The Road to Serfdom in Cartoons -Based on book by F.A. Hayek

[tokyopiglet]

wait.. national plan, political party struggle and totalitalianism with military? kinda fetched

[crispytuna]

the propaganda machine...ouch.

[blahmonster1234]

Could you have picked worse music?

[traffety]

This is the road map the Dems and Labor leaders would love to see come to fruition. This is the ways of Che Guevara and the Marxis from Latin America would love to see.

[timbosforporn]

This is exactly what the early American progressives did at the end of WWI. They continued with their 'wartime socialism' until Wilson was out of office then things went to normal. The American left inherits their thinking from these people which is why they think in terms of 'systems', government planning, and assume that society is a structure created by government.

[ambushthemedia]

this music is enough to start a war!

[Reasonjester]

Golonpo, war is not an activity that satisfies demand - it is for breaking things and killing people. The spike in activity during wartime is due to two factors: the first is you are removing thousands if not millions from the job market, and second, because the goods produced are not satisfied by prior demand. War destroys things, it doesn't create wealth. You might as well argue that we can solve unemployment by running around breaking windows and thereby employing more glass-makers.

[septrenarion]

What music is this?

[gte849k]

But won't I be happier if I was a smurf? If I pay more taxes to become a smurf it will all pay off because I will then be able to make gold. Thanks, Fallout 3 guys.

[gt8595b]

I got it --- If you don't like what the guberment is doing, modify your taxes!

Golonpo - if you want to see the guberment more controlling, then pay more taxes.

Rational People - to see the guberment doing less, stop paying taxes.

[Golonpo]

Due to such lies the western people, and especially the Americans, are completely ignorant about socialism and communism. The Zeitgeist movement for example unintentionally offers communism.

And yes, this lies were stronger than the bombs and the rockets. They are now popular misbelieve also in the eastern countries. The fall of the Soviet Union is the lost future of the mankind. O, poor planet!

[Golonpo]

The third lie is this one. That the planed economy could not work while it actually worked. Note that even this movie admits that the planning was used during wartime. Why? The war is critical situation requiring mobilisation of full efforts, but then suddenly the society turns to ineffective planning?!? Why? Of course, the bad plan could hardly be successful, but this is no reason to discard competent planning which has proven much more effective and rational.

[Golonpo]

The second lie is the crimes of the Soviet Union. To prove it the Soviet Union history is falsified. The victims of Stalin are exasperated over 60 times, completely omitting the fact that in a near war time SU has only from 1.5 to 2 times more prisoners than USA today. The mass repressions are actually a myth. The fact is that the USA applied more than 10 times more violence in the world (from Chile to Nicaragua) to keep the market economy there than USSR to keep socialism.

[Golonpo]

And when the developing economies, that accepted the free-market, failed, it was ascribed to peoples inferiority rather than to the wrong neoliberal theory derived from falsified history. Amazing! Now we need Hitler to deal with the inferior people. But contrary, the propaganda (Hayek being part of it) tries to put equal sign between Nazism and socialism. Orwellian world, isnt it?

[Golonpo]

The people in the world are brainwashed by a number of lies. The first one is the success of the liberalism. For this, the history of the developed countries is being falsified as if they are developed due to adopting the free marked while actually during their development they used heavy protectionism. All developed countries did that! From UK, and USA to South Korea. And opposite, all developing countries, from Bolivia to Russia, where the free marked was applied bitterly failed.

[Golonpo]

Cant you recognise the propaganda? Here it is!

The example that a plumber would be sent to work as a carpenter is a pretty stupid one, as if all planers should be as stupid as this movie suggests. And note that under capitalism, a carpenter that has no job (too many carpenters on the marked) will face the humane faith of starving or go to work as carpenter (too few carpenters on the market). You Americans have no bare idea how deep you are being manipulated!

[Golonpo]

Ooo. Pure propaganda! This short movie as well as probably Hayek and for sure his most prominent follower Milton Friedman avoid mentioning that the planed economy actually delivered in the Soviet Union and the western block though with over 300 years experience was forced to compete as equal with a country and a system that appeared less 30 years ago (at the time when this book was written).

To fit the theory the myth of totalitarizm was created on only mere ground that single party is ruling.

[ruinyourdaywithpiss]

Frederick Hayek was the first man to call bullshit on lines of reasoning that had been immensely popular for centuries.

[jermbrid99]

This a great synopsis of the Hayek's masterpiece. One of the greatest Economist/Social Philosopers of the 20th Century, his description of the stages of degeneration from liberty to totalitarianism are borne not only from a study of economics and history, but from first hand experience as well.

[ziglet2008]

Neon, you have not done your FairTax homework. While your idea of no funding for our federal government is utopian, it fails to provide funding for protection of our great nation. You are wrong about the Fair Tax. You seem to be unaware of the imbedded cost in the price of item you buy, there before you ever get it to the counter. Therefore, we pay the bulk of corporate taxes. Read the book, do the research, study the bill, HR 25, then talk to me. How would you fund our defense?

[ziglet2008]

I'm an FA Hayak liberal. I don't know these people they call liberals in the USA today. They are from the original liberals. I'm called a conservative, yet that doesn't accurately depict my beliefs. Hayak understood perfectly.

[ziglet2008]

I inadvertantly omitted the word "different" in my second sentence. Today's "liberals" are different original liberals.

Ask yourself "what liberal in their right mind would support legal elective abortion?". Think about that.

[zsylvana]

Paul Samuelson (2009)"A few remembrances of Friedrich von Hayek Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization "The Hayek I met on various occasions University of Chicago,Stockholm,Lake Constance Lindau Nobel summer conferences definitely bemoaned progressive income taxation,state-provided medical care and retirement pensions,fiat currencies remote from gold and subject to discretionary policy decisions by central bank and treasury agents.Not only is this what constitutes his predicted serfdoms"

[zsylvana]

Paul Samuelson(2009), A few remembrances of Friedrich von Hayek ."Road to Serfdom:2007,Sweden and other Scandivanian places have somewhat lowered the fraction of GDP they use to devote through government.But still are the most socialistic by Hayeks crude definition.Where are their horror camps? Have the vilest elements risen there to absolute power?When reports are compiled on measurable unhappiness, do places like Sweden,Denmark, Finland and Norway best epitomize serfdoms? Of course not!" "

[neonsilkworm]

We used to have a free-market based economy. We used to have all of our guaranteed freedoms. Now, all our politicians are as likely to have even READ the constitution - let alone actually abide by the supreme law - and bit by bit, day by day, we slide into socialism and ultimately fascism. The uneducated and unwilling empower this movement, and we the freedom-fighters are far outnumbered by the subscribers to national corporate media. The end is nigh, my friends.

[gt8595b]

Actually - we've never had a free-market based economy. A market is either free or not. Ever since the inseption of this country, there have been tarrifs and taxes on imports and goods sold here. Trade regulations, tarrifs, taxes all add up to a controlled market.

[neonsilkworm]

This is true, but by 'free-market-based' I meant 'with many attributes of a free market' because an effective government, and an economic market for that matter, cannot operate at max efficiency without a BIT of tarrifs, taxes, regulations, and control. The best place to be, of course, is on the lesser end of government intervention; however, we've been running to the socialist end of the scale at full speed lately. Not good for economic health.

[ziglet2008]

Shouldn't regulation fall under the Rule of Law? It seems to me that the Fair Tax plan fosters free market growth. What say you? Hayak's warning to the USA is going unheeded and has been for some time, and now we're plunging at lightening speed into full blown socialism. The democracy will destroy itself, as is usually the case. How do we protect what's left of our Republic?

[neonsilkworm]

The fair tax plan takes an abomination and shifts it around to be a equally laid out abomination.

To that, I say bring a healthy amount of troops home, decrease federal spending drastically, limit welfare programs, elminate the income tax and replace it all with nothing - at least from the government.

Democracies are self-destroying governments. Our republic has a self-preservation system built-in: the power of the individual states to stand up to the federal gov't or even to stand alone.

[ziglet2008]

neon, I see that you are indeed, on the right path, though we may disagree on taxation. I urge you to take a closer look at that govt. weapon known as income / withholding taxation to get more perspective on just what it's doing to us, not for us. Peruse the Fair Tax Plan closely and do not buy everything you hear about it; scrutinize every negative comment. I bought the negative for awhile, but research proves those naysayers wrong.

[neonsilkworm]

Hi Ziglet, you may have misinterpreted my previous comment. As far as income taxation, I am in favor of abolishing it altogether in exchange for a smaller government, and would replace it with absolutely nothing.

I've looked closely at Fair Tax (at their official website) and it is quite clearly an acceptance of this income tax except given a different form as a retail tax. This does little to restrain government spending or unconstitutional agencies and programs, and favors the poor.

[ziglet2008]

I do not believe in income taxation at all, nor did the Founding Fathers. It's patently Marxist. The Fair Tax favors no one and is in fact, revenue neutral. It really does level the playing field. I'm working one goal at a time - ok, two. First and foremost, folks have got to realize just how much is currently lost to our present tax code, approx a trillion a yr. I believe we have to fund the federal govt. for the military and maybe infrastructure. Enact HR 450. Explanation to follow.

[neonsilkworm]

Au contraire, mon ami, the Fair Tax indeed favors those who 1) avoid paying retail or 2) pay retail up to a certain income level. This is favoring the lower income, and liberty ought not favor anyone, rich or poor.

To abolish the income tax (and replace it with nothing) means that we would need to return the federal government to its budget just 10 years ago!

Having no income tax (and no federal sales tax) truly favors nobody because it wouldn't be there. It's so beautifully simple!

[ziglet2008]

And how does one avoid paying retail? Will you not buy new shoes for your children? And with the extra 30% to 50% in your gross take home pay, will you not purchase a new car? Perhaps a new house, now that those items would be cheaper? No tax is very simple, however illogical & unreasonable, undoable. Please, seriously peruse Fair Tax. 50% of all Libertarians support it. There's a reason for that. Thomas Jefferson would be proud of the Fair Tax. Wish he were here.

[neonsilkworm]

I don't think you quite understand our tax structure. The fed. gov't does quite well with direct and indirect taxation, notwithstanding the income tax. The Fair Tax shifts the greater taxes to an indirect sales tax. Despite the noble attempt at changing the name of "income," "payroll," and "corporate" taxes to "sales" does not alter the much larger problems:

Federal Reserve Bank

700+ Military Bases in 130+ Countries

Government Expansion

Ceaseless Government Spending

Etc. Etc...

[ziglet2008]

We have to have a smaller govt. & return primary governing of states to the states, as the Constitution so states. Henceforth, we must support HR 450, the Enumerated Powers Act, thereby forcing our legislators to cite the specific section of the Constitution that supports any piece of proposed legislation. You are right - democracies are inherently self destructive, that's why we have what's left of a republic, & we must work to preserve what we have & regain ground that's been lost.

[badnomad]

Article 1 of the Constitution mandates the Congress regulate interstate commerce and provide for the common welfare, and the "necessary and proper" clause pretty much covers everything. Do you disagree with the "commerce clause" for ending Jim Crow? Would you have argued that the US was not authorized to engage in the Louisiana Purchase with France, or any of the other US expansion?

[ziglet2008]

And that's why I support the Fair Tax. It's a true free market solution that fosters and promotes business and jobs and allows trillions in offshore tax havens to return home and boost our own economy instead of someone else's.

[ziglet2008]

Ah, but history shows that we freedom fighters have won in the past, though less in number than the concesus. The end may be nigh, that I do not know, but I believe wholly in the addage "be not weary in well doing", henceforth though I tire, I put one foot in front of the other and continue to fight the good fight.

[twochordcool]

Alright, if that's Hayek's theory in a cartoon nutshell I can rest assured that it is simply more right wing excrement and not waste any more of my life reading any of his nonsense. What a ridiculous piece of senseless shit this video was. TOTAL paranoia.

[boomer1000]

I was bored of the video after about 30seconds, but I get the sense from your comments that you arent on the same page as Hayek. He doesnt see the world as left = right as in dem = rep. He sees left and right as collective/state = individual

[twochordcool]

I'm for capitalism. I am for acquiring wealth if you can do it. But I am also for dropping the filthy rich down a peg or two if it would improve the lives of oridanary Americans.

[twochordcool]

"The least educated - thrilled and convinced by fiery oratory, form a party"

I'll be damned if that doesn't sound exactly like Limbaugh's and Hannity's followers in modern day America.

[boomer1000]

Hayek would have certainly included Hanity and Limbaugh in that quotation.

He represents a traditional liberal/right winger. The American political scene is generally dominated by competing centralizing forces. The universal healthcare, welfare crowd and the war, homeland security crowd.

Being a traditional liberal he would be appalled by both crowds seeing them as schisms of the same type of politics - and disagree with both for the same reasons.

[albyva]

Did somebody say Obama? -- 

"The least educated - thrilled and convinced by fiery oratory, "

"Your Wages are Planned" (aka: Min. Wage)

"The Planners Promise Utopia"

"Most Planners are well-meaning idealist"

"Lets get a man who can make a plan work"

[rartu]

@albyva Don't forget the negative aim against a small minority, in this case Mexicans!

[koscheii666]

obama?....

[raghavusername]

ur evidently a libertarian and yet,.....vote obama?????...inexplicable

[mikemogie]

I love this video

[mrsjtwalker]

Don't read too much into it . . . the basic premise is that surrender of individual liberty, no matter what the reason, is always a step on the road to, "serfdom."

[miln40]

weird music, nice cartoons, dumb plot :) looks like a red scare movie

[mrgrieves9876]

the book was written after world war two, and the soviet union was a never before seen major superpower

[Stronghurst]

Superb! It's in a cartoon form, so even social democrats should be able to understand it!

[atrickpay11]

Hopefully!

---------

Liberals want to be your Mommy.

Conservatives want to be your Daddy.

Libertarians want to treat you like an adult.

[AcridPeter]

Libetarians would trample all over you in order to make a profit.

[paleoroundtable]

Yeah but they would never watch it. They make all their decisions according to their feelings.

[babapoopoo]

in desperation , planners authorise the new party leader to hammer out a plan and force its obedience. ...,,mmmmm , who is who here.? :/

[BillyvonDumpling]

Sorry, this was boring.

[amaravajra]

This video misses out details and questions about extent and political checks and balances, and can thus be interpreted to support both moderate and extreme market system positions.

[lordmetroid]

Historical evidence shows governments force their way through checks and balances.

[amaravajra]

lordmetroid - there are quite a few examples of modern democracies where checks and balances not being overthrown. In examples like Algeria where the people have turned against a democratic system it is always for reasons of significant parts of the social contract not being fulfilled, look up Confucius's criteria for a successful state.

[mrsjtwalker]

The, "check and balances" should be us - the people. That is why we have the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Once those documents are overthrown (through, "necessity," of course), and if we as the citizens offer no resistance, we are doomed.

[paleoroundtable]

The elitists are busy selling out our national soverignty for their one world fantasy right now.

[amaravajra]

It's a shame a detailed definition of 'planning' is not given at the start. Just from reading comments on this video it seems many people oversimplify and impute positions onto terminology that does not necessarily entail such, mainly to make it fit in with other political views.

[ziglet2008]

Read the book "The Road to Serfdom".

[tristramshandy3]

read the book "Walden" by Thoreau.

[Terilien]

dirigisme and japans' economy had many capitalist elements though.

[wildbillcleveland]

with the advent of globalization this sort of planning has diaapeared,and i fear we will live to soon regret it..

[wildbillcleveland]

This video is ridiculous hyperbole..but it does remind me of Charlse de Gaulle and Dirigisme which worked amazingly well and saved France also it reminds me of MITI ..Ministry of International Trade and Industry one of the most powerful agencies in the Japanese government. At the height of its influence, it ran Japan as a centrally-managed economy, funding research and directing investment. Which for decades turned Japan into the worlds economic dynamo..

[illinoisgrad]

For generations we thought that the Republican party is our anointed protector of liberties.

Rudy "Perpetual War" Giuliani would serve the country well if he would just internalize the ideas of this work.

[thejobloshow]

I think we're up to step ten at the moment...

[JustMightBeGod]

Loved the book. Everyone should read the book. Good cartoon. Thanks to the creator.

[AdnanSoysal]

Great work..

All planing freaks,

whose salary come from the state treasury should see it...

[meberic]

Book is excellent.

[euclideanspace]

Very good..I've a feeling that there is more to this clip as it seems to stop abruptly.

[upsidown13]

The complete version can be found on google video.

[luisgentil]

*'better', not 'bettel'.

[luisgentil]

One of Hayek's main points is that fascism, nazism and socialism have the same roots and are practically twins. Hayek only focused more on nazism because he first published his book in 1944 and it would make a bettel effect.

[AdnanSoysal]

Certainly..

All sorts of collectivism is the end of individuel..

Therefore, END OF LIFE.

[spacedsounding]

Lol, not really a critique on socialsim, as i was told, but upon fascism... interesting. It makes no reference to the more specific circumstances facing germany and is quite alarmist. But not all too bad.

[XuPeX]

Fascism is socialism

[AdnanSoysal]

TRUE

"Socialism is Fascism" is also

TRUE

[vanishingofemptiness]

Socialism is Facism is Capitalism is an oversimplification

"A rat is a rat is a rat... is an informer."

[CurtBeta]

Socialism is Facism is Capitalism is a contridiction.

[CurtBeta]

Make that "contradiction".

[yodavinegar]

Good work!