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John Stipa| Guest columnist

A guest column by ChuckGabrielepublished Dec.12in The Desert Sunused a fabricated conversation between FDR and Harry Truman to accuse Democrats ofpushing the U.S.toward socialism.

Abraham Lincoln feared that would happen when he freed slaves in 1863, but his crystal ball was better than Franklin and Harrys. Old Abe knew capitalism would be the root cause.

Using some of Lincoln's actual words as a basis, I can imagine Abe talkingto his wife, Mary, when drafting the Emancipation Proclamation:

Evenas IwritethisMary,I worryabout those damned capitalists.

Abe, capital has its rights, which are worthy of protection as any other right.

Capital is only the fruit of labor,Mary,and could never have existed had not labor first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. His moodgrew grim. These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert, to fleece the people.

Fleece is a strong word, Abe.

Youre right,Mary. Abuse is a better descriptor.Markmy words,thosecapitalists will refuse toshare profits with employees, the workers whogeneratedthose profits.Or, theyll hold wages down.Hell, they might even find ways to have work done by machines or in other countries to eliminate jobs.

Why would they do that, Abe?

Because maximizing shareholder wealth is their priority.Capitalists dont care about workers. To them, labor is expendable, easily replaceable and abundant in supply.

Abe, calm

The great man slammed his fist on the table.

This greed will extend into controlling food, water, housing, and healthcare. Can you imagine whatcapitalists will do to the cost of education? The average working man wont be able to afford to send his children to college or buy a houseor take a decent vacation. They wont ever be able to retire; all their meager income will go to food and rent. Both parents will have to work which will endanger the family as a sacred unit. Theylltoilsofeverishly untilthey wear out and get sick. Of course, capitalism will take control of peoples medical care. Theyll make care something thatonly the rich can afford. Theyll dream up Machiavellian excuses to avoid paying for peoples care.

Abe, how will they do that?

Capitalism will create mechanisms of control to influencewhat people read, listen to and learn in school. Like a fox, they will trick people into believing false narratives likethe Civil War was about states rights instead of slavery. When Tom Jefferson wrote All men arecreated equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, he meant all people, not just people with money.

They might even go so far as to saythere is no point in protecting the masses frompollution ordisease. Where does all that smoke from trains and factories go, Mary?Can you imagineifGeorge Washingtondidnot inoculatehis troops against smallpox? Theres no way wewould have won the Revolutionary Warif he hadnt mandated that. IfBen Franklin knew capitalistswould pervert his free press to support all of this, he would roll over in his grave.

Capitalistswantto divide people intohave and have-notsbecause poor peoplewill always be hungry and thereforeasier to control.When people go hungry, not just for food, but alsotheir right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, they will become unruly and desperate. Theyll use their guns to take their frustrations out on the world.

How much damage can a musketdo, Abe?

Trust their greed, Mary.Capitalists will invent better weaponry thatwilleviscerate people in mass quantities.If I had myway,Idallow people to bear arms,but restrict the seriously dangerousweapons to our military.

But the Second Amendment allows you to regulate the militia. Its necessary to the security of a free state.

It also says it shall not be infringed, Mary.Capitalistswillfocus on thepart that allows them to profit.

Whoever drafted thatAbe,should be sent back to grammar school.

I agree. Ultimately, the people will look to their leaders for solutions. But I fear, Mary,instead of solving the root causethat capitalism abusesthe workerwe will drift toward socialism.Someone will create a retirement fund ortax-funded education or medical care.

The sad partisit all could be avoided.If capitalism would simplydo the right thing share their profits withtheir workers,at leastenough tolead a comfortable lifethere would be no need for socialist solutions.

Im not optimistic, dear husband, Mary said, But Ihope capitalists take your advice.

John Stipa lives near Wilmington, North Carolina.

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Counterpoint: If capitalism did the right thing, we wouldn't need socialism - Desert Sun