Of COURSE Bernie slobbers over murderous tyrants and makes endless excuses for them. Socialism IS authoritarianism. Its advocates are smart enough to package it with the language of liberation, but socialist systems require authoritarian force to operate.
In the United States, socialists try to trick voters into accepting their programs with false promises, and then bring down the hammer of authoritarian compulsion once the votes have been cast. They don't tell you it's one man, one vote, one time, no going back ever.
Young people in particular are told socialism will "liberate" them from the oppression of capitalism. They'll be "free" to do whatever they want once the State is providing their basic needs. Only greed or sadism could explain why anyone would resist the socialist power grab.
But yes, it's an inescapably authoritarian system, as you learn once the socialists have banked the last vote you'll ever be allowed to cast. Once they have power, there's no going back, no way for the people to reclaim their money or liberty. That would be "regressive," you see.
It doesn't matter how badly the socialist program fails. All efforts to "regress" will be met with force. The only acceptable answers to the failures of socialism are MORE socialism - more centralized power, more money taken from the people, less room for dissent or disobedience.
"Disobedience" is the key concept here. Socialism requires obedience, and stands ready to compel obedience from the people who get screwed. If you want a peek at the authoritarianism lurking behind the socialist mask, ask what will happen if you say "no" to their demands.
You don't get to say "no" anymore, you see. Participation is mandatory. Refusal is unthinkable. As the socialist system fails, mere rhetorical dissent becomes forbidden. Anything that compromises the obedience required for socialism to operate becomes a crime against the State.
In the early days, socialists always talk about "the people" and scoff at those who warn they worship "the State," but remember: a core principle of socialism is that the people ARE the State. The State is the physical incarnation of the collective will of the people.
That is an inherently authoritarian principle. There is no escaping from it, no matter how much sugarcoating is done with promises of "free" stuff paid for by taxing a few Evil Rich people. The Evil Rich don't have enough money to make socialism work for long.
The critical resource for socialism is OBEDIENCE, not money. The will of the people will be enforced upon the defective few who resist its judgments, as interpreted by the high priests of the socialist State. Dissent is portrayed as dishonesty, a form of mental illness.
You might be given a few "choices" within the parameters of the socialist program to provide an illusion of "freedom," but you will NEVER be free to say "no." You get a little control over how you obey, but you will obey. Counter-revolutions will not be tolerated.
Never stop asking: What if I refuse to participate in your plan? What if I refuse to give you my money? Do we get our money and freedom back if your plan fails? Can you define success and failure?
Ask a socialist those questions, and the authoritarian will answer. /end
Ask a socialist those questions, and the authoritarian will answer. /end
