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Socialism is coming back into favor – and not a moment too soon.

In the face of so many Trump successes, the left has got to have something to make sure America fails.

With their clumsy parade of unsuccessful policy positions – think open borders; revolving courtroom doors; mass infanticide as a choice; endless budget deficits; gender exchange for children; and education that doesn’t teach – Democrats have been hard -pressed.

Criticizing, mocking, attacking, suing and otherwise degrading Trump hasn’t worked.

And so, in the absence of sincerity, creativity and reason, Democrats have brushed off that tired old grandame of illusion – socialism.

Yes, I know. She’s been around for ages and come and gone more times than a Tide “new and improved” commercial. 

But in the face of desperation, she has some things going for her.

For one, she always sports the promise of something for nothing. Vote for me, and I will give you everything you need at the expense of the rich, entitled and powerful.

The problem is that all that really happens is a new group of rich, entitled and powerful takes over — and the rest of us simply get a new master.

Witness Cuba. I’ve been there and can promise you that Castro and his acolytes lived like kings while the average liberated Havana resident rode around in open cattle haulers masqueraded as buses.  

The late-’50s Cuba socialism movement was never about the common people. It was about conning the common people into being political pawns.

That ruse continues to this day. Once in power, socialists never give up without violence.

A confusion around socialism is that every time political manipulators trot out their rerun, they give it a new name. 

Hitler called his authoritarian socialism (the only kind of socialism there really is) the National Socialist German Workers’ Party – or NAZI for short.

Today’s liberal Democrats (the only kind of Democrat there really is) are functionally dedicated to Hitler’s governance model minus, for now, a dictator. They call it Democratic Socialism. 

Whatever it’s called, it has nothing to do with liberty, opportunity and responsibility and everything to do with bondage.  

By the way, those three words noted above – equally applied – are the conservative model for honest prosperity.

Another advantage to socialism —again Castro steps in as a stellar example — is that those in charge can easily pretend they are working for the people. 

Did you ever see one of his speeches? He would spend hours essentially talking to himself as he waxed poetic on the glories of the people, the workers, and the splendid Cuban “Socialist State.”

Castro ran a government similar to what Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot once did — and Xi Jinping, Kim Jung Un and Nicolás Maduro are doing today.

Talk to anyone under socialism then or now for a firm reality check on where the talk invariably walks.

Another good thing about socialism is that is does not require logic, reason, facts, proof, or experience.

Think of socialism as a modern-day version of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. Just like those stories have put many a smile on a sleepy child’s face, socialism does the same thing to sleepy-headed adults also seeking “happy ever after.”

A final observation on socialism is that it is hard to argue against. In that it is a total fantasy, other, more realistic models of governance sound blasé’ in comparison because they are grounded in boring realism.

The reasons you shouldn’t buy into socialism are simple.

First, the idea that people will work together for the common good is nonsense. 

People work for their own interests – always – and rarely become socially benevolent until (1) they are well to do and secure (2) believe that the structure they are living in is fair (how often does that happen?) and (3) embrace a spiritual value system that prioritizes loving our fellow man.

For a hint on that last one, note that mandatory socialism dependably reacts violently to voluntary Christianity as a chief competitor.

What’s better than socialism? Just about everything, but there’s one standout.

American functions as a constitutional republic. That means we rely on representative governance elected by the people and for the people.

If they are willing to work at it, everyone gets a relatively equal shot at their piece of the American dream.

If right about now you’re thinking, “Wait a minute, is it really working that way?”

The correct answer is “no.”

Instead of our historical success equation found in competitive market-driven capitalism, we’re allowed our dream to be rigged by crony capitalists on one hand and something for nothing socialists on the other.

Between these two corrupt models, we’re in very real danger of killing our founder’s American Dream.

There won’t be a second chance.

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Conserve [v. kuhn-surv] To use or manage wisely; preserve, save...

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Carl Mumpower is a practicing psychologist and former member of Asheville City Council. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .