The Great collective lie

How Collectivists Took Over and Blamed Capitalism and the Individual

Evil, no good, terrible capitalism. It’s the reason you can’t get a raise, why your boss is an asshole, why you can’t afford a house, and why your wife left you. Every economic problem, every societal issue, every personal inconvenience…it’s all capitalism. Blame it on that and then fight for freedom from your oppressors which apparently means fighting for more centralized control of things?? Make it make sense.

We’ve been sold a massive lie about individualism and capitalism. We’ve been told that they’re evil, that they’re exploitative, that they’re the reason society is crumbling. But that’s not the truth. It’s the narrative the collectivists sold you, it’s a giant propagandized lie fed to you constantly in media and through the mouths of shouting commies. Because the real reason the middle class is getting crushed? The real reason the American Dream is on life support? The real reason you can’t afford a house? The collectivists rigged the system against everyone who wasn’t a part of their little group or who didn’t benefit it in some way.

This country was supposed to be a land of milk and honey for the rugged individualist. A place where you could build something out of nothing, bet on yourself, and rise as high as your talent and hard work could take you. That’s what capitalism and individualism were supposed to be about. You build. You risk. You win. You lose. It’s all on you. That’s what made America the land of opportunity. Not because the government gave out free stuff, not because of handouts, not because of welfare programs, but because individualism meant freedom. Freedom to try. Freedom to fail. Freedom to risk everything and build anyway. But somewhere along the line, the collectivists took over. They sought to destroy the American Dream. Because it meant they couldn’t control you. The individualists were a pain in their ass. If you didn’t need them for handouts, for jobs, for security then they had no power over you. If you could build your own wealth, create your own destiny, and live on your own terms then they had no leverage. If you didn’t rely on them for survival, they couldn’t tell you what to do. And they couldn’t have that because collectivists view the world through a collective power structure. In their world, if you’re winning they’re losing and they can’t have that. But they sure as hell can’t compete against you fairly because they have no individual capability, all they have is power in numbers. So, direct and honest competition is a threat to their very survival.

So, they did what collectivists always do. They rigged the game. They told people that individualism was evil. They said capitalism was the enemy. That personal responsibility was oppression. They convinced the masses that success is unfair. That wealth is immoral. That ambition is selfish. And that it was all the fault of selfish individuals and their desire for capitalism. They did this all while conveniently gobbling up everything in their site and then pulling the ladder up behind them. They rigged capitalism, turned it into cronyism, and then blamed it for their own crimes. They built regulations, laws, and barriers to entry that made it impossible for you to compete. You want to start a business? Hope you have the money for 17 different permits, licenses, and compliance fees. You want to buy a house? Better compete with billion-dollar investment firms buying up every neighborhood. Not to mention the thousands upon thousands of H1B and illegal immigrants that get preference over you in the job market and have their rent paid directly by their employer. You want to innovate, create, disrupt? Better make sure you’re “approved” by the gatekeepers first. Better make sure the social media woke mob doesn’t come after you for not using paper straws at your coffee shop you turtle murderer. Better wear a mask you grandma murderer. Better make sure you pay your 30% in taxes or do you not even care about anyone but yourself you selfish asshole?

Because collectivism isn’t about virtue after all. It’s about control. And individualists threaten that control. That’s why they demonize individualism. That’s why they attack capitalism. Because they can’t control you if you don’t need them. They can only control the people who play by their rules. They can’t stop the people who refuse to kneel. So build anyway.

Elizabeth Duffy