Many of us would love to moisturize with gold, whilst driving a Lambo down Rodeo Drive, toting a Berkin with fists full of cash. Thanks to capitalism, we have the opportunity to make such monies. Or at least to dream of making such monies while living comfortably (see LOL! Socialist Students Get “Tricked” Into Rejecting Socialism on Camera… and Bernie Sanders Freaks When Asked About Wife’s FBI Investigation). But existing billionares want to warp America into a socialist commune. Sometimes without even knowing it.

Enter Mark Zuckerberg. He seems to genuinely believe that the government handing out money is a swell idea:

Following a trip to Alaska, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently wrote a blog post defending — yet again — the idea of establishing a form of basic income in the U.S.

Zuckerberg said he supported Alaska's Permanent Fund Dividend, which pools money from the state's oil revenue and returns it to residents at the end of the year. In 2016, that dividend amounted to $1,022 per eligible resident.

I need to break here. Because Zuckster has his feet in two camps. Many of the other articles covering Zuckerberg are missing some key points. Peep this pull quote from aforementioned Zuckerberg blog post:

Alaska has a form of basic income called the Permanent Fund Dividend. Every year, a portion of the oil revenue the state makes is put into a fund. Rather than having the government spend that money, it is returned to Alaskan residents through a yearly dividend that is normally $1000 or more per person. That can be especially meaningful if your family has five or six people.

Okay, I think Zuckerberg is confused. He seems to like the idea of the state returning money to the people. So do I. If that money is returned to people whose money was taken from them via taxes.

Here's Mark's next paragraph:

This is a novel approach to basic income in a few ways. First, it's funded by natural resources rather than raising taxes. Second, it comes from conservative principles of smaller government, rather than progressive principles of a larger safety net. This shows basic income is a bipartisan idea.

See, he starts with one premise, ends with another. He agrees people should have more money, and likes the idea of government "returning" money to people. I'm with him so far. Then he goes off into the weeds. Having the government create a "basic income" isn't a principle of smaller government, it's wealth redistribution. In order for a government to give money, it must first take it. So if Mark wants people to have more money, the better way to go would be for the government to take less from people or corporations in the first place.

And that's the point he missed. People are inhibited from creating more wealth when government takes at all, to pool for future redistribution, or to fund little pet projects like studying why lesbians get fat. If Markster wants more people to have more money, he should not insist the government do it for them. He should insist government get out of their way.

Socialism is not the answer. Capitalism, as Mark Zuckerberg knows first hand, is the answer.

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