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As a political theory, socialism relies on scapegoating to build a constituent base. For example, that "the rich," or "Jews," or "millionaires and billionaires," or "the top 1%" are responsible for all of humanities' ills. Socialism targets the youth of a nation and people without life experience using naive, simplistic,  and "feel good" slogans ("[[Medicare for All]]," "tuition free education," "free housing." etc., for example) that on the surface appeal to self-interest, while asking nothing of the hearers to contribute to the economic well being of their fellow citizens or society. Once in power, Socialists compel compliance with [[authoritarian]] decrees (the "individual mandate" and "shared responsibility payment," for example) suppress criticism, censor [[free speech]], silence or exterminate opposition in order to maintain power for themselves. There is nothing [[democracy|democratic]] about socialism, and terms such as [[democratic socialism]] or [[social democracy]] are [[oxymoron]]s that are typical of Marxist "double speak" and "double think." Socialist leaders often live in extreme luxury even as they fail to improve the lives of those they rule over,<ref>Lott, Maxim (March 11, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-socialist-from-chavez-to-castro-leaders-who-lived-the-high-life Lifestyles of the Rich and Socialist: From Chavez to Castro, leaders who lived the high life]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.<br>See also:

As a political theory, socialism relies on scapegoating to build a constituent base. For example, that "the rich," or "Jews," or "millionaires and billionaires," or "the top 1%" are responsible for all of humanities' ills. Socialism targets the youth of a nation and people without life experience using naive, simplistic,  and "feel good" slogans ("[[Medicare for All]]," "tuition free education," "free housing." etc., for example) that on the surface appeal to self-interest, while asking nothing of the hearers to contribute to the economic well being of their fellow citizens or society. Once in power, Socialists compel compliance with [[authoritarian]] decrees (the "individual mandate" and "shared responsibility payment," for example) suppress criticism, censor [[free speech]], silence or exterminate opposition in order to maintain power for themselves. There is nothing [[democracy|democratic]] about socialism, and terms such as [[democratic socialism]] or [[social democracy]] are [[oxymoron]]s that are typical of Marxist "double speak" and "double think." Socialist leaders often live in extreme luxury even as they fail to improve the lives of those they rule over,<ref>Lott, Maxim (March 11, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lifestyles-of-the-rich-and-socialist-from-chavez-to-castro-leaders-who-lived-the-high-life Lifestyles of the Rich and Socialist: From Chavez to Castro, leaders who lived the high life]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.<br>See also:

*Snowball, Timothy (May 15, 2019). [https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/443228-socialism-is-neither-a-fair-nor-progressive-political-philosophy Socialism is neither a fair nor 'progressive' political philosophy]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 15, 2019.</ref> and its destructive effects on society often are irreversible.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (May 10, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/05/10/blue-state-blues-venezuela-south-africa-show-socialism-difficult-to-undo/ Blue State Blues: Venezuela, South Africa Show Socialism Difficult to Undo]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 10, 2019.<br>See also:

*Snowball, Timothy (May 15, 2019). [https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/443228-socialism-is-neither-a-fair-nor-progressive-political-philosophy Socialism is neither a fair nor 'progressive' political philosophy]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 15, 2019.</ref> and its destructive effects on society often are irreversible.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (May 10, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/05/10/blue-state-blues-venezuela-south-africa-show-socialism-difficult-to-undo/ Blue State Blues: Venezuela, South Africa Show Socialism Difficult to Undo]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 10, 2019.<br>See also:

*Demaggio, John M. (July 20, 2019). [https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/453913-has-socialism-already-failed-in-the-united-states Has socialism already failed in the United States?] ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 20, 2019.</ref>

*Demaggio, John M. (July 20, 2019). [https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/453913-has-socialism-already-failed-in-the-united-states Has socialism already failed in the United States?] ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 20, 2019.</ref> Socialism is fully compatible with "big business," or [[crony capitalism]].<ref>Philipp, Joshua (August 7, 2019). [https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-corrupt-romance-between-big-business-and-socialism_2977800.html The Corrupt Romance Between Big Business and Socialism]. ''The Epoch Times''. Retrieved August 7, 2019.</ref>

As a social theory, the modern [[Democratic party]] uses [[identity politics]] to create a new "oppressed class" of victims which replaces the traditional worker/peasant/proletariat victims of the imaginary "oppressor class" - "the [[bourgeois]]".<ref>https://youtu.be/PkNzYttjSHE</ref> Socialism preys on people who fall victim to the [[sin]]s of [[envy]] and [[covet]]ousness, and raises [[Iconoclasm]] and [[nihilism]] as exalted [[virtue]]s.  Left-wing professors and universities have played a large role in advancing socialist ideology.<ref>Lott, Maxim (January 18, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/socialism-rising-universities-and-radical-profs-helping-steer-leftward-shift-in-politics Socialism rising: Universities and ‘radical’ profs helping steer leftward shift in politics, critics say]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 18, 2019.</ref>

As a social theory, the modern [[Democratic party]] uses [[identity politics]] to create a new "oppressed class" of victims which replaces the traditional worker/peasant/proletariat victims of the imaginary "oppressor class" - "the [[bourgeois]]".<ref>https://youtu.be/PkNzYttjSHE</ref> Socialism preys on people who fall victim to the [[sin]]s of [[envy]] and [[covet]]ousness, and raises [[Iconoclasm]] and [[nihilism]] as exalted [[virtue]]s.  Left-wing professors and universities have played a large role in advancing socialist ideology.<ref>Lott, Maxim (January 18, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/socialism-rising-universities-and-radical-profs-helping-steer-leftward-shift-in-politics Socialism rising: Universities and ‘radical’ profs helping steer leftward shift in politics, critics say]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 18, 2019.</ref>