Socialism.
Issue:
We hear it frequently: President Obama is a socialist. Social Security is socialism. Various government programs are socialistic. Universal, single-payer health insurance is socialism. Certain legislation is socialism. In the political discourse of the United States the terms "socialism" and "socialistic" are often used in derogatory fashion to indicate that something is un-American, anti-democracy, anti-capitalistism.
Deception:
Socialism is derided as contrary to the Constitution of the United States and as incompatible with capitalism and democracy. This is deception.
Reality:
The United States is a nation founded as a political democracy that has embraced both capitalistic and socialistic economic policies throughout its history. It is vital that we understand the differences and compatibilities between these three philosophies, for to attack any one of these without understanding the critical role they have played in the growth and prosperity of our society for over 200 years indicates an unwillingness to see the forest for the trees.
Socialism is generally regarded as public (government) ownership of the means of production and distribution in a society. In other words, government ownership of automobile or oil production or agriculture would be accurately labeled "socialism" and is not uncommon in western societies but is not favored in the United States. Yet socialism is pervasive in the U.S. in the form of government manipulation of the capital markets and their industries by the use of taxes and tax breaks, regulations, subsidies and laws.
Government administration of education, retirement benefits, rapid transit and water supplies, on the other hand, is not socialism under the above definition, as these are not production and distribution. They are services provided for the common good and ensure that all members of society, including both the rich and the poor, have access to essential services. Yet these are the types of government-run or government-subsidized programs that are often derided as socialism. If you like to call these services socialism, however, or believe that they are, then ask yourself whether these constitute socialism: public roads, public police and fire protection, public schools and libraries, streetlights, parks, business tax breaks, business subsidies, home mortgage deductions, employer-sponsored health benefits and national defense.
Socialism could be called the fraternal twin of capitalism because they both contribute to growth and prosperity but in very different ways. In economic philosophy the United States has traditionally favored capitalism in public but embraced many socialistic policies in practice. It is impossible to draw a line separating capitalism from government and everywhere they overlap can be labeled socialism because it is government participation, or interference, in the private sector.
True socialism is married to government. True capitalism would be an acquaintance of government but in the United States it's in bed with government and it is usually the one on top.
Resolution:
Dialog regarding socialism in the U.S. needs to be adjusted to dispel the fantastic myths that socialism is not already pervasive in our society and that it is inherently bad. We all need a clear understanding of the meaning of terms such as socialism and capitalism; we need to understand the real roles they play in our society; we need to stop demonizing socialism because it doesn't comport with our worship of capitalism.
We also need to remind ourselves and others that using misunderstood labels to discredit and malign people and programs is deceptive and counterproductive to understanding and progress. Perhaps most importantly we need to appreciate the role socialistic practices serve to correct and mitigate the damaging effects of capitalism, the primary goal of which is to maximize private profit over the needs of society.
We hear it frequently: President Obama is a socialist. Social Security is socialism. Various government programs are socialistic. Universal, single-payer health insurance is socialism. Certain legislation is socialism. In the political discourse of the United States the terms "socialism" and "socialistic" are often used in derogatory fashion to indicate that something is un-American, anti-democracy, anti-capitalistism.
Deception:
Socialism is derided as contrary to the Constitution of the United States and as incompatible with capitalism and democracy. This is deception.
Reality:
The United States is a nation founded as a political democracy that has embraced both capitalistic and socialistic economic policies throughout its history. It is vital that we understand the differences and compatibilities between these three philosophies, for to attack any one of these without understanding the critical role they have played in the growth and prosperity of our society for over 200 years indicates an unwillingness to see the forest for the trees.
Socialism is generally regarded as public (government) ownership of the means of production and distribution in a society. In other words, government ownership of automobile or oil production or agriculture would be accurately labeled "socialism" and is not uncommon in western societies but is not favored in the United States. Yet socialism is pervasive in the U.S. in the form of government manipulation of the capital markets and their industries by the use of taxes and tax breaks, regulations, subsidies and laws.
Government administration of education, retirement benefits, rapid transit and water supplies, on the other hand, is not socialism under the above definition, as these are not production and distribution. They are services provided for the common good and ensure that all members of society, including both the rich and the poor, have access to essential services. Yet these are the types of government-run or government-subsidized programs that are often derided as socialism. If you like to call these services socialism, however, or believe that they are, then ask yourself whether these constitute socialism: public roads, public police and fire protection, public schools and libraries, streetlights, parks, business tax breaks, business subsidies, home mortgage deductions, employer-sponsored health benefits and national defense.
Socialism could be called the fraternal twin of capitalism because they both contribute to growth and prosperity but in very different ways. In economic philosophy the United States has traditionally favored capitalism in public but embraced many socialistic policies in practice. It is impossible to draw a line separating capitalism from government and everywhere they overlap can be labeled socialism because it is government participation, or interference, in the private sector.
True socialism is married to government. True capitalism would be an acquaintance of government but in the United States it's in bed with government and it is usually the one on top.
Resolution:
Dialog regarding socialism in the U.S. needs to be adjusted to dispel the fantastic myths that socialism is not already pervasive in our society and that it is inherently bad. We all need a clear understanding of the meaning of terms such as socialism and capitalism; we need to understand the real roles they play in our society; we need to stop demonizing socialism because it doesn't comport with our worship of capitalism.
We also need to remind ourselves and others that using misunderstood labels to discredit and malign people and programs is deceptive and counterproductive to understanding and progress. Perhaps most importantly we need to appreciate the role socialistic practices serve to correct and mitigate the damaging effects of capitalism, the primary goal of which is to maximize private profit over the needs of society.