Best Minds of the 20th Century

[indianasmith]

I think communism is such a beautiful, utopian vision of human society that it will always have adherents - even though it has never succeeded in creating a functional society.  It's based on a much rosier view of human nature than reality actually supports.

I am reading a dual biography of Hitler and Stalin right now. The sheer evil of both men is staggering, but I think Stalin is the worst of the two.

[lester1/2jr]

The Vampire Economy is an interesting book if you're conversant in CNBC type money language

http://archive.mises.org/6248/the-vampire-economy-guenter-reiman/

A saying at the time was along the lines of "the communists take your cows because you're a kulak, the fascists take their milk and leave you the job of caring for the cows". It was a demented hodge podge of socialism, protectionism and the whims of whoever was in charge. not the worst thing they did of course though.

[RCMerchant]

I think communism is such a beautiful, utopian vision of human society that it will always have adherents - even though it has never succeeded in creating a functional society.  It's based on a much rosier view of human nature than reality actually supports.

I am reading a dual biography of Hitler and Stalin right now. The sheer evil of both men is staggering, but I think Stalin is the worst of the two.

You think Stalin is worse than Hitler? We are taling about f**king Adolf Hitler-.reich-I mean right??
Hitler had children CHILDREN-used for medical experiments.Hitler had 6 f**king million-MILLION-people killed in death camps.
Stalin was a very evil man-but Hitler takes the cake hands down.

[RCMerchant]

Of course thats like comparing John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy.

[lester1/2jr]

Stalin killed a lot more than that. that's part of, I would guess, Indys argument. the Scale of it.

for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor

[RCMerchant]

Stalin killed a lot more than that. that's part of, I would guess, Indys argument. the Scale of it.

for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor

They were both monster. Its apples and oranges. They both deserve Hell-of course-I dont believe in Hell.BUT if there is one,and if Im wrong-I am sure Satan is f**king them in the ass.

[lester1/2jr]

I guess fascism was more openly sadistic.

[indianasmith]

The thing is that Hitler was passionate about his hatreds.  He had normal human emotions, they were just warped, twisted, and taken to extremes.
Stalin - no emotion at all, for the most part.  Totally dispassionate as he ordered the deaths of thousands.  I am not even sure he was human.

[JaseSF]

I'll name some who haven't been named (I definitely agree with many mentioned already). I completely admit there's some personal and political bias there perhaps.

Pierre Trudeau
Joey Smallwood
Geoff Stirling
Lester Pearson
Edward R. Murrow
Rod Serling
Joseph Stefano

[Trevor]

I am going to offer some of my own:

Nelson Mandela (with certain reservations)
Steve Biko
Jan Christiaan Smuts
Alan Paton
Donald Woods (again with reservations)
Bill O'Reilly
Sean Hannity
Mahatma Gandhi
Me

[Trevor]

Bill O'Reilly
Sean Hannity

I know these two have their detractors but I like the way they think.

[ER]

The thing is that Hitler was passionate about his hatreds.  He had normal human emotions, they were just warped, twisted, and taken to extremes.
Stalin - no emotion at all, for the most part.  Totally dispassionate as he ordered the deaths of thousands.  I am not even sure he was human.

And then there was Chairman Mao, who probably slaughtered more people than Hitler and Stalin combined. Hitler was a frothy maniac, Stalin a frigid sociopath, but there was something about Mao that radiated quiet evil. Even the way he spoke sounded like he was hissing. All three "needed killin' ", as my favorite Texan used to say.

Gloomy thought but I wonder what sort of cruel figures this century, barely in its adolescence, will eventually produce? Imagine wedding a Stalin with 21st century technology, and then go hide under your bed.

[BoyScoutKevin]

I don't see my name anywhere.   *





* Nor did I expect to. 

Well, here you go then, Trevor.

The best mind of the 20th century is Trevor, as Trevor is the first man in history to think of saving water and money by never washing his underwear.

[JaseSF]

Hitler and Stalin definitely belong in the most evil minds of the 20th Century...along with Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, numerous other dictators and serial killers.

[lester1/2jr]

Trevor - I have to admit I see Hannity and O Reilly more as foot soldiers to thinkers such as Pat Buchanan and Ron Paul. and not just because they were big Iraq war boosters. They are good broadcasters

ER - Mao and other Asian commies took it to extremes till the whole idea of culture and humanity itself was subversive