More Time with Dad

Here’s What Life in Socialist Europe More Time is Really Likewith by Sierra Marbee Americans are talking about the pros and ciety fueled by the extreme economic views cons of a of many Socialist soDemocratic woefully inadequate, tune. and all water services costDad an absolute forPresidential candidates. Very few people, however, have actually lived under the system they are advocating for or against. So, what • Closets do not exist. The only thing you can do to store and ordoes someone who has the experience of living under Socialism ganize your clothing is to purchase a huge, bulky piece of furniture think? called a “wardrobe” for every bedroom, which leaves you with very

Robert Moon wrote an article for “The Examiner” in which he little actual living space in the already incredibly tiny homes Eurogoes into excruciating detail of life under the Socialism that so many Americans idolize. After spending years living in socialist Germany and exploring all over Europe, what is striking is that, even in one of the wealthi-When my father, who’d been a healthy man all his life, was diagnosed with incurable cancer, it broke my heart. I knew his prognosis wasn’t peans must deal with. • You can’t wash your hurt the environment, own car in your own driveway. That might so you must take your vehicle to a governest non-U.good. YetS. I places never on earth, it is allexpected him about learning to doto fade so quickly. without. ment-approved car wash and wildly overpay someone else to do it • There is a crushing 20% sales tax on everything. There is also a TV tax, a radio tax, a dog tax, a death tax of up to 50%, and every other kind of tax you could possibly imagine…for a grand total of Just two weeks earlier, he’d been admitted to the hospital, his body weak but his spirits strong. then, suddenly, Dad began sliding downhill, his mind lost to hallucinafor you. • Even the wastebasket big, “Americanized trash bins of garbage…for two weeks of hold waste no more than a (no matter how about 60-65%tions. of your income (unless you have already been bru- many people live in your home). If the can is overflowing, they will talized into povertyOh,Dad,Areby this system in which case youyouevenstillinthere?Iweptget welfare).asIwatched not take your garbage, and every single item is required by law to helplessly, more frightened than I’d ever been. be organized into separate color-coded recycling bags. • Government’sviewoftheeconomycouldbesummedupinafew short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. “-Ronald ReaganAn angel in white eased my father’s journey. • You cannot proval. There even name is literally your own an agency child without government apyou must register with ,upon giving birth, that decides whether or not your child’s name is ac• There is no such thing as Central air…people just suffer throughThen one day I watched the nurse administer an IV ceptable to the government. the heat, and freeze ininjection and leave. the winter with these dinky little radiator-A moment later, Dad began thrashing heaters (whichin a seizure. is all most people can afford, due to staggering gov- • Gun rights do not exist. The only way to get access to any fireernment utility costs). • Gasoline is usually $7-$10 per gallon (about 1.50 Euros per liter as I write this), due to the government’s insanely aggressive taxes Racing to the nurses’ station, I gasped, “Something’s very wrong! I think you gave my dad the wrong medication.” arms whatsoever is through a jaw-droppingly extreme permit/ licensing process that involves taking elaborate tests, paying fees, and proving to the government you have a ”legitimate” reason for wanting a gun (hunting, target shooting, etc.). on fuel.“That’s the right one,” se assured me. And when I talked with the doctor, he didn’t believe me either. • People “It’s usually cannot afford 15an effect of the cancer or even 30-year mortgages…spreading to his brain,” he • And even if you do manage to jump through all the hoops rethey often must getexplained gently. 50-year mortgages to purchase a home (gov- quired to get a gun, you can still only keep it if you regularly verify ernment makes housing astronomically expensive). • Consumers are 100% disregarded, given total crap for options, and complaints over terrible service are completely ignored. I didn’t buy it. And that night, I drove home in tears, “God,” I cried in despair. “Please help Dad...” The next morning, I was standing by Dad’s bed when I tothegovernmentthatyouareactivelyusingit listed, or it will be confiscated. • Hunting and fishing also require an insane forthepurposeyou process of govern• It takes sixsaw a flash hours to do half aof white. It’s justload of laundry (governmentanother nurse coming to forces check ment-mandated training, tests, fees, licenses, permits and endless people tohis vital use these tiny, ‘environmentallysigns, I figured, not paying friendly’ laundrymuch attention. maBut other restrictions. chines). then... “Tomorrow, your father will be a lot better,” she said. • Showers are the size of“A new doctor orderedphone tests, booths, water heaters are oftenrevealing the medication he Continued on Page 57

was given was intoxicating him to a dangerous level. It has been discontinued now, and you will notice a bit difference in your father,” she repeated. “Tomorrow.” “Thankyou,”Isaid,reliefwashingovermeasIheldmy head in my hands. But then... Where did she go? I sondered. In hindsight, I see how strange this was...she was. Her uniform was starched white like nurses from bygone days, nothing like the blue and green scrubs the other nurses in the hospital wore. Plus, after years working in a medical clinic myself, I knownursesaren’tauthorizedtodiscussthethingsshetold me. Still, back then, all I could think about was Dad--and I prayed what the nurse had said was ture. And the very next day, Dad’s eyes were not only open, but bright and smiling again!” “Look at you!” I beamed. Hiscancerwasn’tcured,orcourse,butwestillreceived a miracle. Because from that day on, Dad was combortable again. Coherent. Happy. Every day, we were able to talk and laugh together. He even came home to celebrate his 60th wedding anniversary with Mom! Four months later, Dad drifted away peacefully in his sleep. I’ll miss you forever, I whispered, though I knew Dad was finally at peace. And since then, I’ve come to believe that the nurse I met was an angel sent to bring me peace, and to give us all a most remarkable gift: a little more time with Dad.