILA. PA. UNKNOWN SUSPECT. IF SEEN CALL 911

The Pennsylvania State Police has issued an Amber Child Abduction Alert on behalf of the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia Police Department is searching for two children: Kaliopi Hionas, a 3 year old white female child wearing a pink coat and flowered pants, and George Hionas, a 6 year old white male child wearing a navy blue coat and blue jeans. The children were in a vehicle when it was stolen from Baring Street in Philadelphia. The vehicle description is a 2005 silver BMW X5 sport utility vehicle with Pennsylvania registration GDF-1692. The vehicle was last seen traveling northbound on 31st Street from Baring Street in the city of Philadelphia.

Anyone with information about this incident should immediately contact the police by calling 911.

This has been an Amber Child Abduction Alert for the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Affected Counties: Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks

This email is not intended to and does not empower members of the public to act as police officers or to take police action. Additional information regarding this activation may be available through the investigating agency. General information about Pennsylvania's Amber Alert Plan is available at www.amber.state.pa.us.

It's a dream undeterred for Browns sub Dinkins - cleveland.com

Feature article on an ex-city kid, (Schenley HS), Pitt-player, and Pgh Colt too!

It's a dream undeterred for Browns sub Dinkins - cleveland.com Darnell Dinkins, a reserve tight end for the Browns, has grown accustomed to overcoming obstacles during his improbable journey to the NFL.

A star quarterback at Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, he was buried deep on the depth chart at that position after arriving at Pitt and ended up playing safety after spending some time at wide receiver and linebacker.

Dinkins was a starter for two seasons at Pitt, but no NFL teams came calling after his college career ended.

Schenley eases into new era - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

This team has its backs against the wall. Defending state champions -- and asbestos (so they claim) as well!

Schenley eases into new era - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The Spartans (8-1, 5-0) lost to graduation two players who are starting in the Big East. Longtime coach Fred Skrocki resigned after Schenley won the City League and PIAA Class AAAA championship last year. With talk of the school closing at the end of the year, this could be the last season for Spartans basketball.

The team's game in Greensburg on the 28th of December will be on the radio.

More than 2 political junkies hang here, making a ruckas

Ruckus on Newsweek.com

There's a new group blog on Newsweek.com: The Ruckus (http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/theruckus/default.aspx) , focused on the 2008 presidential race and authored by nine members of the Media Bloggers Association (http://www.mediabloggers.org) .

The initial lineup features several well-known, outspoken, and even frankly partisan bloggers: John Amato , Crooks and Liars (http://crooksandliars.com) ; Faye Anderson , Anderson at Large (http://andersonatlarge.typepad.com) ; Dean Barker , Blue Hampshire (http://bluehampshire.com) ; Adam Fogle , Palmetto Scoop (http://palmettoscoop.com) ; Joe Gandelman , The Moderate Voice (http://themoderatevoice.com) ; James Joyner , Outside the Beltway (http://outsidethebeltway.com) ; Ed Morrissey , Captain's Quarter (http://captainsquartersblog.com) ; Oliver Willis (http://oliverwillis.com) ; and Chris Woods , Bleeding Heartland (http://bleedingheartland.com) .

...Sounds like fun. I just wonder how well Newsweek.com's editors have thought through the ethical and practical differences of bloggers and journalists. I'd hate to see another ugly implosion of a group political weblog due to miscommunications, culture clash, and political pressure -- like what happened recently at Cleveland.com (http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=31&aid=132398) .