Enlighten me please.
Originally Posted by Zanzibar789
Personally, I would encourage you to seek a real education rather than enlightenment on a SHMB.
Butt, since you asked for it...
It's a win win for all.
First it is important to point out that socialism is an economic system, not a political one. So all of the political propaganda is just that, propaganda. There is nothing about Socialism that is unconstitutional, illegal, or in anyways hinders a democracy, in fact, socialism would tend to have more people involved in the democratic process.
- Capitalism is a system based solely on exploitation whether it be the exploitation of the natural environment or of one another and as such it is ultimately unsustainable and creates an oppressed society under the cultural (or political) tyranny of the elite few and thus has created many of the ills of our society; socialism to the contrary works to eliminate this exploitation. A true Capitalist recognizes that resources are finite and works just as hard to replace what he uses because he knows it means sustainability
- Socialism takes the ownership, responsibility, and benefits of resources and the means of productions out of the hands of the elite few and puts them under the collective hands of the people. Contrary to popular belief, this actually increases the quality of goods produced, etc. After all, are you going to work harder to produce a better product or service to make someone else rich or for your own company of which you have a vested interest? With socialism the workers themselves own the companies, resources, and means of productions so they have a very real connection and vested interest in the well being of said companies, etc. How do you put anything into the collective hands of the people. By giving government control of the resources and production then letting them take their cut off of the top. Wouldn't that make government capitalists.
- Socialism creates community values. Socialism reinforces the idea that "we are all in this together" instead of each man fending for himself at any cost. This tends to have positive social benefits while equally distributing the work load. No, it creates an entitled portion of society from those who think that they deserve something they didn't work for.
- Socialism creates an egalitarian society. Not in a good way. We would all be equal in that we are dependent on the government.
- Socialism allows workers to reap the full benefits of their own efforts and ends the institutionalized robbery of the very workers who are producing the wealth in the first place. There are naturally leader and followers and varied levels of both. Some are cut out to lead outright, others need leaders above them telling them what to do and how to lead. Still others want nothing to do with leading. Anyone that strives to be the best at what they do will be rewarded, move on to someone that will reward them or figure out how to do it on their own. You can't regulate the human spirit any more than you can legislate morality.
- Socialism, when done right, raises the standard of living for the entire nation as a whole. When done right? So does Capitalism when "done right" but much better.
- Socialism would free workers from wage slavery. Socialism creates wage slavery by letting the government determine what is fair rather than letting free markets set the wage. The most productive worker should get the highest pay, No?
- Socialism would raise the level of education and health services and make them available for all citizens thereby raising the over all quality of life for the entire nation. Because a true capitalist want stupid, unhealthy workers, They make him so much more money than those who come to work everyday and can read and write.
- Under socialism need would drive production not profit which means those services and goods which were most needed but which yield little profit in the past would now be available including life saving medicines, new technologies, and better food sources. The government is inhibiting those those things to a large degree. Think FDA. wasting money on Solyndra and Farm bills that encourage farmers not to grow certain things. I think the free market can determine what we "need" and want better than self serving politicians.
- Socialism would end the monopolies and tyrannies of mega-corporations. Socialism creates those things by allowing government to interfere with businesses too big to fail. You want to end monopolies? Let pure competition have a run. (See deregulation of the airline industry for an example)
- Socialism would end poverty. By creating a lower standard of what poverty is.
- Socialism would result in healthier citizens by increasing the access to healthy food, better nutrition, and healthy lifestyle not available or encouraged under a capitalist regime. Again, Capitalists want unhealthy workers why?
- Socialism creates a sustainable society that can build and flourish both for the current generation as well as those to come, unlike capitalism which is designed to ultimately fail. Creating goods and providing services through free markets based on supply and demand will fail. Huh?
True socialism, when done correctly, helps to end political unrest because it gives everyone a chance to participate in the system letting their voices be heard and their needs met in the most efficient and complete way possible. There are of course, many other benefits both minor and major, but at its very core true socialism is about the spirit of community, something that is sorely lacking in America today and the world at large. Thanks to the Great Uniter we are more divided than we have been in my lifetime.
Source
Originally Posted by Zanzibar789
Uh, OK?
You see Socialism as a panacea, I see it as a scourge.
Now I understand that you believe that we are operating under a Capitalist system. We aren't. We protect businesses too big to fail. Businesses we let get that big in the first place with anti-capitalist zero tolerance legislation.
A capitalist does not support government intervention because that means regulation on the other end. Let the markets hold corporations accountable. If management is doing things that are hurting people then they should be held accountable. Don't slap them on the wrist and then make up more legislation that gets misinterpreted or misused. If they commit fraud or hurt people intentionally and it can be proved. Throw their asses in jail.
Ideologically it sounds wonderful but there will always be a portion of the working class that strives to do better, a portion that is happy with what they have and a portion that will always feel like they aren't getting theirs and blame it on the ones working harder for it. How do you propose to change a persons thought process? Government regulation?
I'm more for letting people make their own choices in their personal life, their professional life and their sex life or whatever is important to them not telling them what they should believe is important.
In short a capitalist believes that 1000 merchants competing for the same dollar is much better than one company telling us what we are going to pay.