I got to meet and argue with an honest-to-god Liberal last night at a Chinese food place (you know who you are). We didn't really get into it too much, yet it was instructive. She actually lauded Canada's socialist programs for the exact same things that Canadians I have talked to denigrated their state for. I mentioned how the roads were falling apart, and how the health system was failing because of the lack of decent doctors willing to work for practically nothing, and the lack of good medical equipment because that stuff doesn't come free. She said that Canada has great roads. I guess the only way to settle that is to take a trip up there together and drive around for a while. Apparantely the real bastion of liberal hope is Sweden, where everything just rocks! The productive people support the non-productive people, and everything is hunly-dory. I actually believe socialism can work in some places, as long as there are enough people willing to take up the slack. Personally, I'm too much a social-Darwinist to ever be able to watch my hard work get eaten up by others, whether they are less productive out of laziness or because they just aren't capable of producing as much as I. I think, deep down, most people want to be rewarded for doing a better job than others. The Swedes are just wierd, I guess! I can't really argue the point too much, because I really have almost no knowledge of Sweden, but it was a hell of a fun conversation.

Oh yeah, when I mentioned how I worship at the altar of Ayn Rand (I didn't say that, just that I enjoyed the books, but everytime a socialist hears me say that, they take it way too far), she said, "Oh god, you should slit your wrists after reading that." I ask her to tell me what book explaining her side of the story in such a convincing and enjoyable manner I should read. I promise to go in with an open heart. Of course I've never heard of a book like that, probably because it would be impossible to write such a text in a realistic manner. There is, of course, Das Kapital and the Communist Manifesto. To those I can respond easily. Check out the Bolsheviks and Soviet Russia. Check out Cuba with Castro and his torture and imprisonment of dissenters. Sure, maybe you can have a socialist society that works, but your brain either has to be frozen by the cold of the northern steppes, or you have to kill or imprison everything who wants what they deserve.

Can't wait for you to write back. benskott@hotmail.com