All fingers are not alike.
If you cut bigger ones to make all equal it is communism.
If you stretch smaller ones to make all equal it is socialism.
If you do nothing to make all equal it is capitalism.

“Truth” (series) The “Fingers” Theory-part 3
(Living Under Communists)

The “Fingers” Theory…
By Maya
In this chapter of “Truth” it was my intention to introduce you to some major aspects of life in (former) socialist countries, but I realized I’m not ready for that as yet. Reason is that I feel there is more to be said till I get to it. To understand basis a little better, to analyze “ideology(s)”.
The “Fingers” theory (my own way calling things) is simply ingenious for this purpose…
I believe real examples and similar props are most of the time the best help in explaining, analyzing and even great for memorizing. Like using children rhymes :)
Ideologies… how very innocent they might seem when reading about them, studying them, even teaching them… and how very disappointing, even dangerous they could become upon their realization. Sometimes they are  used as an original thoughts to the point, or they are carved, tweaked, outright twisted and then delivering at the end various, often unexpected and almost always undesirable results.
All those “isms…Lets face it, it is not really difficult to come up with some new “isms,” but it is fascinating how some are being accepted as a word of “Bible” and followed like a religion, often by those who have no idea (or sometimes do) that the very ones followed now were already put in practice once before and didn’t work out at all. However, they are  being forced regardless. Being forced on innocent people (meaning obviously kind of politics) and as I already mentioned in previous “chapter” by those, and I repeat that, who either do not know history about what already did and/or didn’t work, or simply accept that particular theory as a manuscript to push it through anyway as a tool proven in a past how to achieve desired results in obtaining -  power! Yeah, proven well… Stalin did it, Mao did it, Castro did it…
When Marx and Engels were the “pioneers” with their introduction of a communism ideology, it obviously wasn’t tried or put in test in real life ever before. It was just an idea, ism, theory.  But for certain individuals it became an ingenious blueprint right then.
Yes, there always was poverty in this world, there always were people struggling, fighting for survival, or just for better life overall. There always were people uneducated, uninformed or outright gullible.
Now here was an idea that could have been even good in some aspects and workable for practical use.
BUT… how about applying it to get to the power. By using these masses, their huge numbers to reach this goal. It really wouldn’t take that much. Just cleverly, patiently, convincingly present an idea and it could become wide, open and welcomed path, supported, even celebrated by those masses, which eventually shall help to elevate carriers of it to the throne. All happened already just this very way.
Unfortunately as it is said and became cemented truth:
“Revolution ends when its leaders are securely sitting on the throne and their wives are dressed in furs.”

For those who didn’t grasp this simple but truthful quote, this it what it really means. Leaders themselves, often coming from the lines of the “poor” class, shall enrich themselves, become assured with their achievement of power, would feel power of power and now its time to hold unto it. Under any condition and by any means. And nation? What nation? They served well, those gullible idiots and now they have it. Now they’ll comply with a rules or else…
This story repeated itself several times in history but still there are those, even today, (seems impossible right?) who would follow those empty promises, those poor, those uneducated, those desperate, those trusting, those hopeful, those often innocent…because there always be those who would unscrupulously, but convincingly offer them. In a time of peace this could happen via inspirational, promising it all speeches; in a time of war winner gets all, like Eastern Europe fell into it as a spoils of war.
EDUCATION would warn, knowledge of history would warn, because history repeats itself. After all, what child would touch hot stove again when burned already once before?
In Eastern Europe, Hungary in 1958 did stand up to Russia and they were “put”right back in their place. Czechoslovakia in 1968 did stand up also with a same result… after all, what would you expect when ant starts revolutions against elephant?  Now tell me, why do you think those nations risked it all? Out of happiness living under communist regimes?
There is a lesson right there, actually two lessons. Still, those hungry for power, hungry to conquer masses go ahead, using just the same blueprint, knowing well it works. It does work! But it becomes somewhat more difficult to put this whole thing in practice when facing nation that know meaning of freedom, nation well educated and that way also knowing history. Those who go forward using any means to get to power, who push bigger government and that way better (later total) control, those who fool people that they’ll be taking care of better then before, often change their names. Progressive could be one, Liberals another… just as an example, because to put it all openly as it really is… socialists, communists… would be to give it away too blatantly. One must use new strategies and act more cleverly, more stealthily, out of site, sort of speak…
But tactics are just the same…going over “dead bodies” with an idea, after all tactics worked already before, they know by now the manuscript by heart, didn’t it bring others to power over nations? All it takes now is going slower and with an unshakable conviction of demagogues.  Well, I think this is just enough about the truth of the matter.

So what about this “Finger theory?” I know you didn’t forget :)

Well, lets analyze its real meaning. But remember to take in consideration nature, people, how it works in real life, and, you’ll be able to solve it yourself. (I’m reminded of Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie detective stories  who used these words…but it just came out naturally now, I didn’t mean to imitate :)
Look at those fingers now:

“If you cut bigger ones to make all equal it is communism.”
Yes, it is that… So when in capitalist economy (example from one nation…more in next part) those capitalists, those industrialists, owners of big and small companies, job creators… were destroyed, their “property” was converted to whom? People, right? That was a promise!  Please every joke possibly used here would turn out as bad one no matter how witty… To the government, of course! So control changed hands… but also heads!  Problem became, when those who are actually politicians try to ran now something they don’t understand…And even when appointing those who do to some extent, those will have their hands tight up with rules, politics and being servants of government. Again, about all that in next chapter… So fingers are now equal, or are they?

“If you stretch smaller ones to make all equal it is socialism.“
Yes it is that. But that stretch is really painful. As an example could be when government confiscated  private holdings, imposed impossible taxation… (again, about this in next chapter) and there are riches…
Now all those who thought that now came their long awaited time, why, they helped to vote, they helped to realize that dream…”take from rich give to poor.” Now what poor? Who is poor? There are no rich any more and now there are not poor, because government now will take care … LOL!

In normal, healthy society,  where there is a justly government allowing and supporting education, encourages businesses,  inventions, support real talent, etc… poor could achieve, actually there are no poor. Even rich were not always rich,  they learned and worked hard and went through loses and successes during their lives. But they had an opportunity. Everybody had an opportunity. (About nations without opportunity in next chapter) They could and should use it. Children should be brought up as well educated. Then every opportunity becomes easier reachable and lives of people become better. So creation of jobs and opportunities should be of utmost importance. And than no one who is only after the power promising to take care of nation would be trusted. One huge give away are big promises, all that sounds too good to be truth, generalization of term “change” when one doesn’t know exactly what that change should supposedly be is dangerous and suspicious. Upon hearing first time the “change” during this past election, first thing that came to my mind was; Sounds like a only change left in our pockets…Next thought was “where to emigrate now.” And this thought came to mind to many others who came to this country seeking freedom, as I was able to discover soon. Because they detect danger, something they lived through, they know!
Than  what I saw happening lately when handouts were given to the “poor” just to get them as voters, get their support, just to persuade them of greatest intentions that are in fact only deceit and then it shall be end of the story.  Such a poverty should not have been even present in this country. Those poor  were created and then used as it always was and is. This notion is very well expressed in saying: “Give man a fish and you  feed him for a day, teach man to fish and you feed him for life.” If government gives handouts and consider that “done deal”  and then become stronger in numbers and in power, it is outright wrong and dishonest use of the innocent poor people. Such a help is a bubble that bursts the moment it is received and poverty stay put. Then cultivation of notion rich against poor and visa verse could never bring peace in a nations life. So that was what stretch was all about? To spent handout and stay poor? What a shame! But simple people would still think those now in power must be better, they gave me few bucks.

“If you do nothing to make all equal it is capitalism.“
Regardless that I was brought up under communists, I acknowledge that capitalism is natural way of things. Actually capitalism with some adjustments. None of those was employed yet though.
After all, I lived under all three regimes, so I can judge all that very well.
It is because it takes in consideration human nature. People are naturally ambitions, would like to achieve, to have an opportunity to achieve, use their individual talents for creation, invention, you name it. It is that engine that moves world ahead. After all, how many times capitalists countries provided only available opportunity for many from socialistic countries whose talent was totally wasted in their own countries and thus making possible to let their genius and skills fully grow and use it for future progress in every corner of our lives…industry, art, etc…(Again more about this aspect in next chapter).
But I think it is not good (and this is called communists idea :) ) neither smart or beneficial for nation when companies/individuals accumulate “too much” and that leads to accumulation of never ending greed, corruption, then power and abuse of it. Some countries deal with this very well and assure better life for their people by using good taxation system, such as Sweden and Denmark to name some. But, of course it would also take honest government to deal with it accordingly for the welfare of all. So why not have it?  Smart, not to mention free nation should be able to establish good government. Unfortunately, how this, so very important matter is handled, is a big joke. To be able to win election because having more money is simply ridiculous (there is never justice and truth in it, only desire to beat the opponent and push demagogue ideas) so there should be finally  different system put in place. The best candidate should win, not one with more money. The second could be elevated by mafia, for example, or by socialists…(nothing comes to mind now?) And here we are coming again to power of people. Power of nation. Stand up for yourself and your nation, educated yourself, never allow to be humiliated, insulted and treated like a sheep. Because YOU are the real power. You are the ones who could turn the tide. Always! Why be a sheep following bad shepherd, when you could fly like an eagles!

Now viva to what? After all its always about FREEDOM!
Thank you  for reading and come back in a few days for part 4 “Toilet paper line”
Maya

Part 1 The Border
Part 2 Perfect Idea Realized