Writer Ruth Eshenaur 

The American socialist experiment—A Total Failure
On November 11, 1620, the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock. The ship lay at anchor until March,
the pilgrims lived onboard while permanent housing was being built. When the Mayflower finally left,
27 adults and 23 children were left of the 102 people who set out across the ocean.
Their governor was William Bradford and under his leadership, these first Americans began to make
a new life in the New World.
What very few Americans today know is this very first colony on the shores of America started
out as a socialist colony. The Pilgrims at Plymouth set up a common store that worked on the principle of
 "From Each According To His Ability - To Each According To His Need".
Everything that the colony produced was placed in the common store and was then distributed out as needed.
For two years the colony worked to create a socialist Utopia but even with an additional 30 settlers
who arrived a year after the Mayflower, the colony barely survived. Each winter the colonist would go
 hungry being reduced to rations of a quarter pound of bread at times. Governor Bradford relates
 his experiences concerning the socialist state he had helped to create:
"The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tired sundrie years,
and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceite of Platos and other ancients, applauded by some of later times; --that the taking away of property, and bringing in communitie into
a commone wealth would make them happy and florishing; as if they were wiser than God.
For this comunitie (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontente,
and retard much imployment that would have been to their benefit and comforte.
For the yong-men that were most able and fit for labour and service did repine (complain) that
they should spend their time and streingth to work for other mens wives and children, with out any recompense.
 The strong, or man of parts, had no more in division of victails and cloaths, than he that was weake and
not able to do a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice. The aged and graver men to be ranked and equalised in labours, and victuals, cloaths, etc., with the meaner and younger sorte, thought it some indignite and disrespect unto them. And for men's wives to be commanded to do service for other men, as dresing their meat, washing their cloaths, etc., they deemed it a kind of slavery, neither could many husbands well brooke (allow) it. "
Finally, in 1623, Governor Bradford called a meeting to discuss how to have a more productive growing
season and be better prepared for the next winter. Governor Bradford writes:
'All this while no supply was heard of, neither knew they when they might expecte any. So they [the pilgims]
 began to thinke how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtaine a better crope than they
had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. At length after much debate of things,
the Gov. (with the advise of  the cheefest amongest them) gave way that they should set downe every man
for his owne perticuler, and in that regard trust to themselves... And so assigned to every family a parcel of land.
This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than
other wise would have been by any means the Gov. or any other could use, and saved him a great deall of
trouble, and gave far better contente. The women now went willingly into the feild, and tooke their little-ons
with them to set corne, which before would aledge weakness, and inabilitie; whom to have compelled
would have bene thought great tirany and opression."
It was at this meeting between Governor Bradford and the chief members of the colony that the American
free enterprise system was born. Governor Bradford writes about the results of this system:
"By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine, now God gave them plentiy,
 and the face of things was changed, to the rejoysing of the harts of many, for which they blessed God.
And in the effect of their perticular planting was well seene, for all had, one way and other,
pretty well to bring the year aboute, and some of the abler sorte and more industrious had to spare,
and sell to others, 50 as any generall want of famine hath not been amongest them since to this day."
This little known failed experiment in American socialism isn't taught in today's schools. If it was,
our children might grow up to doubt governmental programs that redistribute wealth "from each according
to his ability - too each according to his need."
Source: William Bradford, History of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647.
Back in the ‘80s, we took the kids to visit Plymouth Plantation. During the tour, I was struck by the presence of
fortified guard shacks in the town square and asked the guide if they were a last line of defense for
the citizens there if trouble with the Indians coming into the compound. He told us that they were for
the control of the FOOD RIOTS which broke out those first few winters — BEFORE they abandoned
their experiment with Marxism before Karl Marx was even born.
Seems each generation or so we must relearn the hard lessons of history. 
President Obama will teach us the next round of such lessons. I suspect they will be BITTER ones indeed.

Countries with the Largest Proven Oil Reserves
Venezuela has highest oil reserves in the world but is bankrupt because of socialism &
people are starving 2016

    Rank Country   Barrels (bbl)
    1     Venezuela 298,400,000,000
    2   Saudi Arabia 268,300,000,000
    3   Canada         171,000,000,000
    4     Iran         157,800,000,000
    5     Iraq         144,200,000,000
    6     Kuwait         104,000,000,000
    7     Russia         103,200,000,000
    8   United Arab Emirates   97,800,000,000
    9   Libya       48,360,000,000
  10     Nigeria    37,070,000,000
  11    United States 36,520,000,000