Watermelon Socialism

Another promise fallen through
Another season passes by you
--Big Country

In the previously discussed article by Tom DiLorenzo, TD also observes that, after the collapse of socialist states in the 1980s, many socialists took the advice of ecologist and one-time presidential candidate Barry Commoner.

Commoner suggested that socialists no longer advocate central planning in the name of "the people." Few people would likely climb aboard to support a vision that was falling apart in the Soviet Union and elsewhere. Instead, he advocated central planning in the name of "saving the planet" from capitalism.

Good idea, said the socialists. We can change our stated means to obtain the same ends. That will get people on board.

And watermelon socialism was born. Green on the outside. Red on the inside.