September 25, 2004

The Effect On the Public of Marxism as Taught in Many Universities

We’ve heard that colleges are teaching Communism to students.

It’s one thing to read a book about it or to see an excellent documentary about it. I’ve even blogged about one instance of it. But to actually encounter the effect it’s had on someone, is something different.

In a recent post, When Talking to Liberals About Iraq, I described a conversation I’d had with a very smart, well-educated guy, a liberal I happened to get into a conversation with at a local Apple store. Not surprisingy, I’ve spoken to a whole bunch of wonderful, bright, well-educated people who have liberal views. My acquaintance from the Apple store was kind enough to exchange some email with me on the subject of the war in Iraq.

He expressed a view that our high standard of living is a result of Capitalism, which, he feels, can only thrive by oppressing those of other nations who provide us with low-cost labor, and with resources. He noted that Americans enjoy many goods and privileges “even at the lower class levels”. He felt that there can be no equality for the people of the world as long as Capitalism is in use.

And my response on reading this was… waitaminnit. What does he want to replace Capitalism with? Who says Capitalism oppresses those of other nations? “Lower class levels?” Was he taught Communism in college?

I emailed to ask if it was true that he’d been taught Marxism or Communism. At this time he has not yet responded.

Now it made more sense to me why he bought into Michael Moore’s absurd accusation that the Iraq war was conducted for the benefit of companies such as Halliburton. It could well be that he’d been taught in college that Capitalism produces just such distortions; that he’d been taught in college to disparage our institutions.

This is so uncool. First and foremost, it’s false: Communism has led to tragedy wherever it’s been used, while Capitalism has been the most successful engine ever devised for building wealth and raising living standards. And far from oppressing other nations, we are doing everything we can to bring Capitalism and Democracy to them, as we have done in Germany and Japan. We’ve just spent over $100 billion to bring them to Iraq, in an effort powered by the bravery and skills of our soldiers.

It’s an attack on all Americans, to the extent that it teaches people to disparage the institutions that make this country great and which are bringing prosperity to other countries as well.

Finally, it teaches people to get used to believing things that are counter to the demonstrable facts. Which may be part of the explanation of how so many Liberals believe so many things which are not only not true, but counter to so many known facts, such as almost everything in Michael Moore’s film.

To those readers who are in college, are they teaching you Communism? I’d like to hear from you about it. And to those who are not in college, consider asking people you know who are, if that’s what’s going on at their university.