Laying claim

Back to Norman Geras. He wrote:

As an atheist, I think religious belief is particularly open to criticism on several counts, among them these: its adherents appeal to softer standards for establishing truth in its own sphere than we habitually apply to other matters; some of them arrogantly lay claim to a monopoly on certain standard human achievements - morality, appreciation of nature, art, wonder, humility, fortitude in the face of adversity - that non-believers are perfectly capable of participating in; and, as Dale says, religions have often underwritten, as ordained by God, practices that are morally indefensible, and they continue to do this.

I'd like to re-write that:

As an advocate of economic freedom, I think socialism is particularly open to criticism on several counts, among them these: its adherents appeal to softer standards for establishing truth in its own sphere than we habitually apply to other matters; some of them arrogantly lay claim to a monopoly on certain standard human achievements - morality, compassion, concern for the poor, fairness, social responsibility, the achievements of the past such as female suffrage and the abolition of slavery - that non-socialists are perfectly capable of participating in and in some cases were responsible for; and, as many people have pointed out, socialists have often underwritten practices that are morally indefensible, and they continue to do this.