Last month, I wrote some thoughts on Capitalism. I thought it might be time to write some thoughts on an alternate economic theory: Socialism.
Contrary to what some have said Socialism doesn't create a sense of entitlement nor does Socialism sap vitality.
Brian Moore has pointed out:
The idea of elevating the individual and his or her needs over society is what creates a sense of entitlement. If you have ever worked in the service industry you will have come upon the utter selfishness of many. If you haven't had the pleasure, just peruse some of the stories at Not Always Right (like this one) and enjoy the sense of entitlement many American's already have without Socialism.
Socialism promotes working with others towards a common goal. That is the opposite of selfishness and in no way creates a sense of entitlement.
Ayn Rand, that paragon of the individual and author of The Virtue of Selfishness, created the character of John Galt for her novel Atlas Shrugged. Galt, like Rand herself, was selfish. The term "Going Galt" refers to people emulating John Galt and ceasing to produce. But what people?
If you seriously believe that professionals and entrepreneurs work harder than your average factory worker, janitor, or poorly paid waiter and are the "real ones" who make our country work...then you need to get your head examined. If all the stock brokers didn't show up for work tomorrow...most of our lives wouldn't change one bit. If all the garbage collectors stopped showing up...there would be a situation.
Socialists aspire to live in a classless world of equality regardless of age, race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation. The teabaggers don't want that world at all. The idea of being against equality for all comes from the belief that some are inherently inferior to others. If that isn't a sense of entitlement...
Capitalism is a system based on greed and selfishness. That is a system that creates a sense of entitlement.
As I noted before, contrary to what the teabaggers would have you believe, a recent Rassmussen poll discovered the numbers of people who disagree with Socialism are falling. Recently, yodafone of DailyKos has even recently used Thomas Paine's own writings to argue that Paine was a Socialist.
Contrary to the talking points, Socialists don't want to punish the rich; Socialists want to stop punishing the poor. Socialists aspire to live in a classless world of equality regardless of age, race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation.
Socialism would allow us to raise the living standards for the average person dramatically. Instead of workers being paid the lowest amount the government will allow employers to pay them, they will be paid better. And CEOs won't be making a killing at the expense of the low paid workers.
Currently, teabaggers decry Obama bringing Socialism to America. First, Obama is not a Socialist. Second, we already have many Socialist programs that people use all the time.
What exactly is a Socialist program?
In America, there are many things that would fall under this definition:
*publicly owned airports
*sports arenas
*public schools
*public parks
*public libraries
*fire departments
*police departments
*government-funded universities
*Social Security
*interstate highways
Wanna jettison all those?
With the current recession/depression going on, many have begun to question Capitalism. Some have even claimed that Capitalism has failed.
Even Forbes has stated Laissez-Faire Capitalism Has Failed
It is time to think about trying something new. Socialism isn't evil. Most of those who rail against it do so because they believe anti-Socialist propaganda. They fail to recognize that they would benefit from the system, not be "punished".
Ronald Aronson writing for The Nation has stated:
That was written in 2006 well before the economy collapsed. It is even more true today.
Contrary to what some have said Socialism doesn't create a sense of entitlement nor does Socialism sap vitality.
Brian Moore has pointed out:
To the contrary, workers have a greater incentive to work in order to make MORE money, plus improve their families' and the society's well-being. In addition, they participate in setting criteria, determining the production and distribution of the products and services, and thus participate in such a democratic fashion that they feel a part of the outcome. They now, for the first time, like owners, take pride in their work, because they are the real owners. They can see the result of their labors, and know they had a full participatory role.
The idea of elevating the individual and his or her needs over society is what creates a sense of entitlement. If you have ever worked in the service industry you will have come upon the utter selfishness of many. If you haven't had the pleasure, just peruse some of the stories at Not Always Right (like this one) and enjoy the sense of entitlement many American's already have without Socialism.
Socialism promotes working with others towards a common goal. That is the opposite of selfishness and in no way creates a sense of entitlement.
Ayn Rand, that paragon of the individual and author of The Virtue of Selfishness, created the character of John Galt for her novel Atlas Shrugged. Galt, like Rand herself, was selfish. The term "Going Galt" refers to people emulating John Galt and ceasing to produce. But what people?
The doctors, lawyers, engineers, executives, serious small-business owners, top salespeople, and other professionals and entrepreneurs who make this country run work considerably harder than pretty much anyone else (including most of the chattering class, and all politicians).
If you seriously believe that professionals and entrepreneurs work harder than your average factory worker, janitor, or poorly paid waiter and are the "real ones" who make our country work...then you need to get your head examined. If all the stock brokers didn't show up for work tomorrow...most of our lives wouldn't change one bit. If all the garbage collectors stopped showing up...there would be a situation.
Socialists aspire to live in a classless world of equality regardless of age, race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation. The teabaggers don't want that world at all. The idea of being against equality for all comes from the belief that some are inherently inferior to others. If that isn't a sense of entitlement...
Capitalism is a system based on greed and selfishness. That is a system that creates a sense of entitlement.
As I noted before, contrary to what the teabaggers would have you believe, a recent Rassmussen poll discovered the numbers of people who disagree with Socialism are falling. Recently, yodafone of DailyKos has even recently used Thomas Paine's own writings to argue that Paine was a Socialist.
Contrary to the talking points, Socialists don't want to punish the rich; Socialists want to stop punishing the poor. Socialists aspire to live in a classless world of equality regardless of age, race, sex, religion, or sexual orientation.
In a socialist system the people own and control the means of production and distribution through democratically controlled public agencies, cooperatives, or other collective groups The primary goal of economic activity is to provide the necessities of life, including food, shelter, healthcare, education, childcare, cultural opportunities, and social services.
These social services include care for the chronically ill,persons with mental disabilities, the infirm and the aging. Planning takes place at the community, regional, and national levels, and is determined democratically with the input of workers, consumers, and the public to be served.
Socialism would allow us to raise the living standards for the average person dramatically. Instead of workers being paid the lowest amount the government will allow employers to pay them, they will be paid better. And CEOs won't be making a killing at the expense of the low paid workers.
CEO perks alone grew in 2008 to an average of $336,248—or nine times the median salary of a full-time worker.
Currently, teabaggers decry Obama bringing Socialism to America. First, Obama is not a Socialist. Second, we already have many Socialist programs that people use all the time.
What exactly is a Socialist program?
According to the Future of Freedom Foundation, any government-owned, -funded, or -subsidized operation is considered to be a socialist program.
In America, there are many things that would fall under this definition:
*publicly owned airports
*sports arenas
*public schools
*public parks
*public libraries
*fire departments
*police departments
*government-funded universities
*Social Security
*interstate highways
Wanna jettison all those?
With the current recession/depression going on, many have begun to question Capitalism. Some have even claimed that Capitalism has failed.
Even Forbes has stated Laissez-Faire Capitalism Has Failed
...However, while this crisis does not imply the end of market-economy capitalism, it has shown the failure of a particular model of capitalism. Namely, the laissez-faire, unregulated (or aggressively deregulated), Wild West model of free market capitalism with lack of prudential regulation, supervision of financial markets and proper provision of public goods by governments.
It is time to think about trying something new. Socialism isn't evil. Most of those who rail against it do so because they believe anti-Socialist propaganda. They fail to recognize that they would benefit from the system, not be "punished".
Ronald Aronson writing for The Nation has stated:
Today, when the bottom line is touted as the answer to every question, Americans are imprisoned in a mental world shaped by economic trends. Ironically, its ideologists have become pitchmen for a capitalist caricature of Marxism--promulgating a crude economic determinism in which the market rules every social, mental and geographic space. Since the fall of Communism, market-oriented ways of thinking, feeling and seeing have permeated our lives and our culture to a degree that Marx never dreamed of.
Yet the real Marxism, although no longer embodied in movements or governments, has never been truer or more relevant: Most of the world's main problems today are inseparable from the dynamics of the capitalist system itself. With corporate capitalism everywhere in command, the outlook is for increased poverty, more environmental degradation, ever more uneven distribution of resources and the undermining of traditional societies and ways of life, for a culture dominated by marketing, advertising and uneven global development.
That was written in 2006 well before the economy collapsed. It is even more true today.
1 comments:
Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of Economics - is something that ought to be taught in school BUT through the Book by Naomi Klein called the Shock Doctrine , what most people fail to realize is that indeed America is being shocked as we have shocked so many other countries..
These folks believe that the Market will solve everything, though their goal is too rob the people create ecomonic situations so desparate that the people conceed rights..look around us - its happening now..not only that but all this talk of socialism is feeding into priming their pump , to ensure the American People Never wake up from a deluded slumber.
Its pretty plain to see, especially if one has read the last two books by Chalmers Johnson, The Sorrows of Empire and Nemesis - here he explains how we're an over reaching Empire and destined to go the way of all Empire through out history.
Americans sadly feel so exceptional , and the propaganda machine is so entrenched...many of us will see this only after it is way way too late. imo , the stimulus program is not going near far enough , its keeping the guilty in place and rewarding crimimal behavior in the case of the banks - credit is an illusion, printing money , usery is a fools errand..no real value there for labor at all. Like a rent a center - the crap ends up costing the renter 10x its true value.
one of these days and it won't be long the piper is going to be paid - meanwhile the squabble the wing nuts seem to relish is exactly what the Oligarchs want - when the people fight each other, who wins...why the Uber rich that's who..
nice post J.D.
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