We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

Samizdata quote of the day

“And, make no mistake, Marxists did lose a big argument, one we now know as ‘the 20th century’.”

Will Wilkinson

7 comments to Samizdata quote of the day

  • Paul Marks

    Accept they do not believe they lost the argument.

    And they have vast influence (in terms of background assumptions and ideas) in both the education system and the “mainstream” media.

  • They took a whole lot of people with them on their way down…*shudder*…

  • Accept they do not believe they lost the argument.

    Indeed. And it’s worse than that – as Wilkinson points out in the linked article, one of the frustrating things about Marxists is that “false consciousness” and similar theoretical innovations allow them to claim that evidence against their theory is really evidence for it. It’s a faith like any other.

  • Hmm

    They’re still arguing it for sure – but if anyone wants a counterargument – here’s a nice little argument from (“Captain Capitalism”) on basic economics (I just encountered it via http://www.smalldeadanimals.com)

  • steve

    I like Rothbards definitions of marxism and facism.

    Marxism targets the existing elite of a country for destruction. Asserts control over all significant assets through direct government ownership, and mandates all details of an individuals behavior.

    Fascism cements the existing elite of a country in power. Asserts control over all significant assets through government regulations, and mandates all details of an individuals behavior.

    By those definitions, I would agree that marxism is in retreat. Fascism not so much.

  • veryretired

    As anyone who has ever had a garden knows, the battle against weeds never ends.

    It is well to recall that the vision of free men and women has triumphed in the last few centuries over monarchy, theocracy, autocracy, fascism, and marxism in its many forms.

    Look around the world and observe the pathetic basket cases which now carry the banner for these various authoritarianisms.

    And marvel at the global elites which would gladly adopt many of the most foolish and counterproductive policies of these same failures, and put them into practice in our societies, even though it means the impoverishment of the most powerful and wealthy civilzation the world has ever known.

    Such is the confederacy of dunces that desires to run the world.