Communism in America and the Berlin Wall

Communism must be stopped

Acquired by Nick Landeros of the Young Americans for Liberty
Written by Anonymous

This is a painful account of the first year of the erection of the Berlin Wall. The Communists, in an effort to contain the citizenry so desperate to flee, erected this wall in 1961. Thankfully the story doesn't end there. With pressures from the West and the very desire for freedom from the people barricaded in the USSR, after 28 years of the Communist division, on November 9, 1989, the first hole was punched through the wall. Today, the world celebrates the 20th anniversary since that wonderful day. With this significant event, the Iron Curtain received its final blow and was brought down rapidly. Soon, Eastern Europe began to ditch Communism and the USSR would soon follow. This day was a glorious day for freedom and signaled the beginning of the end of the Cold War. What had seemed impossible was finally realized. Opportunity was knocking at the doors of all of Eastern Europe. The citizens of East Germany were overjoyed and soon, reunification began.

The fall of the Berlin wall is a significant event for many reasons. First, it showed that no matter how hard a government tries, it cannot crush the will and spirit of its people. Second, it revealed to the world that Communism did not work. Also, it showed that perseverance and the message of freedom pay in immeasurable ways. Now, 20 years later, the policies being set forth in Washington D.C. beg the question, "Are we in the United States, rebuilding the wall?"

Let us take a moment on this most auspicious of days to reflect on our own nation. What are the ten planks of Communism as proposed in The Communist Manifesto? How has America adopted the planks into its own system of government? What can the citizens do to stop and reverse the trend all across the nation?

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.

We see this play out in such abominations as zoning laws, where citizens must go to the government for permission to use their private property. We also see it in that the Federal government is the largest landowner in the United States and acquires more every year in the name of protecting the environment. More and more we see environmental policy overriding the supposedly inviolable rights of private property. Moreover, we see this played out in the taxation of property to pay for "public goods," such as public schools, and the rules that accompany neighboring homes.

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

This one really doesn't need stating. Just take a look at your paycheck. To balance the playing field, the more you make, the more you're taxed. That is the idea encompassed in the "progressive" or "graduated" income tax. The 16th amendment came about in 1913, a bad year for America, but a great year for the Communists (you'll see why in just a bit). "The rich should pay more because they can afford to." Unfortunately, as has been found, when they pay more, consumers pay with their money as well as their jobs. Have you ever been employed by a poor person?

3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.

In some instances, estate taxes reach up to 55%. This means that we're more than halfway to realizing this plank. Passing on inheritance is now considered a "privilege" in America instead of a right. At that point, you begin to see how this and the first tie together so well. Sadly, this plank has darker implications than the obvious stated. Destruction of the family (and with that is inheritance) is key to a Communist regime as all power shall lie with the State and not the citizenry. Along with that is the notion of destroying all traditions that could lead the citizens to cling to the division of the "bourgeoisie" and the "proletariat." Now ask yourselves: Does the removal of God from the public square have something to do with this? What about the challenges as to what constitutes marriage? Can a family really survive without both parents working in today's America? Are today's children learning the Constitution in their history or civics classes?

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.

This one has been adopted subtly over vast amounts of time, but has grown relatively recently. Tax liens are one way this works. Try not paying your taxes and see how, without a trial or due process, your property is taken. Also, those suspected of being involved in drugs can have their property seized with only a suspicion, though our nation claims to believe in innocent until proven guilty. After 9/11, one need only to be a suspected terrorist without any real evidence in the affirmative to have all assets and property seized without due process or habeas corpus.

5. Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly.

Anyone who knows how the Federal Reserve works recognizes this immediately. Despite the Constitution stating that only Congress can issue currency and that only gold and silver should be legal tender, we see the Federal Reserve, a private bank which is neither Federal nor do they Reserve anything, in total control of our money. Don't believe me? Take a look at the top of any note of currency and see whose name is there. Despite the money being nothing but paper (and indebted paper at that), try to make a fake bill and see what happens. The Federal Reserve, America's national bank, has a monopoly on the issuance of currency, so tight in fact, that under the act that created it (passed in 1913), Congress has no power to regulate its dealings nor can they issue a competing currency. Since they control the money supply, they control the market and all prices...and all this time you heard it was the "free" market that was to blame for all of our economic ails. Issuing money and credit out of thin air and lowering interest rates, they can increase the money supply and cause inflation. When the bubble gets too big, they contract the money supply and we see deflation. Unfortunately, this old patched bubble is ready to pop. It is a dangerous institution and threatens American liberty in all ways.

6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.

We have a myriad of government bodies regulating communications and transportation. We have the two primary departments, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Transportation. Under these are a whole host of government agencies such as the Commerce Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration. Together, they work to undermine our freedom. Our two newest threats are the proposed Net Neutrality Act and Rockefeller's Senate Bills 773 and 778 that would give the President the authority to "shut off" the internet in "emergency situations," cutting information and means of contact for American citizens at any time.

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

Two words: subsidies and bailouts. We have grown all too familiar with this in today's America. There is the business equipment tax. We also have the unnecessary Departments of Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, Energy, and the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Park and U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, and many, many more which can all be seen here at usa.gov.

8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies especially for agriculture.

Labor unions, the Department of Labor (1913), Affirmative Action, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Federal Public Works Program, National Education Association, etc. Together with the third and fifth planks, get women in the workforce and make it impossible for them to stay home even if they so desire. While Right to Work is a noble movement, it should not be confused with the destructive idea of "right to a job."

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country.

Corporate Agriculture. No longer is it farmer John down the old country road. It's been conglomerated into giant agricultural corporations. The people who used to live on the farms found it impossible to compete against the subsidy-rich corporations and survive and pay for their property. They sold the farms to the corporate ag, and moved. People are being herded into the cities as it is easier to control them through centralized planning when the citizens are not spread over vast expanses of land. Think it's just crazy talk? Have a look at Planning Reorganization Act of 1949, Public Law 89-136 (which is related to Indian Affairs), Executive Order 11647: Federal Regional Councils, and Executive Order 11731, which amends 11647. While you're at it, have a look at UN Agenda 21.

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children’s factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production.

Does this require any discussion? In some areas of the country, children are forced to go to school. It's considered truancy (which is a crime) to homeschool your children. Private schools are even being regulated by the government. We have the completely wasteful Department of Education. We have the NEA (mentioned above). We have "No Child Left Behind." Centralized education in D.C. And, what is the purpose of school? A very common answer: to prepare you to get a good job. So, this isn't education for the children's sake, but to have them in public schools to teach them how to join the labor force, not to think critically and for themselves.

Despite the clear history of Communism, or any form of socialism for that matter, American liberals and progressives are arrogant enough to think they can somehow defy the laws of nature and this time make it work. They claim to stand for peace, justice, equality, and liberty, but do not realize just how destructive the means they pursue can be to causes they claim to support. Just look at the recollection of events in Berlin. Did the USSR achieve those goals? Absolutely not, but it achieved Communism just as it is prescribed by Marx and Engels. It sought to make men equal, but saw the poor get poorer and the rich get richer and ultimately, failed. It sought to liberate humanity from the bonds of social class, but it enslaved countless numbers and killed millions. Death and destruction are natural side effects of Communism. In the closing paragraphs of The Communist Manifesto Marx and Engels make it clear, that force is the only way to make their system work. Can a liberated and enlightened society tolerate such means?

America has come a long way on the path to socialism, and not just under Barack Obama. So, what can we do about it? We can start by electing constitutionalists to office in the next election. We can also change our own mindset about what the role of government is supposed to be. We can find our answers in the Constitution and to back that document, The Federalist Papers. Government should be small and limited only to the powers it is granted by the Constitution. Executive orders, judicial activism, unapportioned taxes... all unconstitutional and therefore, illegal. It isn't good enough to just vote Republican or Democrat. We need people who will uphold and defend the Constitution. If all else fails, as a last resort, we have the Second Amendment which is not just for hunting.

So America, today, let us celebrate with Germany and before it is complete, let us "tear down this wall." God bless you all, and God bless America!

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