On Socialism
I have occasionally been accused of being a Socialist. I am not, under any definition of the word.
As you can see, Socialism is generally considered in political terms. The utopian version would have every single one of us be a willing worker in a state-owned industry. The dystopian version would have every one of us as a slave to the state.
There seem to be as many forms of Socialism as there are Socialists.
Major Types of Socialism
Marxist Socialism is characterized by total control and ownership of business by the state. Most who follow the Marxist vein advocate revolution and forced control by the state. Karl Marx himself believed that Socialism was a waypoint on the journey to Communism as the ultimate theory and government.
Market Socialism implies either public ownership and management or worker cooperative control of the means of production. There could also be a hybrid combination of the two in a single economy. The theory that the market determines what to produce and how much to avoid shortages and excesses. When the control is primarily vested in the state the resulting profits can reduce or eliminate taxes on the individual.
China and Vietnam both fit mostly into Market Socialism though they are sometimes described as State Capitalist systems.
Major Forms of Socialism
In the broad framework of Socialism, there are several forms of ownership recognized.
Socialist Planned Economy features a centralized government agency that is in charge of all production. Decisions on what and how much to produce are all done at a national level. Workers may or may not have any input on these decisions.
State-Directed Socialism has a central agency that is ultimately in charge but allows for local decisions on quantity administered by managers or worker councils. Some local or worker ownership is possible under this form.
Decentralized Planned Economy features ‘bottom-up’ planning and decision making allowing for local or worker control and ownership of production. The implication of this form is that all decisions are made in a democratic manner by the workers either directly or through councils.
Most Socialist theory and practice date to the early part of the 19th Century when theoretical models were widely suggested and debated. Almost endless models were suggested as the answer to ‘perfect socialism’.
Practical theory ranges from reform of Capitalism to make it ‘fairer’ to complete revolutionary overthrow of the existing government and implementation of State Controlled Socialism.
The Best Side Of Socialism
Inherent Fairness
Any Socialist system is inherently fair to all. Reward is based on overall production of the group and each member of the group is treated fairly.
Collective Decisions
The majority decides the course and it is in the best interest of all involved. Production is optimized and the producers in the economy are rewarded for their production. Every worker in the entire system is cared for cradle to grave.
Lack of Stress
There is no stress on any individual in the Socialist economy. Decisions are made by the collective mind and there is no need for any individual to worry. Clothing and housing are the same for all, with no variation. No stress.
Inherent Problems In Socialism
Termination of Individual Rights
These range from the simple loss of self-determination to death. Marxists believe that people dying is a necessary part of the process. It is estimated that 10 million died in the Russian Revolution and 60 million in the Chinese Revolution.
Personal Stagnation
In a life fully planned and implemented there is no reason at all for individuals to improve in any way. The decisions are all made for the individual so there is no reason to read or study or improve in any way. The workers are simply that and have no way forward to be anything more. Whether you work in a factory or an office or a store you are fully cared for and there is no reason for you to be more than you are today.
Loss of Freedom
In a system with no self-determination, freedom is severely curtailed. In a very liberal Socialism, you may be allowed to decide the Church you attend and what you will eat (within budgetary and supply constraints) and very little more. In a Marxist Socialism, even those decisions are made for you.
Lack of Innovation
Unless your job is to wonder about and research changes to any part of the system there is no reward for doing things better. Nothing changes and there is no reason for things to change. Personal innovation is at best discouraged at worst prohibited.
Minority Rights
There are none allowed for in Socialism. Where everything is aimed at and counts on the cooperation of the majority the minority any differences cease to exist. Culture, beliefs and customs are the provinces of the majority. There can be no minority.
Too bad for you if you are mentally or physically disabled in any way. The best, the very best you can hope for is compassionate care from whatever pool the majority sees fit to give you. Sequestration and death are a distinct possibility for those individuals in most Socialist constructs.
Socialism is generally regarded as a political system or a potential answer to a problem. There are obviously Socialist governments but almost all governments have some sort of Socialist leaning. Or do they?
Social
Though part of the root word, social and socialism are barely related. Social has individuals working together to produce a better outcome for all. Social is the urge that has led to the rise of civilization in general. Why do we gather in cities and nations? For mutual defense and protection in the beginning, and to meet mutual goals today. We all want a better life for us and our children and the ability to cooperate and share is critical to those primary goals.
In the US many aspects of our daily lives involve social solutions to problems of civilization. Transportation, Fire and Police protection, water and sewer all involve social rather than Socialist solutions. Taxes pay for these essential services and all are regulated and administered by government agencies.
Canada is much the same except that they add health care to the mix. Their health care is 100% funded by the Federal Government using tax revenue. But there are choices. If patients so desire they can go to private physicians. Physicians are not directed by the government to follow specific forms and protocols and they are free to take their practice private if they are inclined to. It is very much social medicine but probably not Socialized. There are restrictions and requirements to be certain but it seems a system that works very well.
The Result of Socialism
Socialism, more than any other governmental form, seems to lend itself to Totalitarian regimes. Leaders of purely Socialist systems tend to be dictators and not freely elected.
The next part of this series will deal with Capitalism. Good, bad, indifferent. In the meantime, I’d like to ask if the readers agree or disagree with Socialist principles and actions. How say you Adsactly?
I leaned heavily on Wikipedia for this post. Particularly for the types and forms of Socialism that you can find here and here.
Authored by: @bigtom13
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