The Oct. 5 issue of The Reflector contained an opinion piece titled “Communism found in government.” In the editorial, five of the so-called 10 planks of communism were equated to portions of the government of the United States of America. The author’s first point, that the “abolition of private property and the application of all rent to public purpose” is “behind the scenes in our national government,” is incorrect. If the author had read the U.S. Constitution, he might have noticed that the Fifth Amendment states, “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Any citizen, if he feels that his property rights have been unjustly taken, may appeal to the courts of the United States.
The author’s second point is even more egregious than the first: “(the graduated income tax) is the biggest conspiracy ever pulled by our government.” The author contends that the amendment was not properly ratified; his source is the National Institute for Taxation Education. It would seem that the president of the United States, the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Supreme Court all disagree with the author and his source, for the amendment is included in the amendments of the Constitution and is duly enforced.
The third of the author’s points is so contrite as to be utterly pointless: “the third plank is obvious.” The author is claiming that the United States government has “(abolished) all rights of inheritance.” This third argument is a mystery to me. I, for one, do not believe it is obvious how our government has “(abolished) all rights of inheritance.”
The fourth of the author’s points is just as obscure as the third. The author blunders through the fourth plank of communism, the “confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.” He says that the government of the United States “(confiscates) the property of all emigrants and rebels” and that “this is why they (the department of Housing and Urban Development) got $2 billion for their small army of ninja turtle storm troopers. Kind of makes you think doesn’t it?” Actually, I see no evidence of the confiscation of emigrants’ and rebels’ property in the so-called army of ninja turtle storm troopers. The author’s second argument about the confiscation of emigrants’ and rebels’ property hinges on the 1997 crime bill. I am not exactly sure which crime bill of 1997 the author refers to, but it probably allows the government to confiscate illegal weapons from militia groups.
The fifth of the author’s points attacks the Federal Reserve because it is a national bank that controls the credit of the United States. The Federal Reserve was created in the wake of the Great Depression in order to prevent another stock market crash. The Federal Reserve, according to the author of the editorial, “is why we have an income tax.” No, the United States has an income tax because the Congress has enacted laws that call for the collection of taxes. The author then argues that “gold does not back our currency any longer, and we pay interest on each dollar bill every minute it’s in our wallets or purses.” True, gold does not back our currency, but that has nothing to do with a state monopoly on credit; any person can legally lend another money if he or she so wishes. I don’t believe that Americans pay interest on “each dollar bill.”
The author of this incorrect editorial ends with, “I am sure the influence of communism in our government is becoming more obvious to you.”
Sorry, I believe that the days of McCarthyism are over. To the author, I must say, you have completely misrepresented communism, democracy, the government of the United States and journalistic integrity in one editorial.
– Nick Goodman
Student