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Thread: Poll: Millennials desperately need to bone up on the history of communism

  1. #1

    Poll: Millennials desperately need to bone up on the history of communism

    http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pol...ism-2016-10-17

    The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, citing survey results released on Monday, blames widespread ignorance for the relatively positive views millennials have toward socialism and communism.

    Of the 2,300 Americans polled by YouGov, 80% of baby boomers and 91% of the elderly agree with the statement that “communism was and still is a problem” in the world today. Millennials? Only 55%.

    Furthermore, almost half of Americans between the ages of 16 and 20 said they would vote for a socialist, while 21% would go so far as to back a communist.

    Capitalism, on the other hand, is viewed favorably by 64% of those over the age of 65, compared with only 42% of millennials.

    In fact, more than half of millennials say the economic system works against them, while four out of 10 call for a “complete change” to ensure that the highest earners pay their fair share.

    There’s a lack of historical perspective, according to the foundation, that the survey showed among a big chunk of the younger generation. For instance, a third of millennials say they believe more people were killed under George W. Bush than Joseph Stalin.

    As far as familiarity with historical figures, this chart sums it up:



    “One of the concerns [the foundation] has had since its establishment is that an emerging generation of Americans has little understanding of the collectivist system and its dark history,” said Marion Smith, executive director of the organization. “Unfortunately, this report, which we intend to release on an annual basis, confirms this worrisome impression.”



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  3. #2
    Part of this issue is that the parameters of the discussion are being controlled by socialists. "Capitalism" is a Marxist term that simply means private ownership of property, versus collective ownership. I'm pretty sure most millennials want to own stuff. The term itself needs to be abandoned.
    All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the power of the State.
    -Albert Camus

  4. #3
    I am historically ignorant but I managed to find my way here. I'll let you guys be the judge of whether or not I am liberty minded. I think the problem is that these people are being led away from the real culprit that is making advancement of their life difficult (government) and are instead led to blame business owners and foreigners. I have always taken the view that you don't need to know about history to know what is right going forward, in terms of political philosophy. Being able to use historical examples to exemplify a point seems pretty useful though.

  5. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by P3ter_Griffin View Post
    I am historically ignorant but I managed to find my way here. I'll let you guys be the judge of whether or not I am liberty minded. I think the problem is that these people are being led away from the real culprit that is making advancement of their life difficult (government) and are instead led to blame business owners and foreigners. I have always taken the view that you don't need to know about history to know what is right going forward, in terms of political philosophy. Being able to use historical examples to exemplify a point seems pretty useful though.
    Everything has a context that is historical by nature. For instance, people don't realize that the US was not intended to have a monolithic central government, and now it is assumed. People don't know that the "Revolutionary War" was a secessionist movement, an idea that is demonized now. History is being rewritten...take that state-sanctioned piece of crap "Hamilton" as an example.
    All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the power of the State.
    -Albert Camus

  6. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by otherone View Post
    Everything has a context that is historical by nature. For instance, people don't realize that the US was not intended to have a monolithic central government, and now it is assumed. People don't know that the "Revolutionary War" was a secessionist movement, an idea that is demonized now. History is being rewritten...take that state-sanctioned piece of crap "Hamilton" as an example.
    As far as convincing someone of the right track forward, I think you are more likely to be successful convincing them and less likely to follow a predasessors mistake when you advocate the benefits of, for instance, a constitutional republic, versus if you just told the individual 'that is how they set it up'.

  7. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by P3ter_Griffin View Post
    As far as convincing someone of the right track forward, I think you are more likely to be successful convincing them and less likely to follow a predasessors mistake when you advocate the benefits of, for instance, a constitutional republic, versus if you just told the individual 'that is how they set it up'.
    While this is true, I find value in a poignant (pointed) objective discussion of past events and let the other party draw his own conclusions. People think in popular soundbites without investigating their own beliefs.
    IOW,
    "Brawndo has electrolytes"
    All modern revolutions have ended in a reinforcement of the power of the State.
    -Albert Camus

  8. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by otherone View Post
    While this is true, I find value in a poignant (pointed) objective discussion of past events and let the other party draw his own conclusions. People think in popular soundbites without investigating their own beliefs.
    IOW,
    "Brawndo has electrolytes"
    And this is the level of conversation that a historically ignorant person cannot even entertain. I definitely don't want to glamorize ignorance, I think while a child is being educated it makes sense to teach history so they can have this historical perspective. But I think when it comes to either teaching someone history and then trying to convince them to our side, or the alternative, which I guess is just trying to convince them to our side, I favor the latter. Could very well be because I'm missing a few tools from my toolbox though.

  9. #8
    Theory without empirical evidence is blind, empirical evidence without theory is retarded.

    You need both.

    A good liberal education should include history, economics, law/ethics, and political science.

    Personally, I started down the path toward liberalism with history, so that's where I'd suggest people start.

    But wherever you start, you really should get to history at some point.



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