Socialists have a long history of writing checks that Socialism cannot cash, and the platform of the Democrat(ic) Socialists of America (DSA) continues that tradition. Socialism is Socialism, whether or not proclaimed “Democratic” for political convenience.

There is no difference between Socialism and Communism except that Communists are honest about their intentions to subjugate the population to totalitarian rule, whereas Democrat Socialists try to sneak Communism through the back door.

The Democrat Socialist platform promises to reduce the work week to 32 hours while keeping the same weekly dollar pay. Hence the same dollars compete for fewer goods and services. This is a recipe for massive inflation and economic shortages – a natural consequence of Socialism.

One must willingly suspend disbelief to take the Democrat Socialist platform seriously.

Socialists also promise free universal healthcare, but how will they provide this care with a 32-hour work week and a shortage of qualified practitioners? Perhaps “Universal” means we are denied care equally. “Free” can only mean denial of care.

Free universal healthcare is just another Socialist check that will bounce.

Democrat Socialists also promise free college. How will we educate — and support — all these students while the professors are basking in their extra eight-hour leisure time, working only 32 hours? What will all these kids major in? Few are qualified for serious academic programs anyway, so why waste resources on meaningless degrees? We might support Trade Schools instead.

Few of these self-proclaimed Socialists actually understand Socialism or its history. Ask them to explain the Gulag Archipelago. Or Mao’s Great Leap Forward. Or the Cultural Revolution. Or the Stasi. Or Five-Year Plans.

Ask why 120 million were murdered for Socialism in the 20th Century — then wait for the indignant denial.

The vast majority of Democrat Socialists are affluent youngsters whose parents became well-to-do precisely because they were not dragged down by Socialism. These youngsters may have attended college, but they are not really educated; they live in “Unicornia.” They have been trained to disrupt and deconstruct, but do not possess the skills or attitude needed to build anything of value. Socialism is simply legalized extortion to benefit them.

Have these newly minted Socialists read the “Communist Manifesto”? If so, they would know that Socialism forbids private ownership. You can’t claim Socialism if you have not surrendered all your property, wealth, and earnings to the State for redistribution.

Will these affluent young Socialists surrender their trust funds and inheritance to demonstrate their fealty to Socialism? Will they find satisfaction in picking lettuce to replace the workers who only work 32 hours a week? Hey kids, enjoy your new career on the Socialist plantation. You earned it.

Under Socialism, the State owns and controls the means of production and distribution. As defined by Marx: “To each according to his needs; from each according to his ability”. But after 110 years of intense effort, Socialists never made it work. Socialism crashes because it contradicts human nature.

In spite of its history of failure, Socialism still claims it will “provide for the material needs of the masses”. Another bouncing check.

For example, the old Soviet Union had by far the most farmland in the world but could not even feed its own people. Only grain from America and Canada kept the people alive long enough to finally overthrow Socialism in 1991. Often, two or three families were required to share a single small apartment.

Welcome to the warmth of collectivism, Comrade Socialist! There are no potatoes and we have no housing. But we have Socialism. Rejoice!

The lofty pronouncements of the DSA platform make colorful political theatre, but once the Socialists get power, the piper must be paid. We’ve seen this movie before.

Somebody has to do the work that makes life possible, but that work is never done by the Socialists shouting hate against the people who actually do the work to sustain life.

After their 1620 arrival in America, the Pilgrims formed a collectivist (socialistic) system where everyone was equal and there was no private ownership. They nearly starved that year – because Socialism failed. The next year they privatized production and worked independently on their own land while trading voluntarily. They survived.

Free markets work. Socialism kills.

But we can still laugh at Socialists: Some actually claim that Jesus was a Socialist – proving they understand neither Socialism nor Jesus. Socialism is pure materialism and rejects the spiritual outright. Read Marx.

In “John”, Jesus told Pilate: “My Kingdom is not of this earth”.

In “Matthew” Jesus told his followers: “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s; Render unto God that which is God’s”.

That’s the opposite of Socialism. Socialism is Caesar; it has neither soul nor spirit.

The Bible also tells us: “He who does not work shall not eat”. Jesus was about being a responsible adult. Socialism is about being an eternally dependent child.

Sadly, Democrat Socialists confuse forced servitude under the Totalitarian State with the charity of Jesus.

Socialism is already preposterous, but Socialists only make it more preposterous by fantasizing about a Marxist Jesus.

Michael Dee is a Silver Creek resident while Scott Axelson resides in Jamestown.