"The kibbutz was a socialist dream. But Deganias manager, Tzali Koperstein, says, From the start, it was never equal. It was a fake equality. Some toiled hard in Deganias diamond-cutting tool factory and in the fields; others slacked off. And as Israeli society began to value creativity and free enterprise over socialism, Degania lagged behind. Once, everyone earned the same wage, did the jobs they were assigned, and kibbutz elders held the purse strings. Now, says Deganias manager, we are still protecting the weak, but everyone has the responsibility of earning their own living. Elders learned a lesson in capitalism that any kid with a lemonade stand could have taught them: the individual works harder for himself than for the collective. Factory output has jumped. The kibbutzs experiment failed for other reasons. Israeli youth felt stifled and left. Kibbutz life is peaceful and rich, says Koperstein. But it came at a high price. You gave up individual needs. The idea of having someone telling you what to think, what to study, what work to doits like having four walls closing you in. In some kibbutzim (not Degania), children were separated from parents and raised in collective dormitories. Koperstein, who was not raised at Degania, recalls the time when, at age 7, he woke from a nightmare in the dorm and ran home through the darkness to be comforted by his parents. At 3 a.m., the wardens came knocking on the door to bring me back. I couldnt raise my kids that way, he says."
skor Socialism ALWAYS fails for the reasons you posted. The lazy drones in any society NEVER pull their own weight. THE BIG PROBLEM IS in this country we have damned near 50% lazy drones sucking on the welfare tit right now.
Socialism always fails. The only reason it has been able to survive as a semi-viable political movement is that it appeals to young people. Young people do not remember the repression and tyranny of the Soviet Union. Young people do not care about what's going on in North Korea. This makes it far easier for the socialists to gain support among young people. It's working extremely well, since 36% of people in the United States have a favorable opinion of socialism.
Religious societies (ie: Jews) will never embrace socialism because they are bourgeiosie by nature. Try reading the Old Testament for an intro. This is the reason Stalin deported many of them. So, hardly a worthwhile comparison.
