John Stossel's Ridiculously Casts Pilgrims as Socialists
The ridiculous comes in many flavors. Once again, it comes from Fox News, an oxymoron if there ever was one. On a day of giving thanks, the outlandish unfolded behind the overexcited demeanor of John Stossel of Fox News, who has had his share of shaking TV moments. Stossel said Plymouth Colony settlers, essentially an English colonial venture from 1620-91, divied up their farm economy along communal lines. He said the goal was to share the work and produce equally. And, that is why they starved, suggesting they practiced socialism which nearly killed those settlers off. In reality, socialism had its origins in the French Revolution of 1789 and changes that came with the Industrial Revolution. While it can be argued that some socialist precedents were evident earlier in history, any person with any amount of common sense will cast this in the ridiculous. Stossel, are you kidding me? On this Thanksgiving, how about a little respect for history and early settlers? Or, better yet, please