A tale of Two Cities- Why Socialism Does Not Work

A tale of two cities (OK…small villages)

Once members of a small rural community decided to have picnic in the city park. Everyone would be invited and it would time of good fellowship. Everyone was asked to bring “something” to share with others.  On the appointed day, most of people arrived, the wealthy and poor, and almost everyone brought something.   Even the poor folks brought something: jam made from wild berries, or even just poke salad that grew wild down by the railroad tracks.  Only five people came to the picnic without bringing something to share.  As long as you brought something- anything- you could mingle freely with the other citizens and participate in the shuffleboard, horseshoes, or whatever.  But if you did NOT bring anything to share, you were fed, and you could mingle and engage in conversation, but you didn’t get to join in any of the games. Three of those five people were offended, felt mistreated and vowed never to come again.    The other two suffered some humiliation but knew they COULD have fulfilled the terms and vowed to do better next year.
The following year. As promised, the three who did not bring anything to the previous picnic, and vowed not to return, did not show. The two who did not bring anything, but vowed to do better, did bring something (poke salad- free for the picking) and they enjoyed the full benefit that comes with being part of the community. 

In a neighboring small town, the people heard of the activities and thought it would be wonderful if their town did the same thing.    The first year everybody brought what they could except for five people.  However, unlike in the first town, everybody was fed and everybody was allowed to participate fully in all of the games. There were no consequences for failure to obey the simple rules.  The following year, of those five who brought nothing, one was embarrassed and did, in fact, go pick some free poke salad and brought that to the picnic.   The other four from last year also showed up again but again, they brought nothing. In addition.  Two people from last year’s picnic who saw that there no consequences for failure to obey the rules, decided that they, too, would show up with nothing.   This year, as with last year, everybody got fed, and everybody got join in the games.   The third year, all of the previous “free-loaders” showed up again without any contributions, plus four more (a total now of ten people who brought nothing).  They had excuses like (1) sickness, (2) job requirements, (3) had to take care of aging parents, (4) had to take kids to soccer practice, (5) the dog ate whatever they were going to bring, etc.   By the fifth year, nearly a third of those who attended the picnic brought nothing and another ten people decided not to come at all, but instead to go to the picnic in the other town. 

If you understand human nature (and history), this story will make perfect sense.   You will not be tempted to argue about “fairness” or “social stigmas”, or “discrimination”, or “moral duty”. If you don’t understand human nature (and don't know your history) you will trot out all of those objections (and more).

The End.