The failings of collectivist systems can always be attributed to the failings of those running them. It’s never the fault of collectivist philosophies and policies that are doomed to failure by their internal contradictions. From el gato malo at boriquagato.substack.com:
the anniversary of animal farm
on aug 17, 1945, orwell published “animal farm,” his prescient critique of communism in the form of a fable about barnyard animals taking over the farm from the oppressive farmer and forming a collective commune with equal rights and mantras of “all animals are equal” and “from each according to his ability, to each according to their needs.” in, what to modern eyes constitutes a familiar pattern, this alleged utopia rapidly devolves into “some animals are more equal than others,” with the pigs taking over, living in the house, oppressing and suppressing other species, doing all tbhe things they once villified, and ultimately resorting to scaprgoating, violence, and brownshirts to continue living high on the hog (sorry) upon the forced labor of others.
it’s the exact story that plays out every time and this has made the book a classic.
but at the time, many still saw collectivism, communism, and “rule by smart elites” as the way forward, scientific modern government for modern people.
and we are far from rid of this view.
such sentiments seem eternal, the endlessly seductive siren song for the self-styled smartypantses: put us in charge and we will order your lives for you. we’re the experts. trust us. you’ll be better off for it.
Umm bacon.
Orwell sat in with the Fabian Socialists and knew what was coming.
It’s gonna work this time, we have better pigs.
NO, no you don’t.