Collectivism is a disease of the human mind. Those who champion it exploit noble-sounding ideals to appeal to emotions, disguising their real motives. Society often views these advocates as selfless, as working for the “common good.” This image is a façade. They may claim they can achieve short-term gains, but the endgame is always ruin. Don’t hand over the moral high ground. They argue that, though collectivism may fail in practice, it remains a noble theory. This is not just incorrect—it is a dangerous lie. Collectivism is corrupt in theory and practice.
Its advocates will often admit that past attempts have ended poorly, dismissing those efforts as “not real.” This convenient excuse allows them to dodge responsibility for historical failures, redefining “real” collectivism as whatever their latest scheme entails. This mindset gives them carte blanche to implement destructive policies and deflect blame when things inevitably go wrong. Each new failure is met with the same tired refrain: “It wasn’t real.” This endless cycle absolves them from accountability, perpetuating their ability to manipulate and control under the guise of high ideals.
Many of these supporters present themselves as intellectually independent, casting themselves as “pragmatists” grounded in reality. They are deeply entrenched in the doctrines of past collectivist thinkers, from the French socialists to Karl Marx and beyond. These doctrines are not innovative. They are simply recycled notions that have consistently led to chaos, famine, and tyranny. A quick review of history reveals countless examples of failed communes and collectivist societies. Not once has this ideology succeeded—whether voluntary or enforced.
Albert Einstein famously defined insanity as repeating the same action while expecting a different outcome. It is no exaggeration to say that collectivist advocates embody this insanity. They have failed repeatedly, and they will fail again. Collectivism leads only to suffering and loss. Life offers few guarantees, but this much is certain: collectivist schemes will collapse under their own weight. How many more catastrophic failures will it take for people to see through this illusion?
Collectivism is a cloak for darker intentions. Some of its advocates may be sincere, genuinely believing their rhetoric, but sincerity doesn’t guarantee success. Whether their intentions are genuine or sinister, the results are equally destructive. Human beings vary widely in ability, ambition, and vision. Geography and circumstance vary as well. What these advocates seek isn’t equality under the law; it’s forced equality of outcome, an unnatural state that breeds only resentment and despair.
Reference
Murray Rothbard; Egalitarianism as a Revolt Against Nature and other Essays
One thought on “The False Idol of Unity”