"The inherent vice of capitalism is
the uneven division of blessings,
while the inherent virtue of socialism is
the equal division of misery."
by:
Sir Winston Churchill
(1874-1965) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1940-1945, 1951-1955)
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Another great quote by Churchill on this subject is "Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy."
 -- Jeffrey Borrowdale, Cottage Grove     
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     -- Yndrd1984, Ames, IA      
    Another great example of the wisdom of Churchill. I pray to God that we will have another Reagan or Churchill come our way in the next four years to hopefully get us out of the mess we are getting ready to be in.
     -- Patriot, Kingsport,Tennessee     
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     -- Anonymous      
    True socialism has never been practiced. Not that it should, but I'm just saying...
     -- Anonymous     
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     -- Anonymous      
    Anonymous, would you accept a definition such as: Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of private property, the means of production and distribution of goods; to explain socialism. The occupying statist theocracy infesting this land fulfills all aspects of that definition. The State owns you, as expressed by your government identifying number (SSN) and in the amount of labors it allows you to keep to sustain you and your family. All corporations are State bifurcations, the State owning the tangible, only allowing a harshly regulated (a heavily limited scope of production and distribution) day to day administration. All commercial activities are licensed (License - a State issued title of nobility for the purpose of doing otherwise illegal act(s)). Try not paying your property tithes or letting your grass grow to long. There is much more of a pure socialism that exists than a pure capitalism. Capitalism allows those that abide natural law expressions to become as rich or poor as their desires, labor and intellect will allow them. It is religion that by design, definition, morality, law, justice, equity, mercy, freedom and liberty that has duty to take care of those who dont have the labor or intellect to take care of themselves. One would have to define blessings (spiritual, fiscal, happiness or ? ? ?) to give this 5 stars and then it would be a personal perception. I could go on about the faults of capitalism but needles to say, Churchill does have a string of truth that weaves in and out of this quote.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Sell out all you have and lay it at the feet of the Church State.
    Acts 5. Certainly does not sound like liberty and freedom. The thorn in the side of those that would enslave their neighbor, their eventual down fall. Judges 2:3. The religious mindset of those that follow Peter. Old world tactics of oppression in the name of God. It justifies their reasoning and demands, being socialistic Christians. Thinking capitalism to be idolatry. It is one of the most slight and crafty dups of statesmanship. By way of the church.
     -- Ron w13, Or     
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    Anonymous - "True socialism has never been practiced?" And, may it never be in the sovereign nation founded on the unalienable and natural rights of the individual and which has a U.S. Constitution that is founded under a Limited Government Republic to protect us from Progressive-socialist and constitution shredders like you.
     -- Mary - MI     
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    What happened to England then? A socialist-democracy governed by the Crown is a poor example of liberty. But it's an excellent example of 'law and order' -- i.e. obedient subjects serving the ruling class.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Mary is correct, true liberal socialism has never been fulfilled, never truly been practiced. Winston Churchill was not a good man, his crimes against humanity were many he came from the elite and never forgot his roots. He was a man necessary to help fight Hitler but that was all. 
     -- RBE, Somewhere in the US     
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    Actually the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany were the natural end products of socialism.  Both are authoritarian/totalitarian, the State being supreme, and the individual subservient to the commands of the ruling classes and ultimately an 'elected' dictator.  This is where socialism ends up.  Look at China!  The liberals are pushing for everything that China ultimately does while conveniently ignoring the horrors of Statism. 

    Robert, your Utopia has never been fulfilled because it cannot be legislated from on high, it has to come from every person.  The only problem is that there are LOTS of different ways to live life, and while yours may be awesome for you, it may not fit another at all.  That is why Liberty is the ideal, not socialism or any other -ism.  Of course, Liberty requires individual responsibility, honor, self-reliance, courage, and compassion.  If these are not among your ideals, Robert, I do not think your philosophy has good roots.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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     -- jim k, Austin      
    This Churchill individual is just one uneducated fellow. This quoted comment is just an unthoughtful, illogical, biased example of partiality.  Its like the commenter didn't take the slightest second to really consider what was being stated. An equal distribution of resources is simply required for life to proceed.  Its that simple as well as never been introduced, let us give it a try before we criticize it. Socialism is the challenge of socialized behavior to create life.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sillik, you are a deceived liar after the order of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc. Socialism is a challenge to inalienable rights and liberty at nature's law. Socialism destroys life. Your incomprehensible word salad is an extension of your imaginary dictionary for mentally ill children.
     -- Mike,, Norwalk     
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    Everywhere socialism has been 'given a try' has resulted in the culling of millions of people and the subjugation of the rest  that's why socialists usually say 'true socialism hasn't been tried before.'  In fact it has been tried over and over, and it has failed in its promises every time.  Give Liberty a try!
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Mr Archer, Mike,, Norwalk, all these officials that are named in Mike's post had a super tremendous resource advantage over the mainstream. In Socialism(social responsibility) no one has more basic resources( housing, "discretionary" allocations, nutrition) than anyone else and so only when this conditions are reached is authentic liberty, Mr Archer, really recognized.  Simply, the more individuals freed, enabled by fair resource allocation, the more realization and appreciation of freedom by all.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sorry, but that is a really twisted definition of liberty and an accurate description of subservience to the state  i.e., oppression.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    No, Mr Archer, one person is as good and as valuable as any other if the community arrangement is accurately and correctly assembled. All must be eligible to receive the same resource allocated opportunities, even to acquire any remnant or remoteness of the possibility for and of diversity.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    Sillik, your theoretic dogma here stated is anti law, science and reality. Your "good" here is an inorganic abstract constructed by theocratic bias  mislabeling an effect to a cause. "Good" when measured and defined by nature's law and science is understood by a reoccurring result  by example, extensions of individual sovereignty, inalienable rights and liberty at nature's law are by a person a natural expression (no matter community arrangement or assembly). Your dictionary for mentally ill children is ANTI nature's law, science and truth.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Sillik, your theocratic word salad starts off correctly by stating: "one person is as good and as valuable as any other" and then your nonsense devolves into dark theology by making an inorganic / abstract concept ("community") a god with its extending ecclesiocracy an arranged assembly. Each and every, any and all are only as good and as valuable as any other when abiding nature's law  there and only there, is individual sovereignty, inalienable rights, liberty, equality and fairness realized. Your theocratic attempt at fairness fails miserably by definition, under all other circumstances and, always has. An example at law: is 2 + 2 fair? Is gravity fair? Is rain on fertile ground  compared to drought on infertile ground fair? Is oil and water's inability to blend without a third element that emulsifies, fair? etc. Your theology does not correctly compute the human condition as lawful, scientific or fair.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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