Imagine a socialist New York City where the mayor’s vision of equality is put into practice. However, the pursuit of this ideal comes with a price. In this thought experiment, we’ll explore what life would be like under a leadership committed to socialism.
The new mayor, a proud member of the Democratic Socialists, starts by regulating property so thoroughly that it belongs to the city. A new planning body, the Central Planning Authority (CPA), is established to craft a practical blueprint for socialism with a New York face. However, implementing a “planned economy” requires concentrating power in the hands of a small group of government specialists, which creates a contradiction.
The CPA sets out to control the means of production, but it quickly becomes apparent that controlling resources without also controlling individual goals and plans is nearly impossible. Individualism is seen as hateful to socialism because it breeds inequality, and the mayor’s vision of equality leads to a dictatorship of the new class.
Resistance is expected, and some may be welcomed. However, the economic logic of socialism tends towards authoritarianism, and the “public” is an amorphous entity incapable of organizing anything on its own. The CPA decides who gets what, where, and for which bureaucratic reasons, and mobility in jobs and housing is discouraged.
In this new society, traditional notions of right and wrong are sacrificed at the altar of equality. The mayor and his team will not hesitate to use lies and violence if they advance the cause. The city’s information campaigns spread propaganda, and the media plays its part in promoting the socialist agenda.
The thought experiment raises questions about why socialism remains popular despite its historical failures. The author suggests that the pursuit of equality exacts a price – freedom and individuality are sacrificed at the altar of the collective. In this way, socialism can be seen as a secular Christian heresy, offering submission and sacrifice in service of a political Eden.
The result is a society where the lion lies down with the lamb, but not necessarily because it’s a harmonious and peaceful coexistence. Rather, it’s because individuals have lost faith in traditional values and are desperate for something – anything – that promises meaning and purpose. In this case, socialism offers a false promise of equality, but at the cost of individual freedom.
Life under a socialist New York City would be a complex and multifaceted experience, with both benefits and drawbacks. While it may offer some freedoms from poverty and inequality, it comes at the cost of individual rights and freedoms. Ultimately, this thought experiment serves as a reminder that the pursuit of equality is not without its challenges and trade-offs.
Source: https://www.city-journal.org/article/new-york-city-socialism