A distinguished visitor to America in its formative years had much to say about democracy and socialism.  "Democracy," he said, "extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it.  Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number.  Democracy and Socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality.  But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude." It was Alexis de Tocqueville saying this in the 1830s.  He also said, "Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom."  (Tocqueville laid out his thinking on democracy in Democracy in America.) That anything recorded nearly two hundred years ago regarding equality, democracy, and socialism could be hitting the nail on the head today may...(Read Full Article)