Socialism

Alexis de Tocqueville stood up in the Constituent Assembly to criticize socialism as a violation of human nature, property rights, and individual liberty (1848)

Edward Robertson points out the bureaucratic blundering and inefficiency of the Postal Monopoly during the Christmas rush period (1891)

Frédéric Bastiat argues that socialism hides its true plunderous nature under a facade of nice sounding words like “fraternity” and “equality” (1850)

Frederick Millar is upset that especially at Christmas time the bad effects of the letter-carrying monopoly of the Post Office are felt by the public (1891)

John Strachey on why Socialism harms the poor instead of helping them (1894)

Karl Marx on the necessary task the “bourgeoisie” was doing in putting an end to “feudal and patriarchal relations” (1848)

Ludwig von Mises on the impossibility of rational economic planning under Socialism (1922)

Mill on the dangers of the state turning men into “docile instruments” of its will (1859)

Mises on “interventionism” as a third way between the free market and socialism (1930)

Mises on how price controls lead to socialism (1944)

Mises states that it is the division of labor which makes man truly “social” or “communal” (1922)

Molinari appeals to socialists to join him in marching down “the broad, well-trodden highway of liberty” (1848)

Molinari defends the right to property against the socialists who want to overthrow it, and the conservatives who defend it poorly (1849)

Molinari on mankind’s never-ending struggle for liberty (1849)

The Australian radical liberal Bruce Smith lays down some very strict rules which should govern the actions of any legislator (1887)

Thomas Hodgskin argues for a Lockean notion of the right to property (“natural”) and against the Benthamite notion that property rights are created by the state (“artificial”) (1832)

Thomas Hodgskin wonders how despotism comes to a country and concludes that the “first step” taken towards despotism gives it the power to take a second and a third - hence it must be stopped in its tracks at the very first sign (1813)

Tiedeman states that the police powers under the constitution are strictly limited to enforcing the maxim: “use your own property in such a manner as not to injure that of another” (1886)

Yves Guyot accuses all those who seek Protection from foreign competition of being “Socialists” (1893)

Yves Guyot on the violence and lawlessness inherent in socialism (1910)

Yves Guyot warns that a new ruling class of managers and officials will emerge in the supposedly “classless” socialist society of the future (1908)