Anti-Semitism, Wokeness, and the Vitality of America for Israel’s Survival, Part 3: The Grade Equality
“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” – Winston Churchill
Socialism may sound like a dream come true, with its promise of everyone having a comfortable life and equal opportunities. However, history has shown us that plain vanilla socialism has failed every time it has been implemented. Countries like the Soviet Union, Cuba, Yugoslavia, and Venezuela turned into totalitarian states under socialist regimes.
In a socialist state, success is suppressed while failure is rewarded. This is how equality of outcome is achieved. In the Soviet Union, we were taught to despise the wealthy and sympathize with the poor. It was easy to empathize because almost everyone, except for the ruling-class bureaucrats, was living in poverty.
On the other hand, capitalism may not offer the same utopian promises as socialism, but it has proven to be effective in practice. Capitalism has lifted billions of people out of poverty. Ironically, it is now facing threats from those who have benefited the most from it – academics. Universities have greatly benefited from the wealth created by capitalism.
As Margaret Thatcher once said, “Socialism is a great idea until you run out of other people’s money.”
Universities used to be intellectual battlegrounds, where opposing ideas clashed and gave birth to new ones. They were places where our thinking was challenged through healthy debates. This intellectual growth often came with some discomfort, but it stimulated our minds.
However, many universities have transformed into luxurious retreats, where students pay exorbitant fees to have their minds pampered and shielded from opposing ideas. These “safe places” consider any opposing viewpoint as microaggressions. Free speech is suppressed, unless it involves advocating for the genocidal extermination of a particular group.
It seems that college administrations are more concerned with keeping their “spa customers” (students) happy rather than challenging their thinking and fostering intellectual excellence.
Recently, I discovered a new avenue through which socialism is infiltrating our universities – the socialization of grades. At a local law school, professors are required to grade to a B+. If the average grade falls below a B+, the system rejects it. The university fears that low grades might hurt students’ feelings and wants everyone to have a high grade-point average upon graduation.
However, what may be inflation for some is deflation for others. This practice unfairly punishes hardworking students, as their efforts may result in lower grades compared to classmates who are more focused on attending ”TikTok University” during lectures.
Universities are on a misguided mission to eliminate grade inequality, which is a form of socializing outcomes. This practice echoes Karl Marx’s slogan: “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.” Law students need a B+, so they get a B+.
With each graduating class, our equal-opportunity society is slowly being diluted by the dogma of equal outcomes (socialism).
Grade inflation is becoming a widespread issue in colleges across the country. However, the blame cannot solely be placed on colleges. The problem starts in high schools, where super grade inflation is on the rise. Grades have gone up while reading and math skills have declined, with minorities experiencing the largest grade inflation.
Bad grades are an essential part of education. They help us realize where we need to improve. I failed English as a freshman in college because my English skills were objectively terrible. I’m grateful that I didn’t receive special treatment for being a foreigner. Instead, I worked harder, retook the class, and passed it in my senior year. This experience allowed me to improve my English, write several books, and receive national writing awards.
The beauty of the Declaration of Independence lies in the guarantee of the ”pursuit of happiness.” It provides equal opportunities for everyone to pursue their dreams. However, it does not guarantee the outcome. The pursuit itself holds immense value, happiness, and meaning. It may involve taking a more challenging path, but it leads to personal growth, pride, and a sense of accomplishment.
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Vitaliy Katsenelson is the CEO of IMA, a value investing firm in Denver. You can read his articles on ContrarianEdge.com. He is the author of Soul in the Game – The Art of a Meaningful Life (Harriman House, 2022).
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
In what ways does socialism hinder innovation and progress due to the absence of competition and incentives for risk-taking?
D mission to prioritize equality of outcome over individual merit. By imposing grade limits, they undermine the value of hard work and discourage students from striving for excellence. This type of socialism fails to recognize that success should be earned through dedication, perseverance, and intellectual growth.
The equal sharing of miseries in socialism not only applies to the suppression of success but also to the stagnation of progress. In socialist systems, innovation is hindered as there is little incentive for individuals to take risks and create new ideas. The absence of competition, a key driver of innovation in capitalism, limits the development of new technologies, products, and services that can improve people’s lives.
Furthermore, the inequality inherent in socialism manifests itself in the form of government control and corruption. Socialist regimes tend to concentrate power in the hands of a few, leading to a lack of accountability and transparency. Without the checks and balances provided by a free-market system, there is a higher probability of abuse of power and the enrichment of a privileged few.
On the other hand, capitalism, despite its flaws, allows for individual freedom, competition, and the pursuit of economic prosperity. It recognizes that inequality is a natural outcome of different abilities, efforts, and opportunities. Capitalism provides individuals with the liberty to succeed or fail based on their own merit, encouraging personal responsibility and accountability.
Capitalism also promotes social mobility. It allows individuals to improve their socioeconomic status through hard work, education, and entrepreneurship. The success stories of self-made entrepreneurs and individuals who have risen from poverty to prosperity are testament to the power of capitalism to provide opportunities for upward mobility.
To conclude, while the desire for equality is noble, pure socialism fails to deliver on its promises. It suppresses success, inhibits progress, and concentrates power, leading to the equal sharing of miseries. Capitalism, though not perfect, allows for individual freedom, competition, and the opportunity for economic prosperity. It rewards merit, encourages innovation, and promotes social mobility. As Winston Churchill wisely noted, the blessings of capitalism may be unequally shared, but they still offer greater overall prosperity and freedom than socialism’s equal sharing of miseries.
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