[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H7829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                        OMINOUS SOCIALIST TREND

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Wenstrup) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise to sound the alarm about an ominous 
trend that seems to be taking hold in our Nation.
  In June, a self-avowed democratic socialist jumped into the national 
spotlight in her quest to join this body. Many view her as carrying the 
mantle for a new socialist trend among some in the United States.
  So, I ask, what would socialist policies mean for our country's 
future?
  I have come to realize that a whole generation of Americans have 
grown up for whom the Soviet Union is just a distant historical memory. 
Many have no personal memory of when the Soviet Union came crashing 
down in 1991, which was dramatic proof that its socialist system was a 
dismal failure. Many can't recall the feeling of national pride over 
the fact that, in contrast, the free economy of the United States had 
succeeded in producing the highest standard of living in world history.
  So perhaps it is understandable that, for a new generation, the old, 
empty promises of socialism seem to carry a new allure.
  Socialism, by definition, is the political and economic theory of 
social organization whereby production, distribution, and exchange 
should be owned and regulated by the community as a whole. In other 
words, what is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.
  Usually, it is the latter that gets people to buy in. That is, what 
is yours is mine. This concept holds a strong appeal for many people 
because it addresses legitimate concerns over inequity and injustice.
  The problem is that, for all its high-minded fairness, socialism 
doesn't work. It is not just a castle in the air; it is the promise of 
a palace that is really built on quicksand. You don't have to look back 
to the Soviet Union to see this.
  Venezuela is just the latest tragic example of socialism's 
devastation. At the beginning of the 21st century, Venezuela was one of 
the top 20 richest countries in the world. Today, its poverty rate is 
87 percent, and its inflation rate is predicted to be approaching 1 
million percent--yes, 1 million.
  Once, Venezuela's capital was a tourist destination with a thriving 
culture. Today, it is the crime capital of the world.
  This crisis is the result of the redistributive policies and the 
systematic destruction of economic freedom by a corrupt and elitist 
administration.
  As President Trump said in his first speech to the United Nations 
General Assembly: ``The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has 
been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully 
implemented.''
  It is a sobering reminder that while socialism's torchbearers may 
change, the havoc it wreaks with its hollow promises remains the same. 
What we must remember is that America is not immune.
  As President Ronald Reagan famously said: ``Freedom is never more 
than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our 
children in the bloodstream.''
  Socialism, faithfully implemented, could cripple our Nation's peace 
and prosperity over time, just as it did in Venezuela.
  It is easy to see the allure of socialism. Socialists say that they 
desire an equitable distribution of wealth and then characterize 
capitalism as rampant greed and materialism.
  Ironically, it is typically the advocates of socialism who display 
the excess desire for material goods. There is the obsession with 
making things free, from phones, to internet access, to a college 
education. Theirs is the obsession with disparities in income, rather 
than a concern with job opportunities.
  Socialism holds a strong appeal for many because it legitimizes 
coveting your neighbor's possessions, which was once commonly 
understood as against the Tenth Commandment. And the premises of 
socialism, all under the high-minded guise of fairness, are anything 
but fair.
  Capitalism, on the other hand, is responsible for the enormous levels 
of philanthropic giving that we see in the United States of America, 
the most generous Nation ever known to mankind.
  We must continue to speak out boldly, not based on fear, but based on 
facts. We must continue to tell the truth, regardless of its 
popularity. We must continue to implement policies that unleash the 
power of our free economy and create more opportunities for all 
Americans, like the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with its 
bipartisan opportunity zones.
  It is my firm belief that, in the marketplace of ideas, freedom will 
always win out over socialism on the bases of merit, evidence, and 
facts. But it cannot win if no one is making the case.
  Mr. Speaker, let's continue to stand up and speak out. Let's make the 
case for freedom and opportunity for all Americans.

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