Socialism

“Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” — George Washington

Tonight I was talking to my Dad about socialism. I was getting my preach on, because I think that many people who say they want it don’t really have a full understanding of what socialism is and why it would destroy this country. There is plenty wrong with our country – politicians who are out for themselves, big oil who cares little about anything but profit, health care costs out of control, not to mention the unemployment and poverty and violence. We all know about all that because we hear about it day in and day out by the ever present media who believes that the sky is always falling and there is little good left in the world. Nowadays, the common response is, “Well the government should do something about that.” And that is the beginning of socialism. Everything I think of socialism is rooted in my early education which was definitely fearful of communism (The Cold War was going on), but at the same time, it gave me a great deal of respect for the way our society was planned. I am glad that I have the freedom to choose when so many do not – shall I buy this house, this car, take this job, marry this person? Shall I create some art, build this sculpture, photograph this scene? Shall I start this business, work real hard and prosper? The point is that I have the ability to live in a place that allows me to do that. And I think of my ancestors who came here from Ireland and Italy because of that dream. A socialist society does not foster these ideals but is completely counter to them. Please take the time to read some of the quoted paragraphs and follow the links to some of the sites. There is so much on this issue, and if we are to examine history, I believe that we will find that socialism is not a direction that our country should go.

Definition:
“Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and the creation of an egalitarian society. Socialists mainly share the belief that capitalism unfairly concentrates power and wealth among a small segment of society that controls capital and creates an unequal society. All socialists advocate the creation of an egalitarian society, in which wealth and power are distributed more evenly, although there is considerable disagreement among socialists over how, and to what extent this could be achieved.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism)

Socialism vs. Capitalism:
Capitalism: Means of production and distribution of goods are owned by individuals and corporations
Socialism: Means of production are owned by the government or state
Capitalism: Features a class-based society
Socialism: Rejects the necessity of a class-based society in favor of a society of equals
Capitalism: Fosters a competitive atmosphere in which workers and companies are encouraged to work hard to achieve personal success
Socialism: Encourages an atmosphere of cooperation in which no matter how hard a person works, he or she reaps the same benefits as everyone else.
Capitalism: Ownership of private property is encouraged
Socialism: Ownership of private property is largely forbidden
Capitalism: Produces goods based on the law of supply and demand
Socialism: Government mandates production and prices.
(How Socialism Works, by Alia Hoyt)

So even though it sounds like a utopia, where everyone gets paid the same, and life is lovely and wonderful and we all have free health care, reality is far different as evidenced by socialistic societies all over the world. “Socialism doesn’t work. Its structure denies incentive, innovation and information, which in turn leads to dissatisfaction, waste, inefficiency and possible war. Free markets aren’t perfect, but they are better. This conclusion should have been obvious to anyone before it was argued through. That it isn’t to so many is because of the incredible superficial appeal that state-socialism has (“it’s so much fairer” and “wouldn’t the world be better…”) coupled with the way in which its proponents, such as its founder Marx, almost like religious fanatics choose to ignore the facts. In the choice between Marxism and the market, how could one man possibly design an economic system that was superior to the silent intentions and commitments of countless people? (Philip Thomas).”

” Under individualist and capitalist theory (and practice) each person is free to determine his own needs and, through the division of labor and voluntary exchange, to produce what’s required to satisfy them. (As the old Spanish proverb puts it, “Take what you want and pay for it.”) Under socialist theory the individual’s needs are determined and satisfied collectively. Dissent and venturing out on one’s own are not options. As Trotsky acknowledged, everyone is an employee and tenant of the collective — that is, the state.” (Socialism in Theory)

Why Socialism Doesn’t Work
I came across this little post and it sums up so well what history has proven. “Enough generations of socialist policies have now passed for us to judge their effects. They are bleak. Socialism undermines the character of a nation and of its citizens. In simpler words, socialism makes people worse… Socialism teaches its citizens to expect everything, even if they contribute nothing. Socialism teaches its citizens that they have a plethora of rights and few corresponding obligations—except to be taxed.

“And that is why the citizens of less socialist — and more religious — America give more charity per capita and per income than do citizens of socialist countries. That is why Americans volunteer time for the needy so much more than citizens of socialist countries do. That is why citizens of conservative states in America give more charity than citizens of liberal states do. The more Left one identifies oneself on the political spectrum, the more that person is likely to believe that the state, not fellow citizens, should take care of the poor and the needy.

“Under socialism, one is not only liberated from having to take care of oneself; one is also liberated from having to take care of others. The state will take care of me and of everybody else… The socialist idea sounded altruistic to those who began it, and it sounds altruistic to the naive who believe in it today. In practice, however, it creates self-centered individuals and a narcissistic society. So while it may have begun as a way to help others, it has come to mean a way of evading responsibility for oneself and for others.”
—Dennis Prager (quoted from northstarliberty.blogspot.com)

Barack Obama
About a year ago, Senator Obama spoke to a 5 year old girl about universal health care coverage. “’We’ve got to make sure that people who have more money help the people who have less money,’ Sen. Obama said. When a presidential candidate says ‘We’ve got to make sure,’ that is the language of government force.” (http://www.americawantstoknow.com)

“Regardless of Obama’s presumed good intentions, socialism always brings a society to a bad ending. I don’t want to believe that Americans who live in a free society that allows people to think what they will, do what they want, and succeed if they can, will willingly hand themselves over to the socialist ideology. They must therefore be reminded, again and again and again, that socialism isn’t just another political party; it’s the death knell to freedom.” (American Thinker)