The Fresno Grizzles were embarrassed when a video they showed between Memorial Day games had some unexpected editing in it. The video had a speech by former President Reagan praising American troops. But in a statement talking about “enemies of freedom,” the editors showed several pictures of such enemies – including Fidel Castro and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). The Grizzles apologized, saying the video was “misleading and offensive” and did not portray their opinion.
Now I assume the Grizzles’ front-office managers know more about baseball than do the editors of the video. But they clearly have no understanding of politics or economics or history. Politics, economics and history all clearly show socialism is, indeed, an enemy of freedom. AOC is a socialist. Even someone who doesn’t know the word syllogism understands the deduction that AOC is, therefore, an enemy of freedom.
Socialism requires some sort of central planning; freedom, with its ability to change course and make new deals rejects the concept of a national, central plan. Economic freedom allows all participants in the market to pursue their own goals; socialism is premised on the edicts and dictates of the elite who set the vision for the group. Historically, it has been the socialist countries who have had gulags and forced mass starvation; countries with less government interference in society have allowed people the chance to grow and blossom as individuals.
The Green New Deal is, undoubtedly, the most radical socialist scheme ever “seriously” proposed in modern times. Calling AOC an “enemy of freedom” is a mild epitaph. To identify the conjunction as “offensive” is itself offensive – and sad.
Askance Eye Miniblog 