Socialism. What does it mean? (2009)
What is socialism?
This philosophy has received an unusual degree of attention
recently. Initially, it was used as a
one-dimensional attack via Joe the Plumber by the McCain forces at the end of
the presidential campaign. As a result,
it prompted several letters to the Citizen-Times and was the subject of a few
local opinion pieces.
In each exposition, the term never received a fair
description of what it means. When it is used, it becomes in our slogan-driven
public forum a meat ax to pound an opposing candidate or cause. Clearly, an attempt to define socialism in
this limited space runs a significant risk of oversimplifying. In taking that
risk, let me add that my purpose is not advocacy but clarification.
In a nutshell the major purpose of socialism is to provide
the opportunity for each individual in society to develop to his or her fullest
potential. Although capitalism may intend that indivudals will develop their
talents and capacities, socialism makes it the primary goal.
The first priority of capitalism, on the other hand, is
through industry and commerce to create a profit or surplus value through the
production and exchange of goods and services.
Individuals do benefit and great wealth may be produced through its
enterprises. But many individuals do not gain and the cause is not solely
attributable to intelligence and motivation.
A system that is designed to maximize profit for owners and investors
guarantees, regardless of motivation and hard work, that a significant number
of citizens will come out with less.
The continuing debate between conservative and liberal
capitalists is how much government is needed to lessen the pain of
profit-driven economics. The former
argue that “big government” gets in the way of the free-market; the latter
advocate for government to assist the many who are trampled by the ‘free
market.’
The discussion is never about what kind of society do we
really want. Capitalism offers an
indifferent market that produces by its nature a few haves and many have
nots. Socialism develops a society to
provide the opportunities for each of us to develop our talents to the
fullest. Socialism cannot produce the amount
of wealth that capitalism can, but it would not create the extreme artificial
inequalities that capitalism inherently spits out.
Democracy can operate just as well in a socialist society as
in a capitalitist one. In fact it would
be more democratic. The large number of
individuals and families in poverty are a blight on the quality of democracy in
a capitalistic culture. This would not
be the case under socialism. With free
education and healthcare, each individual would live in an environment that
encourages excellence. Consequently, one could argue, the ethics of an entreprenuriel
spirt and service to the community would go hand in hand to create a true
practice of community.
So the next time a politician derides his opponent as a
‘socialist,’ it may in truth mean higher praise than intended.
