Has America Been Influenced by Communism?

[98valk]

“It takes about 15 to 20 years to demoralize a nation,” Bezmenov wrote in his book, Love Letter to America. “Why that many (or few)? Simple: this is the minimum number of years needed to ‘educate’ one generation of students in a target country (America, for example) and expose them to the ideology of the subverter.”

Such Soviet reeducation methods took deep root in America during the 1960s and ’70s. Bezmenov warned that kgb agents and their socialistic “fellow travelers” would use abstract art, perverted music, pornographic images, homosexual rights, racist politics, pacifist foreign policy and socialist economics to demoralize America.  Mr. Armstrong also warned of this infiltration of America. In a 1980 edition of the Worldwide News, he wrote, “I was saying over the air, and writing, back in 1934, that the Communist[s’] unwavering strategy was, as a first offensive toward world domination, propaganda. They began sowing the seeds of their Communist atheistic education all over the United States—especially among college professors and students.”

“They invaded American university campuses, full force,” he continued, “and the U.S. universities trustingly let them in.”

In practice, communism has never been the grassroots movement Karl Marx predicted. It has been driven by small groups of intellectuals and elites who seize power. Hence the targeting of the American intelligentsia—present and future.

 https://www.thetrumpet.com/12385-has-america-been-influenced-by-communism

[Jess from VA]

“They invaded American university campuses, full force,” he continued, “and the U.S. universities trustingly let them in.”

They didn't trustingly let them in.... they lovingly let them in.

[old2soon]

As my Dad used to say-couldn't see the forest for the trees.  Felt a wee mite vulnerable when we-onboard The U S S Yorktown C V S-10 were overflown by russian bombers. Far as the ideology goes-no way. I'd post this another way but I are thinkin a dirty word here!  All these years later and I STILL consider communism The red menace. We weren't doing duck and cover drills cause it was cool!  RIDE SAFE.

[Oss]

Parents are 1st line of defense

Teach the kids and grandkids that it is better to be captain of your destiny than to depend or need to rely on government which always has its interest and not your interest (ever) as it only wishes to preserve its state

Where parents dont care, the kids are not inoculated against college propaganda.  Your church or synagogue can also help teach the kids to recognize bullcrap when they hear it and to speak out.

God may have been taken out of schools but thankfully the parents can instill values   Communism is by definition godless.  Socialism is Not.

White Russians are extinct, that teaches what communists think about socialists as well

[The emperor has no clothes]

White Russians are extinct

I found one 

[Serk]

“They invaded American university campuses, full force,” he continued, “and the U.S. universities trustingly let them in.”

They didn't trustingly let them in.... they lovingly let them in.

Pretty sad, but the way things are now, I'm actively discouraging my kids from attending college.

[The emperor has no clothes]

“They invaded American university campuses, full force,” he continued, “and the U.S. universities trustingly let them in.”

They didn't trustingly let them in.... they lovingly let them in.

Pretty sad, but the way things are now, I'm actively discouraging my kids from attending college.

That's very sad indeed. Surely there are some that would meet up to your standards ?

[Jess from VA]

“They invaded American university campuses, full force,” he continued, “and the U.S. universities trustingly let them in.”

They didn't trustingly let them in.... they lovingly let them in.

Pretty sad, but the way things are now, I'm actively discouraging my kids from attending college.

In a technical field, maybe.  As long as they are well instructed on the pressures and influences that will be brought to bear (before they go), and to keep a low profile with any conservatism (forget free speech entirely on campus), they might be OK.  Peer pressure can be huge though.  But some stupid general studies, english lit, sociology (the worst), psychology, etc major, is a waste of time and money IMHO. (although it must be noted that most of the first two years of any 4-yr undegrad program anywhere is a variable required core curriculum that includes some of all of that crap stuff)

Though my mother always maintained a BS/BA was worth it if for no other reason than to expand your mind and give you a better quality and understanding of life.  And maybe that's true, but maybe it's not.  People can do a lot of learning and reading outside of a structured school environment (as I'm sure you know).

My thoughts are that if a kid has a solid drive to do something specific and is very motivated, then supporting him is the thing to do (that was me).  But if they are like about 85% of my peers in undergrad, who had no idea what they wanted to do when they grew up, they'd be better off going to work right away.  Maybe in a good trade.

Just by comparison, my younger brother who had a 60% loss of hearing in childhood, had a very hard time in school (almost held back twice), and was simply uninterested and unstimulated.  Beyond the basics, school for him was just being locked up 7 hours a day.  Ten years after HS, he had mastered multiple trades, risen to the top as a carpenter foreman, and was in demand everywhere for his skill (and hand picked crew).  He was building his own home on paid for acreage.  Had his private pilots license and a Cessna 172.

Ten years after HS, I was one year out of school, dead broke (but little debt), and having a hard time getting employed in my (overpopulated) profession, which to my utter amazement and disappointment, I discovered I didn't like very much at all.  

And BTW, we retired about the same time, and his pension is three times mine.  

[Serk]

Yup Jess... Spot on...

If they have a SPECIFIC STEM type degree path they want to follow, then more power to them. But going to college just because you're supposed to go to college? No way.

I have no interest in mortgaging their or our futures just to brainwash them into being over the top PC communists.

Even if we DID want to support them, we wouldn't be able to afford it regardless, we'll still be paying for the spousal unit's bachelor's degree and master's degrees (MBA) for the next 30 years or so.

[Jess from VA]

I forgot (again) how young you are.  

Full time, 5 academic classes per semester, was right around $300 a semester at a good state university (add about $50 for books, if you could live with some used ones).  1971

When I started law school and discovered it was going to cost me a $K per semester (and $200 books), I was highly pissed off.  1976

Working the steel mills in summer, I paid my way though.

Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end........

And in all those years, I only had one sociology professor that actively and militantly pushed his socialism/communism on his classes.  He built it into his daily classes and tests, and if you did not give him back what he wanted, he punished you with poor or even failing grades.  I gave him what he wanted, and did fine.  I WAS NOT converted.   I wonder how bad it is today?

[Raider]

I'm with Jess.  Am only willing to support college if there is a very specific goal on the other end (e.g. business, finance, become an electrical engineer).  Otherwise, trade school, military, any other honorable career.

[Serk]

I wish I was as young as some think I am... (Although admittedly, in 1976 I wasn't yet in Kindergarten, but I was out of diapers at least... )

For the spousal unit's degrees we're currently down to about $130,000 in student debt (After paying on 'em for the last 20 years or so). I sure hope her degrees were worth it, but I dunno...

Even at the public school high school level, and even here in The Republic of Texas, it's getting bad. Kali's had confrontations with a few teachers for preaching their religion of politics instead of the class they're supposed to be teaching. I've had to tell her to stand down, just do the work and get through it, you're not gonna change any minds.

Although, on the plus side she said they had an e-mail from the superintendent saying basically anyone who takes part in the anti-freedom walkout silliness during school hours would be dealt with appropriately (I.E. suspended)

[Jess from VA]

I had plenty of respectful debates with teachers in my day, but they were about the subject matter of the class, not personal political beliefs.  She must learn to grin and bear that with no signs of disagreement on her face.  Teachers will always win, and will punish you with poor grades.  And teachers famously share with each other in their lounges, and all you do is cut your own throat.  

Poker face is an acquired skill necessary for schooling and all jobs one will have their whole life (and in dealing with people in general).

I had plenty of bosses who were just assholes, but I needed the jobs badly.  I didn't kiss their asses, but I treated them with respect even when I had none for them.  You outwork your peers, make your boss' job easier and yourself indispensable.  Even if he is an asshole.  Or you quit.  I only had that luxury twice.  Once when I was a summer bartender, and when I left VA 4 years before my full 30.

Now old and retired, I can happily piss everyone off I meet; though I really don't do that.... only about 1 in 4.   

[Serk]

I had plenty of respectful debates with teachers in my day, but they were about the subject matter of the class, not personal political beliefs.

Yeah, I have no problem with a respectful discussion/debate if it's at least related to the subject matter of the class... One of my high school teachers that I often debated with back in the 1980's in high school, I'm still in contact with and we're still discussing things all these years later on Facebook. We often disagree, but we disagree without being disagreeable. (And even though we're diametrically opposed in most ways, she was by FAR my favorite teacher I ever had. Kinda ironic looking back, she was inadvertently WHY I became more of a libertarian and less of a starry eyed socialist. She led the tour I took to the Soviet Union in the summer of 1990. Nothing can make you appreciate capitalism more than seeing the effects of socialism first hand!)

Kali's main problem child teacher is for "Digital Communications", and this teacher spends a good chunk of the class railing against Trump, against gun rights, and pushing censorship to avoid hurting people's feelings (Kinda ironic stance for someone teaching Digital Communications.)

I did acquiesce and let Kali wear my "FACTS DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS" shirt to school one time just to get her point across. Nothing much was said, she did get a few glares, but the teacher, to her credit, hasn't let this effect Kali's grades.

(And luckily being in The Republic, even among public education teachers the majority are still sane, even though a few loonies slip through at least the inmates aren't running the asylum, at least not yet.)

[Robert]

The problem in the US is the things we used to do to learn cars, motorcycles, or any appliance or have any kind of tinker ability that leads to a technical expertise is being removed from kids since its dangerous. Kids are also being dumbed down and not allowed to learn the things we did as kids. I have seen a few with a technical interest go to autorepair school and come out knowing pretty much nothing. No one will hire them since they dont know how to tighten a bolt.

US Marshals arresting people for not paying their federal student loans
http://www.fox26houston.com/news/local-news/us-marshals-arresting-people-for-not-paying-their-federal-student-loans

Look at the Fabian society,

“Fabian Socialism” uses incremental change over a long period of time to slowly transform a state as opposed to using violent revolution for change. It is essentially socialism by stealth. Their original emblem was a shield with a wolf in sheep’s clothing holding a flag with the letters F.S. Today the international symbol of the Fabian Society is a turtle, with the motto below: “When I strike, I strike hard.”

American Socialists Release Names of 70 Congressional Democrats in Their Ranks in 2009

[Jess from VA]

Kali's main problem child teacher is for "Digital Communications", and this teacher spends a good chunk of the class railing against Trump, against gun rights, and pushing censorship to avoid hurting people's feelings (Kinda ironic stance for someone teaching Digital Communications.)

I don't know if this would be a good viable idea or not, but how about a well thought out anonymous letter to the principle or school board (or both) detailing the amount of time this teacher spends in apparent indoctrination of leftist political belief, as opposed to teaching her curriculum.  (My niece the teacher complains that she is extremely controlled in what she can spend her day doing, all day every day... common core?)

Even anonymous, the author would have to be someone in her class (how many does she teach?), and even a dimwit teacher could probably narrow that down to a suspected few.  And perhaps retaliate.  

File this under the don't get mad, get even mentality.  Maybe it's a bad idea, I dunno (Esp if Kali would be the primary suspect).

You would need to sit down and edit the letter she wrote, to remove any tells she may have in her writing style... we all have them.  Presumably, someone would put this letter in front of the teacher for an explanation, and it would not do for it to have Kali's individual writing style show through.

[Serk]

I actually considered that, but as long as the religious sermon (And make no mistake, politics and religion are two sides of the same coin in this instance) doesn't interfere with her grades, and Kali says they actually DO cover the subject matter decently well, I'm okay with it.

That, and Kali seems to enjoy the parring, she says it helps her solidify her own stance by being forced to defend it. (If you can't tell, I'm pretty proud of this kid. She's got a few typical teenager quirks, but overall, good kid with her head on right. Hopefully you'll get to chat with her in Roanoke, planning on bringing her. I'll tell her to not berate your vertical handicap TOO much... )

[Jess from VA]

Looking forward to meeting you both.

I can take good humored pokes all day.

But I insist if I get them, the pitcher better be ready to catch mine in equal good humor.

My problem is bad language.  It's almost never used to offend, but only to add color to my points.  But it does offend some people, and I hate doing that unintentionally.  It's just a bad habit. 

[98valk]

Looking forward to meeting you both.

I can take good humored pokes all day.

But I insist if I get them, the pitcher better be ready to catch mine in equal good humor.

My problem is bad language.  It's almost never used to offend, but only to add color to my points.  But it does offend some people, and I hate doing that unintentionally.  It's just a bad habit.  

your in great company Jess

In response to criticisms of his coarse language, Patton wrote to a family member, "When I want my men to remember something important, to really make it stick, I give it to them double dirty. It may not sound nice to a bunch of little old ladies, at an afternoon tea party, but it helps my soldiers to remember. You can't run an army without profanity, and it has to be eloquent profanity. An army without profanity couldn't fight its way out of a piss-soaked paper bag."

[Serk]

My problem is bad language.  It's almost never used to offend, but only to add color to my points.  But it does offend some people, and I hate doing that unintentionally.  It's just a bad habit. 

I let Kali read this thread...

She laughed...

"Dad... I go to public school... Language doesn't bother me AT ALL!"

[Ramie]

Here is one college you can trust.

https://www.hillsdale.edu

[¿spoom]

Parents are 1st line of defense

Teach the kids and grandkids that it is better to be captain of your destiny than to depend or need to rely on government which always has its interest and not your interest (ever) as it only wishes to preserve its state

Where parents dont care, the kids are not inoculated against college propaganda.  Your church or synagogue can also help teach the kids to recognize bullcrap when they hear it and to speak out.

God may have been taken out of schools but thankfully the parents can instill values   Communism is by definition godless.  Socialism is Not.

White Russians are extinct, that teaches what communists think about socialists as well

Sadly, many parents have taken themselves out of schools, also, and from many homes. Leaving young kids to be taught by the local teacher's union is the first step in being indoctrinated into activism and socialism.

[98valk]

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, Communist quotes: 
Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.

Karl Marx, Communist quotes: 
The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother's care, shall be in state institutions at state expense.

Josef Stalin, Communist quotes: 
Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.

William T. Harris, Communist quotes: 
Our schools have been scientifically designed to prevent over-education from happening. The average American [should be] content with their humble role in life, because they're not tempted to think about any other role.

Communist Party Education Workers Congress, Communist quotes: 
We must create out of the younger generation a generation of Communists. We must turn children, who can be shaped like wax, into real, good Communists.... We must remove the children from the crude influence of their families. We must take them over and, to speak frankly, nationalize them. From the first days of their lives they will be under the healthy influence of Communist children's nurseries and schools. There they will grow up to be real Communists.

[Reb]

I think my BS Mechanical Engineering was about $58K, in the end I believe It cost a total of $2100 out of MY pocket.

The rest was covered by you fine tax payers 

[Alpha Dog]

Here is one college you can trust.

https://www.hillsdale.edu

I am very familiar with Hillsdale.  My first college baseball victory came against Hillsdale.  Then the next year I gave up 3 home runs to them and my team mates gave me the nickname HR and not for the ones I hit.

My college was Northwood University and it was very free enterprise and still is.  They would accept no gov't funds back then, I do not know about today, but Hillsdale still claims they do not.  I remember my very first week in Economics 101 when the reading included Adam Smith and Milton Friedman and this gent made all the sense in the world, Ludwig von Mises.

https://mises.org/profile/ludwig-von-mises

[Oss]

I had not heard of this man, that was an interesting article and he was a fascinating man.  So much original, deep and innovative thinking went on in the late 19th and early 20th centuries  

He said he was liberal in the 19th century sense  that was a great quote

For those who dont want to read it all this part stuck

"Indeed, Mises was politically a laissez-faire radical, who denounced tariffs, immigration restrictions, or governmental attempts to enforce morality. On the other hand, Mises was a staunch cultural and sociological conservative, who attacked egalitarianism, strongly denounced political feminism as a facet of socialism. In contrast to many conservative critics of capitalism, Mises held that personal morality and the nuclear family were both essential to, and fostered by, a system of free-market capitalism."

I am not a fan of central banks creating inflation myself so I enjoyed that very much  Thanks Alpha for the lesson  Were the home runs off a flat curveball or your best fastballs?

[Alpha Dog]

I had not heard of this man, that was an interesting article and he was a fascinating man.  So much original, deep and innovative thinking went on in the late 19th and early 20th centuries  

He said he was liberal in the 19th century sense  that was a great quote

For those who dont want to read it all this part stuck

"Indeed, Mises was politically a laissez-faire radical, who denounced tariffs, immigration restrictions, or governmental attempts to enforce morality. On the other hand, Mises was a staunch cultural and sociological conservative, who attacked egalitarianism, strongly denounced political feminism as a facet of socialism. In contrast to many conservative critics of capitalism, Mises held that personal morality and the nuclear family were both essential to, and fostered by, a system of free-market capitalism."

I am not a fan of central banks creating inflation myself so I enjoyed that very much  Thanks Alpha for the lesson  Were the home runs off a flat curveball or your best fastballs?

You are most welcome Oss.  Probably both although I also threw sliders and what at that time was called screwballs.  That was my worst pitching day in High school, college and summer leagues.  One guy that day about 6' 4" linebacker build clobbered one that almost hit the football stadium.  Mickey Mantle would have been proud of that distance.

[zero200]

Ironic that some of the posters above fear communism and socialism and can’t afford to give their children a non-job related education. Especially since education is most often free in most communist or socialist societies.

Personally I’d love to get society to look beyond labels and actually talk about the merits of different systems as opposed to just growing fearful of the ‘other’ whatever that may be.

Maybe we should take a page from communism and not have your kids go tens- maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to get an education. And maybe debate between differing views, like Kali is doing, allows us to drop our labels and find actual improvements for our lives and society.

[Oss]

Communism does not mean all are equal, not for one moment.

One must belong to the party for advancement

One must not dissent

Free speech does not exist, for that matter religious freedom (SVOBODA was the word for freedom in the USSR in the 1970's when I marched to free soviet jewry, now it is the Ukraine ultra right wing party  funny how a word can be stolen over time

Freedom of assembly may be punished  you are but a pawn of the govmt as the proletariat

I do agree tho that there are certain ideas in socialism such as taking care of each other thru shared work that make sense in abstract and have only worked in limited places, like a kibbutz in a democratic country.  Taxes are very high for the social safety net and there are other problems run amok, like the
overrunning of those european countries by people looking to enforce their own law *Sharia

However when government controls, free will and rights must suffer  Libertarians are scarce in communist countries

If you dont want to go to college then dont go.  It is a "unwise son or daughter" who goes to college just because it is expected. Better to joing the service and build up GI benefits or the peace corps, or a hundred other jobs or ideas for a few years while one finds or at least searches for what he or she would like to be or do before piling on debt.

[Jess from VA]

Communism (totalitarian socialism) and socialism depend on everyone pulling their own weight.  A high percentage of humans never pull their own weight (from cradle to grave).  Making those of us who do pay for those who don't (and perpetually corrupt, inefficient and expensive Govts of any type) is lousy and rotten to the core.  And over time, people get so tired of it, that they reach a tipping point of throwing in the towel, and joining those who don't pull their own weight (like about the time total taxes reach about 50% of income).  Some degree of socialism like social security is acceptable, but not full boat socialism.

I once was in a profession that studied how to kill communists for a livelihood (in my case, by thermonuclear means, though we could also do conventional bombing very well).  It was the best job and most noble profession I ever had.  I think it's still a good mission.

I want to keep what I earn, let the free sh!t army keep what it earns (and nothing more).

[Alpha Dog]

Ironic that some of the posters above fear communism and socialism and can’t afford to give their children a non-job related education. Especially since education is most often free in most communist or socialist societies.

Personally I’d love to get society to look beyond labels and actually talk about the merits of different systems as opposed to just growing fearful of the ‘other’ whatever that may be.

Maybe we should take a page from communism and not have your kids go tens- maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to get an education. And maybe debate between differing views, like Kali is doing, allows us to drop our labels and find actual improvements for our lives and society.

An education in any country or system is never free, someone(s ) is going to pay the bill one way or the other.  You owe me nothing for the education lesson, this one is free.  Excuse me while I go grab some more dollar bills off my money tree.

[Serk]