Is the ripe apple about to fall?
Letters to the editor
By Ben J. Connell
Socialism is defined in The New Shorter Oxford

English Dictionary (1993 Edition) as "A political and economic theory or policy of social organization which advocates that the community as a whole should own and control the means of production, capital, land, property, etc. Also spec. in Marxist theory, a transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of Communism."

It is my considered opinion that it is incumbent upon those who present the news in all media outlets to begin asking politicians who are promising, if elected, to make the government responsible for providing citizens with everything from universal welfare to immunity from the consequences of fiscal irresponsibility the very specific question: "Would you explain the timeline when the policies you propose will accomplish having the government take ownership and control of the means for the provision of all services and goods to everyone in the country?"

Just a little over half a century ago USSR Premier Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev predicted the United States would fall like a ripe apple into state socialism. Should we not be praying for a reversal of the trend toward the fulfillment of his prediction?