Not long ago I just happened
to see on a wall what is undoubtedly one of the most incisive political cartoons
illuminating the clash between socialism and capitalism ever created. It can only be described as a jewel.
It shows two donkeys. One has one end of a rope tied around his neck and the other has the other
end tied around his. One sees a pile of hay far to the left and starts
to walk toward it just as the other starts to walk toward a pile of hay he
sees far to the right. Before either attains his goal, the rope tightens
straight as an arrow. Each pulls with all of his might against the
other but to no avail. Finally, after days of pulling, one dies, drags
the other, and reaches the hay exhausted and dragging.
Another section of the cartoon
shows the same two donkeys engaged in the same tug of war for the same goals
with the rope as stiff as before. Only this time they suddenly have
a simple but logical and humane idea. Instead of pulling with all their
might against one another, they agree to walk together to one pile of hay,
consume it, and then walk to the other and do the same. The rope immediately
becomes of no consequence, everyone survives, and the hay is enjoyed by all.
The former is known as capitalism--competition,
the latter is socialism--cooperation.