In 1932, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandei argued that our various states are laboratories of self-governance – each testing social and economic policies to see what works and what doesn’t. This year we find ourselves in a unique position, two experiments are underway, on opposite coasts, testing opposite extremes of the political spectrum. California is conducting an experiment in direct democracy, while New York City is giving communism a spin – the tyranny of the mob versus the tyranny of the elites.
Both direct democracy and communism are collectivist strategies, which make individual rights subservient to the needs of the many. The two approaches to governance are at opposite ends of the political spectrum because of where their power resides. Democracy empowers the mob, while communism empowers the elites. The rest of us are about to have front row seats as Cali and The Big Apple demonstrate where both lead – to failure.
Direct democracy gives total control to the majority – i.e. the mob. It allows a simple majority to choose policy by vote – unmoored to notions of individual rights. Scottish historian Alexander Fraser Tytler said:
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse out of the public treasure.
A more succinct description is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin:
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
No direct democracy has ever survived long-term, because humans are flawed beings who covet what others possess. Eventually the mob realizes that it can take from the minority, which causes productivity to collapse. Why should one work, if the fruit one’s labors will be stolen?
California’s proposition process is an example of Franklin’s warning. It allows a simple majority of voters to legislate and even amend the state constitution. Put simply: 51 percent of the population can impose tyranny on 49 percent of the population.
At the prodding of the Service Employees International Union, the mob is currently pursuing a vote to confiscate the wealth of the state’s billionaires. That would be the tyranny of 40 million people, looting the wealth of 200 people, by popular vote. Over a trillion dollars of wealth has already left the state as the most productive flea the mob.
Direct democracy fails when looting replaces productivity. The mob will come for the wealthy first, but eventually the unemployed will target the employed. Inevitably, all wealth will be consumed.
Over on the east coast, the people of New York city have chosen to vest power in the elites, just as communist countries do. Karl Marx explained communism as:
From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
It sounds utopian until one realizes that that last word, “need,” isn’t “want,” and is defined by the ruling elite. Everyone is entitled to “life,” not “liberty” and especially not the “pursuit of happiness.”
Communism is the assumption that everyone’s needs can best be met by central control of the economy – just as Mayor Mamdani is attempting in New York City. By setting prices, controlling production, and distributing the wealth, the city can assure everyone’s “needs” are met. The bees simply need to work hard, sacrifice themselves if necessary, and take satisfaction in the growth of the hive.
But humans are not bees. We take satisfaction from personal accomplishment – which is the fatal flaw of communism. Communism fails when the workers discover they aren’t allowed to benefit from their labor. Without rewards, people work less. As they work less, the elites must take more, and the economy enters a death spiral until all wealth is consumed.
What do California and New York have in common? They are both hotbeds of Democrat party radicalism. Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi, Kathy Hochul, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and a rogue’s gallery of aspiring authoritarians, all claiming to be champions of social justice, above all else.
The Democrats would be happy with communism (note their demand for one-party rule), or direct democracy (note their demand for elimination of the electoral college). While that may seem contradictory, it is not. Both systems replace individual rights with collectivism. For the Dems, anything that terminates personal freedom is a win.
The Dems would be delighted to get communism with 1 chess move, if we elect Democratic Socialists, and hand power to AOC and the squad. But they’d gladly accept the creation of a communal utopia in 3 chess moves: empower the mob, deceive the mob, and then convince the mob to vote for central control. If we allow them to do that, there will be no peaceful return to individual liberty.
As author and former US Army officer Tom Kratman reportedly said:
You can vote your way into communism, but you have to shoot your way out.
Maybe the Dems will need 4 chess moves for checkmate. They’ll need to take our guns too.
Author Bio: John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He has written for American Thinker, The American Spectator, Convention of States Action, and American Free News Network. He can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.
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