Why President Obama is a Marxist
In response to Barack Obama’s assertion in a speech on Sunday that that the US government is responsible for everyone’s success and (wealthy) people should be thankful by paying more tax I called him out for what he truly seems to be – a Marxist psychopath. It seems that Obama has never heard of, or rather is completely clueless about, the American Dream. Perhaps this is to be expected from someone who has spent the majority of their career in the public sector.
Anyway, some small town lawyer in the US picked up on my view of Obama’s speech and decided to challenge me on it. Here is our exchange of views below:
US lawyer:
This is what the president said:
There are a lot of wealthy, successful Americans who agree with me — because they want to give something back. They know they didn’t — look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. (Applause.)
If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.
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No one on earth can disagree with this. It is the least controversial thing ever said.
My response:
Of course everyone gets help to build a business and the state plays a role in helping to develop key infrastructure, but at the end of the day it is individual entrepreneurs who make things happen, cut through bureaucracy, build business communities and create markets. Have you not heard of the American Dream?! My issue is that Obama is making the argument for a bigger, more monolithic state and the resultant decline of personal freedom and responsibility. In case you didn’t realise this is otherwise called socialism, marxism or communism and hasn’t served countries too well that adopted this ideology.
US lawyer:
Fine. Then make that point. But you point here appears to be, “Obama wore a pink tie yesterday. He must be a socialist.” You are attacking what he said here because it reminds you that you don’t like him, not that you disagree with it because it is so manifestly obvious.
Point is: Obama could say or do anything and since you don’t like him, you find it objectionable.
My response:
You couldn’t be more wrong. You clearly are unable to analyse the meaning of his words above. I spent a considerable about of time supporting him (online and offline) in the run up to his election because he seemed such a refreshing change to Bush. But everything he has done since shows he doesn’t understand (like you) the importance of free markets, self-reliance and entrepreneurialism – the essence of America – and would rather build a bigger more oppressive state and support state reliant corrupt corporate elites and the military-industrial complex than foster and support a much needed spirit of entrepreneurialism in US society.
