The Blog Challenge, which is why I started this blog, suggests I explain the difference I want to make in the world, so here it is.

I want everyone to be free to pursue their dreams.  I believe, and for good reason, that if people follow their dream, that is where they can make their greatest contribution to humanity.  We seem to be most interested in subjects where we have talent, or maybe interest and talent are 2 sides of the same coin.  I also believe that when we cooperate, as most people are inclined to do, we are most productive.

My personal dream was to hunt on another planet.  I’m older and less ferocious now so I no longer desire to hunt alien lions or whatever, but I would still like to visit and explore, especially to see the horsehead nebula up close.  The problem is that I would need a spaceship to get there.

I need a scientist who is free to dream and discover the science of how to travel to the stars, then I need someone who is free to dream and engineer a spaceship that applies that science.  I need a strong world economy so that there are enough resources and capital for an entrepreneur to build that spaceship cheaply enough for me to purchase a ride.

All these things are suppressed under socialism, which is defined variously as government ownership/control of capital/the means of production.  Government ownership/control is exercised as taxes, regulations, subsidies, and protections.  In other words, socialism is interference with the right of the people to buy and sell things.  Even more simply, socialism inhibits the ability of people to cooperate with each other, to be productive.  And this is demonstrated all over the world, more socialism = more poverty = less ability to do productive work.

The guy/gal who was supposed to invent my spaceship may be a goat herder in Africa right now.  They were never able to educate themselves and follow their dream because their country’s economy is suppressed under too much socialism (interference with peoples’ ability to cooperate with each other).  I want people free.