Socialism and Me
I recently watched the Michael Moore film Capitalism: A Love Story. While I realize Michael Moore isn't always the best of sources and he can sometimes be dismissed as a gimmick hound without much substance. I find that my views and his movies almost always align. I am pretty leftist in my believes and after watching the movie I came to the realization that I am a socialist. Moreover, I think most people who really want what is best for everyone are too. On some level at least. Stalin, Lenin, China, and Karl Rove have just made the word socialism a bad word.
But here, let's look at the issue a little more in depth.
Here is a quick list of institutions that are socialist in our society:
Libraries: Tax dollars fund buildings that house books, knowledge, and internet ready computers (in 3 years libraries will just be free internet cafes).
Public schools: I pay for the right of my neighbor's kid to get a decent education. This way, in theory, my neighbor's kid won't mug and beat me when I take an evening stroll.
Police force: I would rather not have Black Water mercs shooting out my tires and pulling me over on the highway because I was speeding.
Fire department: If my neighbor and my house are burning down I would rather not have the fire department start taking bids on which of us can pay more when deciding what house to put out first.
Parks: The idea of the only greenspace in Seattle being turned into barbed wire golf courses doesn't sit well with me.
Here is a quick list of things that aren't socialist:
The Great Depression
The Great Recession
Top 1% of the people owning more than the bottom 40%...combined!
AIDS
Yeah, the lists are a little bit biased but it's my blog.
My overall point is this: capitalism and free enterprise alone are NOT the best means of doing business. In fact, if you analyze your life chances are many of the most important things in it have nothing to do with capitalism.
So, if you hear someone on the news or a pundit or politician saying the evils of socialism or how great capitalism is, just take it with a grain of salt.
Also don't equate socialism with totalitarianism or communism as most people who are against it do.
But here, let's look at the issue a little more in depth.
Here is a quick list of institutions that are socialist in our society:
Libraries: Tax dollars fund buildings that house books, knowledge, and internet ready computers (in 3 years libraries will just be free internet cafes).
Public schools: I pay for the right of my neighbor's kid to get a decent education. This way, in theory, my neighbor's kid won't mug and beat me when I take an evening stroll.
Police force: I would rather not have Black Water mercs shooting out my tires and pulling me over on the highway because I was speeding.
Fire department: If my neighbor and my house are burning down I would rather not have the fire department start taking bids on which of us can pay more when deciding what house to put out first.
Parks: The idea of the only greenspace in Seattle being turned into barbed wire golf courses doesn't sit well with me.
Here is a quick list of things that aren't socialist:
The Great Depression
The Great Recession
Top 1% of the people owning more than the bottom 40%...combined!
AIDS
Yeah, the lists are a little bit biased but it's my blog.
My overall point is this: capitalism and free enterprise alone are NOT the best means of doing business. In fact, if you analyze your life chances are many of the most important things in it have nothing to do with capitalism.
So, if you hear someone on the news or a pundit or politician saying the evils of socialism or how great capitalism is, just take it with a grain of salt.
Also don't equate socialism with totalitarianism or communism as most people who are against it do.
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