Private Property Rights, Inheritance and More
By Kim Smith
Perhaps you can help. How do we go from being a nation born in liberty, with inalienable rights to the individual, to a (probably borderless) nation where the "government" is preeminent, controlling what we can do, be and own?
When I look out my windows or drive through Madison County, I see lush landscape of farms, forests, homes with families who don't live on top of their neighbors. From a large view, only part of the mountains belongs to the state – the rest, like our farms, forests, and communities, are largely owned by individuals or families.
Thoughts about private property and inheritance intrude on these reflections. So in search of the "what's" of socialism, lots came into view. Comments are frequently on the order of "At the turn of the 21st century, virtually all of Russian land was still publicly owned" ("Aspects of property law in communist and post-communist countries" – which the word "socialism" was used interchangeably) and, with respect to the few exceptions, "the rights can be terminated by the state without due process procedures". Or in Romania, where "public property belongs to the state" and include "minerals, water with energy potential, territorial waters and beaches" (about which we don't yet have to worry). Or China, where "all land is owned by the public".
On inheritance, "the abolition of private property was one of the most important elements to end inequality and exploitation and to establish socialism and communism" which "naturally required the abolition of the right of inheritance". The ultimate goal behind this policy was the "withering away of the family". There were heavy death taxes – 90%, but there was some inheritance allowed – to minor children, spouses, and "property-less relatives or strangers incapable of working who had been dependent upon the deceased". The collectivization of land, it should be noted, caused the death of many "prominent legal experts" and "peasants". (Might be important to determine the 21st century definition of American peasant".)
And when it comes to your private house, oops, if it's too large, it might get divided into apartments. The state will decide. If it burns down, you might not be able to replace it – but instead have to build multiple housing units.
How does the ideal of socialism – a classless society –
square with thoughts such as this: "The rules of human behavior, established by the state power, as the power of the ruling class in society… sanctioned by the state power and enforced by the state apparatus …to be profitable and pleasing to the ruling class".
If alarm bells aren't going off big time, we need to talk!
But don't despair, it will be over quickly if we once again fall asleep at the wheel. We have the lovely proposals of the Democratic candidates for President and their minions. Add them up. Medicare for All (aka Health Care for None): Sanders - $32.6 Trillion over 10 years; Green New Deal – AOC - $93 Trillion; Free Child Care – Warren - $1.7 billion over ten years; Debt-Free or Free College – Sanders - $800 Billion over 10 years, Warren - $640 billion up front plus $1.25 Trillion over 10, plus $1.5 Trillion in immediate forgiveness; Guaranteed Income – Yang - $3 Trillion annually; Reparations – Williamson - $100 Billion over 10 years; Affordable Housing – Warren - $445 Billion; Teacher Aide – Harris - $315 Billion. And we can't forget the repeal of the tax cuts or the possibility of a 'failed everywhere it's been tried" Wealth Tax. We won't need to worry about losing our private property or having to leave it to strangers. We'll be dead broke as a nation.
There is one final saving grace. Researchers from the University of Munich and Duke University did a study, the conclusion of which was "the longer people live under socialism, the more their value system erodes". You might not even realize what you've lost!
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