Alexis de Tocqueville’s Critique of Socialism (1848)

From Alexis de Tocqueville’s Critique of Socialism (1848). There are 3 traits of Socialism characteristic of all socialist ideologies. 1. An incessant, vigorous and extreme appeal to the material passions of man. “Man must be paid, not according to his merit, but according to his need!." 2. Always present in Socialists is an attack, either direct or indirect, on the principle of private property. "Property is the origin of all the ills of the world." “Property is theft." 3. Socialists have a profound opposition to personal liberty & despise individual reason, a complete contempt for the individual...They hold that the State must not only act as the director of the society, but must further be master of each man, & not only master but keeper & trainer. For fear of allowing him to err, Socialists believe the State must place itself forever by his side, above him, around him, better to guide him, maintain him, in a word, confine him. They call for the forfeiture, to a greater/less degree, of human liberty. [READ IN FULL HERE] https://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/toc...