One word we are starting to hear used frequently, and I am sure will become even more common as the 2020 election heats up, is Socialism.
The “S” word has been flying around the airwaves and across the Internet.
Depending on which channels you watch, websites you visit, or social media bubble you live in, the word “Socialism” may be used as a pejorative or be described as a synonym for panacea.
I know that I am pretty ignorant about Socialism and what it really means. I have read various definitions, none of which have been very helpful. I am still confused.
I would love to hear from people I know and trust personally, yes, You.
What first hand knowledge do you have about Socialism?
Since this is my blog I do have a few “rules” I ask that you follow should you decide to enter into this conversation:
- Be civil, better yet, be nice. Please refrain from any personal attacks towards other respondents. I only send notifications and invitations on this blog to people who I know personally. All of them are either friends or relatives of mine.
- Listen first. My main goal with this blog is to find “middle ground.” We can only do this if we consider ideas which at first blush seem foreign, misplaced, or outright “wrong” to us personally. None of us is too old to learn, at least not yet.
- Share what you have experienced personally. There are plenty of sources of information about Socialism but please don’t just cut and paste someone else’s thoughts. I want to hear what you personally think and have seen first hand.
- Challenge and question opinions you see as wrong, incomplete, or questionable while keeping Rule # 1 in mind.
- Stick to the issue of socialism. I’m pretty sure there are among those reading this some really strong feelings about individual politicians past and present. I’m hoping that this post is not about them (they come and go) but rather the concept of Socialism and how much it does, or does not, have relevance to those of us who live in democratic countries.
I hope your responses to this post lead me to a better understanding of the word Socialism.
Here are some thought starters based on questions I have about your experiences:
What do you think Socialism means?
Have you ever lived in a so-called socialist country? Visited one?
Do you know anyone personally who has received any government benefits directly (e.g. social security, medicare, medicaid, food stamps, student loans or grants, mortgage guarantees (VA or FHA), unemployment insurance, workers compensation, government backed disaster insurance/relief, or tax incentives, exemptions or credits)?
Have you ever worked for a government entity (local, state, or federal) providing services to other citizens?
Have you ever worked in the private sector or owned a business? Did your company have any government contracts? What services or products did your company provide to the government? What regulations most impacted your company? Did your customers receive government supported loans or incentives to buy your products? Did you ever participate in small business administration programs or receive government subsidies/business loans?
Is Socialism absolute or can it be incremental?
Are Socialism and Capitalism compatible?
Can you have Socialism without Democracy?
Do you even give Socialism any thought or think it is relevant?
Please click on “Comments/Leave a Reply” link below to submit your thoughts to this blog, which I look forward to reading.
Jim
Here is a comment related to Socialism that Rick Brown allowed me to post here.
Jim,
About once a month someone goes off track, writes a ranting Letter to the Editor on how the Democrats are turning the country into a socialist state. They inevitably fail to be aware that socialism is all around them and they benefit from it every day. Any entity with the words “City, County, State or Federal” in its title is socialist. When taxes pay for a service that is created to benefit the populous, it is socialism.
The problem is that ‘socialism’ harkens back to, and before, the 1917 the Communist Revolution in Russia. The Democrats have miserably failed to separate themselves from this connection. They need to go on the offensive rather than cower from the word. They need to educate Americans of all the social benefits we all enjoy every single day. We drive on roads, hunt, fish, hike and camp on state and Federal lands, visit state and federal parks, benefit from the FAA, US Weather bureau, National Guard, EPA, law enforcement, fire departments, sanitary systems, snow removal, libraries, schools, universities, Medicare… the list is endless. “We the People” left the Feudal system when all libraries, schools, and lands were privately held solely for the benefit of those fortunate enough to own/inherit them. Everyone else suffered in the mud with no hope of leaving the caste they were born into.
Too many times, when the Republicans throw down the ‘socialist ‘ card, Democrats say nothing. Worse than that, they recoil from the ‘S’ word, like a guilty man confronted with irrefutable evidence, rather than going on the offensive with the facts. FDR was called a communist and a socialist for his Social Security program. My own grandfather hated ‘Rooosavelt’ but when he turned 65 and Social Security checks came floating out of the Heavens into his mailbox, he failed/chose not to connect the dots. Unfortunately, I was too young to confront him with his ignorance.
“If a nation expects to be ignorant & free, in a state of civilisation, it expects what never was & never will be.” -Thomas Jefferson
RB
Hi Jim: I approach your question as a student of political economy. In Marxian terms, socialism is public ownership of the “means of production” (economic activity). Capitalism, by contrast, is private ownership, which relies mostly on market forces (price signals) rather than government planning, for investment and consumption decisions. So Bernie Sanders, despite calling himself a “democratic socialist,” is actually a “social democrat” because he is not calling for government ownership of most business. He is just proposing greater regulation/supervision of markets and income distribution — like the social democrats in Europe, who generally embrace capitalism, have done. Health care and education are different categories. For social democrats (like me), they are basic human rights that should not be entirely subject to the whims of market forces.
Thanks for your feedback Walt. Another factor that must be considered when differentiating between functions that are better left to private enterprise is the existence of “choice” among consumers and legitimate competition among businesses competing for those customers. It makes perfect sense to me that private enterprise should produce consumer goods large and small. I can shop for a car, and pick the one that best meets my needs. Car makers innovate to provide options and to compete for my business. Supply and demand works here. In other areas, particularly services, this does not work so well. Fire and police protection, national defense, medical care, and education come to mind. Society needs these services in varying amounts, but individuals are not in a position to make critical choices. Competition does not make sense and therefore government’s role has to be greater. This is not absolute. People certainly can “shop” for a nose or boob job, add addtional rent-a-cops to secure their business interests, or pay for personal tutors for their children. It is the basic level of each of these services that must be provided for by the government or with close governmental oversight. I don’t consider that “socialism” is synonymous with vital social programs. The discussion I believe has to be around the degree to which government supports these vital services, not whether the government has any interest at all, certainly it does. When I say “government,” I am really saying those entities that support “The People” or “The Greater Community Good.” Only good government can assure a level playing field.