Equal results

As WW 2 ended, Europe lay in ruins and the two surviving countries Russia and the United States, watched and waited. The Soviets saw the starving people as a group ripe for the promises of communism and took steps to spread this doctrine by stirring up discontent while the US moved to send aid. Half of Europe went communist and the other half stayed as free market economies. Over the next 40 plus years these two types of government proceeded along different pathways and in the end the communist government failed while Western Europe thrived and eventually won the cold war. The early successes of the communist were led by the young people in the war torn countries as they believed in the equality promised by the communist. The United States today is facing a similar situation with polls showing that the young people believe that socialism will provide equality. The promise of equal results is a powerful drug for those who cringe when they see billionaires in a country where many work for minimum wage. The siren song of, from each according to his ability to each according to his needs, touches the hearts of the youth.