I just took it for granted that everyone knew socialism was a bad idea. Recently, I’ve been alarmed by the number of people wondering why the US isn’t trying it. The left has basically given up the argument of this administration not socialist in nature and has resorted instead to defending socialism.
I’m not even sure that many people understand what socialism is. Well here’s a definition, albeit incomplete. Socialism is an economic system in which society (in our case, elected officials, since they are supposed to represent the people) exerts considerable control over the markets and property in the interest of the “greater good”. Now, this is not to say that “considerable control” is full on ownership – that may or may not be the case. The “greater good” is entirely subjective and is determined by whoever is in charge. There’s a vague definition, but in all honesty, the goals of socialism are comparably vague.
The inherent problem with this is the “greater good” part. Who gets to determine that? You could say that the needs of all people are met would be a “greater good”. This is why socialism regularly begets tyranny. People are receptive to it as long as they like who is in control. But the tables are going to turn in 4 or 8 years, and guess what, Obama supporters, you just may not like who is in charge. They may have different ideas. They may not support your ideals. And they will have every bit as much control as your current economic savior does.
I’d wager that the reason socialism is more palatable is that it appears on the surface to be a middle ground between communism and capitalism. Everyone runs screaming from the idea of communism, because of it’s totalitarian nature. What some choose not to see is that the leanings of socialism are much closer to communism than capitalism; they are both rooted in a belief that without a restriction of freedom, the needs of the people cannot be met.
Socialists cannot get past the emotional aspect of the idea – the idea that everyone is being taken care of. As I’m writing this, I’m listening to Tammy Bruce filling in on Laura Ingraham’s show. As she says, there is a reason people are running away from Cuba. Nobody is running to socialist countries.
Socialism doesn’t work because it’s got a faulty foundation. It does NOT consider the human desire to compete and achieve. It leaves people stifled and renders them complacent. There is little motivation to discover, invent, or improve. It feeds into the desire of leaders for power, which has consistently lead to tyranny. From a great article on the fundamental failure of socialism:
In the same way that a Ponzi scheme or chain letter initially succeeds but eventually collapses, socialism may show early signs of success. But any accomplishments quickly fade as the fundamental deficiencies of central planning emerge. It is the initial illusion of success that gives government intervention its pernicious, seductive appeal. In the long run, socialism has always proven to be a formula for tyranny and misery.
A pyramid scheme is ultimately unsustainable because it is based on faulty principles. Likewise, collectivism is unsustainable in the long run because it is a flawed theory. Socialism does not work because it is not consistent with fundamental principles of human behavior. The failure of socialism in countries around the world can be traced to one critical defect: it is a system that ignores incentives.
At the core of socialism is the assumption that humans are selfless and are working for the greater good. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Humans are selfish and have their best interests at heart. When offered the opportunity to give or receive, the prominent human response is to receive. We’re takers. And when there are more takers than givers, the system is bled dry. Countries are destroyed.
Countries like Venezuela. Countries like Cuba. Countries like Russia. Countries like China.
This is NOT a new direction. This is a very old direction that has NEVER succeeded. Countries that have tried it are telling us NOT to go down this road. Why do we insist on making their mistakes? Why do so many believe that Obama can accomplish what no one else has?
UPDATE:
Thanks VoxAZ for posting the dictionary definition in the comments. Which basically summarizes what I said, for “anonymous” commentors who love to tell me I’m wrong.
so·cial·ism (s?’sh?-l?z’?m) n.
1. Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.
2. The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/socialism
