Control-based systems (Both "Conservative" AND "Liberal") assume he is inherently evil, and will do bad things if not controlled.

Socialism assumes he is inherently good, and will cooperate if given "proper" education and opportunity.

Which is why neither assumption works.

Man IS, however, inherently selfish, as are all living things. And it takes GREAT struggle to rise above that. (and even the struggle is selfish, if you believe struggling benefits you, as well.)

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Calvin: "No efficiency, no accountability... I tell you, Hobbes, it's a lousy way to run a Universe." -- Bill Watterson

All the other nations that tried to install Marxist socialism, had to modify it for it to work in their country. Lenin had to modify socialism(Bolshevism) because, of course, Russia had very little industry at the time to appeal to the worker, but it did have a lot of farmers! Maoism is just a modified version of Bolshevism.

I take back my earlier statement, to say that nations that have tried to install socialism had to modify it. This has caused it to fail. The one nation that did install true socialism failed, because it didn't know what to do when it got there.

Also, I am not pessimistic. I am realistic. We do have MUCH in common with out ancient ancestors... Homo erectus was actually believed to share its food with a group. Back then they formed groups for survival, and we still continue forming groups for survival today. Very few of the basics have changed over the millenia.

I suppose that believing humans having the desire to exploit others is a flaw, then maybe I would be pessimistic...but alas, I see it as niether a flaw nor a quality. It is human nature, something we have to live with. Can we overcome it? I don't think so. That wouldn't make us human anymore then, would it?

Think about how things would be IF socialism was worldwide. You would have nothing to compare life to. No one would really truly know how crappy life is if they don't have anything to compare it to.
Plus, after socialism takes place, you would need a heirarchy to enforce the 'equality', thus creating that which socialism is supposed to overthrow.

Socialism cannot be installed without force. Enforcing equality would mean opressing dissention and getting rid of free thought(possibly other basic human rights). The government would control everything.

Give me capitalism and liberty anyday over being 'equal' and controlled.