The French Revolution began in 1789. Maximilien Robespierre was one of its
most eager proponents. An extreme left-winger, he sought a totalitarian rule
that claimed to be “for the people” (echoing the recently successful American
revolution), but in reality was “for the rulers.” He in turn inspired Karl
Marx, author of The Communist Manifesto.
Both Robespierre and Marx had been well-born and well-educated, but rather
spoiled and, as young adults, found that they had no particular talent or
inclination to pay their own way in life through gainful employment.
Consequently, they shared a hatred for those who succeeded economically
through their own efforts and sought a governmental system that would drain
such people of their achievements, to be shared amongst those who had
achieved less. Interestingly, neither one saw himself as a mere equal to the
proletariat that they championed. Each saw himself in the role of the one who
was to cut up the spoils and make the decisions for the rest of society.
It’s worthy of note that collectivist leaders never see
themselves as becoming the humble and patient recipients of whatever bones
the government chooses to throw them. They always see themselves in
the role of rulers.
Collectivism has remained unchanged in its essence to the present day. It
attracts those who would take the productivity of others, enrich themselves
and dole out the remainder to the masses. Seen in this light, collectivism
would seem abhorrent. Who in his right mind would wish to lose his freedom,
to end up as a member of the lumpen proletariat?
But collectivism has thrived, based on one human emotion – jealousy.
Collectivist leaders have learned to sell the people on the enslavement of
collectivism by convincing them that those they envy will be brought down
– to have their gains taken from them and distributed by the state to those
who are less able or less inspired.
Let’s have a look at a few quotes from some of the most noted collectivists
and see how their ideas are holding up in today’s world…
“The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the
millstones of taxation and inflation.” – Vladimir Lenin
“The best way to destroy the capitalist system is to debauch the currency.”
– Vladimir Lenin
Both of these principles are moving rapidly ahead in the EU, US and other
“advanced” countries. Taxation in both jurisdictions is already high and
leaders plan increases. Inflation is claimed to be necessary, although they
claim the present level to be lower than it really is. In fact, it’s
unnecessary. It was only a century ago that income tax became
institutionalised, robbing people steadily of their wealth without them
realizing it, through inflation.
The euro, which gobbled up dozens of independent currencies, is in trouble
and the dollar is nearing the end of its ability to function. They will both
soon be destroyed, very much as Comrade Lenin would have wished.
Another primary objective is to dictate what constitutes truth.
“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it and eventually, they
will believe it.” – Adolf Hitler
“A lie told often enough becomes the truth” – Vladimir Lenin
“Print is the sharpest and the strongest weapon of our party.” –
Joseph Stalin
Governments have always been known for lying to their constituents, but
today, it’s become a fine art. Today, through television, governments are
capable of spoon-feeding simplistic dogma and repeating it over and over
again, in a way that the three leaders above could never have imagined (but
George Orwell most certainly did).
“Give us a child for eight years and it will be a Bolshevik forever.” -
Joseph Stalin
“The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret in
tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.” – Maximilien Robespierre
All collectivist leaders figure out early on that, whilst education can
make a country grow and prosper, it also inspires people to think for
themselves and this must not be allowed to proliferate. Hence, the conscious
effort to dumb-down the proletariat. In the US in particular, scholastic
accomplishment has been steadily and purposely declining since 1965. Although
many current US history books no longer teach students about the American
founding fathers, they do teach about gender bias, the need for enforced
equalization between citizens and even the significance of Oprah Winfrey.
They are no longer history books; they are now books on contemporary culture.
But dumbing down is insufficient. The use of force is often necessary and
that means disarming the populace.
“The only real power comes out of a long rifle”. – Joseph Stalin
“The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the
subjugated races to possess arms.” – Adolf Hitler
“We don’t let them have ideas. Why would we let them have guns?”
– Joseph Stalin
The first quote is from 1924, but an avowed fan of his – Mao Tse-Tung,
echoed this principle, saying, “Political power grows out of the barrel
of a gun,” in his “Problems of War and Strategy” in 1938. The quote from
Adolf Hitler is from 1942.
Certainly, the EU and the US in particular have been dramatically ramping
up their authorities in the weapons department, indicating that they believe
that to do so will more greatly ensure their power. By going further to
disarm their people, as they are also pursuing, they will further assure that
the state becomes all-powerful.
Here are a few miscellaneous quotes to ponder:
“When there is state, there can be no freedom, but when there is
freedom there will be no state.” – Vladimir Lenin
“It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people
who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide
everything.” – Joseph Stalin
“Demoralise the enemy from within by surprise, terror, sabotage,
assassination. This is the war of the future.” – Adolf Hitler
The first quote reminds us that, in the eyes of collectivist leaders,
freedom and the state are opposites, regardless of what their rhetoric might
say. The second quote reminds us that the belief that democracy exists
because voting is allowed is a false hope. The third quote warns that the
terror in our midst is no accident. Nor is it necessarily due to outside
forces. If need be, terrorism can always be created through false-flag events
to justify the removal of the rights of the populace.
Political leaders in the former “free” world regularly state that the
removal of inalienable rights, the ever-increasing taxation and the now-perpetual
warfare are “making the world safe for democracy.” However, when the
democracy is destroyed by these very acts, they are in fact, making the world
safe for collectivism. As they themselves state:
“The bureaucrat has the world as a mere object of his action.” –
Karl Marx
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Jeff Thomas is British and resides in the Caribbean. The son of an
economist and historian, he learned early to be distrustful of governments
as a general principle. Although he spent his career creating and
developing businesses, for eight years, he penned a weekly newspaper column
on the theme of limiting government. He began his study of economics around
1990, learning initially from Sir John Templeton, then Harry Schulz and
Doug Casey and later others of an Austrian persuasion. He is now a regular
feature writer for Casey Research’s International Man
(http://www.internationalman.com) and Strategic Wealth Preservation in the
Cayman Islands.
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The author is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Sprott Money
Ltd. The views and opinions expressed in this material are those of the
author or guest speaker, are subject to change and may not necessarily
reflect the opinions of Sprott Money Ltd. Sprott Money does not guarantee the
accuracy, completeness, timeliness and reliability of the information or any
results from its use.