Sometimes those of us who have been around for a while take too much for granted.

I tend to assume, for instance, that most Americans understand socialism is an evil, immoral system of economics and government.

But then occasionally, I get a letter from a young American who has been taught throughout his life that only the government can spread wealth fairly or that market economics is inherently corrupt.

I got one of those this week. And I quickly realized why Barack Obama is on the verge of winning the presidency of the United States.

So I guess it's time to get back to basics with an answer to the fundamental question: What's wrong with socialism?

I'd like to begin this economics lesson with a few questions:

—Do you believe in private property?

—How would you feel if someone took yours?

—Where has socialism ever succeeded?

—What does the government do well?

—What does the Bible have to say about economics?

—What did America's Founders have to say about economics?

—Is socialism constitutional?

I won't have time or space to deal with those questions in depth in this essay. However, I find the answers are often good enough to convince well-meaning moral people that socialism is a disaster.

Most people believe in private property, especially their own.

Most people don't like having their things stolen. In fact, it's government's job to protect you from theft, not to be the thief.

Most people are unable to point to a single successful socialist experiment unless they choose some relatively new Western nation with a "mixed economy." Those include Canada and some European countries, such as France. You even could include the U.S. in that category. It's important to recognize that mere survival as a nation over a period of time does not make for a successful experiment. Socialism, for instance, aims to eliminate or reduce poverty. In none of those nations has poverty been eliminated or reduced as a result of socialist experiments.

Most people recognize that government is an inherently inefficient beast. What they might not recognize is that it also poses the greatest threat to freedom. The more power it has the less freedom individual citizens have. Government is a necessary evil — something that should be tolerated as a limited nuisance, not counted on for basic needs.

Most people don't realize the Bible countenances private property. It holds it up as honorable as long as it does not become a diversion from God and as long as it does not become man's God.

Most people apparently forget what our Founders had to say about property. They forget that our Constitution expressly limits the power of the federal government. You could say constitutionally limited government is the opposite of socialism.

But as Barack Obama would say, those are "just words." And I am afraid mere words will not be enough to persuade anyone to fight against mankind's innate desire to collectivize and rebel against God's order.

So as I predicted in my most recent book, "None of the Above," it likely will take some strong medicine to cure America of its infectious flirtation with socialism. I believe that medicine, believe it or not, is named Barack Obama.

It's not that I wish this virus on Americans. In fact, I have done my personal best to awaken the country to his wiles and deceptions and immorality. But it has been to little avail. Americans have been duped. They have been conned through government education and mindless media and elitist manipulation to trade in their birthright of freedom for a mess of pottage.

But their education is coming. It is not coming from me. It is coming from Barack Obama and his party's policies, which inevitably will fail over the next two years. It's going to be a painful awakening. Just wait until you see how expensive "free" health care really is. Just wait until you see how little wealth you have after he spreads it around. Just wait until you see what it's like to have to ask a government bureaucrat for permission to do things you once took for granted.

That's what's wrong with socialism. People have to see it for themselves. They have to experience the misery and the control. They have to see it with their own eyes.

Then, maybe then, we will have a chance to get America back on track. Then, maybe then, we will have enough courage and desire to fight to regain what we have lost. Then, maybe then, our experiences will protect us for a while from the freedom stealers. Then, maybe then, we will have enough sense to educate our young people as to the inherent evils of socialism so they won't be fooled again.

Joseph Farah's newest book, "None of the Above: Why 2008 Is the Year To Cast the Ultimate Protest Vote," is available now. To find out more about Joseph Farah and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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