Reader wary of Obama’s plan

Ingrid Wood, Columbus

To the editor:

Young people, who are flocking in increasing numbers to Barack Obama, better read their history books.  “Spreading the wealth”, a euphemism for socialism, didn’t work in Eastern Europe.  Socialism and communism left the majority of the people in the Soviet Union and their satellite states living in true proverty.  It killed their ambition, their work ethic, and any incentive to produce more than they absolutely had to. 

 

The most compelling argument against “spreading the wealth” is this:  if such a system is so great, why were the people of Eastern Europe kept behind the Iron Curtain?  Why was it necessary to prevent their fleeing to the capitalistic nations of the West?  Why did so many try to flee and were murdered when they got caught?

 

 “Spreading the wealth” has not created prosperity in African socialist contries.  Study the dismal situation in Zimbabwe, the former African country of Rhodesia. “Spreading the wealth” sounds good in theory.  In reality, it does not work.

 

Instead of sharing the wealth, the young people in this country will surely share in the misery of other socialistic countries.  We can all learn from history.  While the Iron Curtain existed, West Germans sent care packages with staples like coffee, soap, and pantyhose to their relatives forced to “spread the wealth” in East Germany.  Allow me to ask those of you who support him:  if Barack Obama institutes the spreading of wealth in this country, who will send care packages to you?