Explain like I'm five.. What is 'a socialist' and why is it considered bad?

I read many other forums and sites, and reddit is one I enjoy to read from time to time. I thought this was a pretty good post with some very good view points from various individuals.. just thought I would share.

The actual link to the original post: http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikei...it_considered/

The main post is this:

Quote: The thing to understand about "socialism" is that it doesn't exist as a discrete entity. It exists as a part of the same spectrum as capitalism, a sliding scale of economics delineating who earns and spends money in a particular economic system. Every state in the world today exists somewhere on that continuum; there is no such thing as a purely capitalist or purely socialist state. Furthermore, neither such system would be particularly desirable; each is subject to various flaws and pitfalls, and a healthy, robust economy must be constructed from elements of each. Generally states are identified as one or the other dependent on which side of the continuum they skew towards; European governments tend towards broadly socialist policies, while the USA is regarded as being primarily capitalistic. The important thing to remember, however, is that they are all mixed-market economies.
You also have to distinguish the capitalist/socialist continuum from political constructions such as democracy and communism. They are separate entities, and not mutually exclusive. A democracy can be primarily socialist, and a communist government can be capitalistic. The aforementioned European democracies typify the former, while China makes a reasonable example of the latter.
I'm assuming you're an American, based on the "why is it considered bad" element of your question. (For the record ... me too! How about that mutual nationalistic pride, eh?) The explanation for why socialism is considered bad in the States goes a long way back and has quite a few twists and turns, but the essence of it is this: history.
We began to identify ourselves as a nation of self-starters, achievers, and do-it-yourselfers when we rebelled from the Crown, and formed an independently-minded attitude that psychologically tends towards the capitalist side of the equation. We had a number of struggles back and forth across the spectrum throughout the years -- various efforts at creating a Central Bank represent some of the starkest movements, I would say -- but much of the root of it lays in the fallout from World War 2. With the Communists identified as our primary competitors in the world of super powers, socialism became a dirty word. Supporting policies that gave the government control over some social good or product meant you were a dirty red Commie, whether or not the evidence showed that such a good in the hands of capitalists was an ideal scenario.
So at this point it's been pretty much internalized into a kind of national hysteria. I think fairly few people (relatively speaking) have any real understanding of the issue at hand. They know that "capitalism = good, socialism = bad," while they enthusiastically drive on roads, enjoy the protection of police and fire fighters, and consume public utilities like water. They decry government incompetence while corporations gouge them with non-competitive prices. I'm not here to say socialist policies are always the better option, but it does make a very interesting case study; American aversion to proven effective socialist policies while embracing actively and provably destructive policies on the basis of "capitalist merit."
Source: degrees in political science and international relations.
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You can see the other users comments.. I found it interesting, and liked what others had to say on this subject.

I read many other forums and sites, and reddit is one I enjoy to read from time to time. I thought this was a pretty good post with some very good view points from various individuals.. just thought I would share.

The actual link to the original post: http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikei...it_considered/

The main post is this:

Quote: The thing to understand about "socialism" is that it doesn't exist as a discrete entity. It exists as a part of the same spectrum as capitalism, a sliding scale of economics delineating who earns and spends money in a particular economic system. Every state in the world today exists somewhere on that continuum; there is no such thing as a purely capitalist or purely socialist state. Furthermore, neither such system would be particularly desirable; each is subject to various flaws and pitfalls, and a healthy, robust economy must be constructed from elements of each. Generally states are identified as one or the other dependent on which side of the continuum they skew towards; European governments tend towards broadly socialist policies, while the USA is regarded as being primarily capitalistic. The important thing to remember, however, is that they are all mixed-market economies.
You also have to distinguish the capitalist/socialist continuum from political constructions such as democracy and communism. They are separate entities, and not mutually exclusive. A democracy can be primarily socialist, and a communist government can be capitalistic. The aforementioned European democracies typify the former, while China makes a reasonable example of the latter.
I'm assuming you're an American, based on the "why is it considered bad" element of your question. (For the record ... me too! How about that mutual nationalistic pride, eh?) The explanation for why socialism is considered bad in the States goes a long way back and has quite a few twists and turns, but the essence of it is this: history.
We began to identify ourselves as a nation of self-starters, achievers, and do-it-yourselfers when we rebelled from the Crown, and formed an independently-minded attitude that psychologically tends towards the capitalist side of the equation. We had a number of struggles back and forth across the spectrum throughout the years -- various efforts at creating a Central Bank represent some of the starkest movements, I would say -- but much of the root of it lays in the fallout from World War 2. With the Communists identified as our primary competitors in the world of super powers, socialism became a dirty word. Supporting policies that gave the government control over some social good or product meant you were a dirty red Commie, whether or not the evidence showed that such a good in the hands of capitalists was an ideal scenario.
So at this point it's been pretty much internalized into a kind of national hysteria. I think fairly few people (relatively speaking) have any real understanding of the issue at hand. They know that "capitalism = good, socialism = bad," while they enthusiastically drive on roads, enjoy the protection of police and fire fighters, and consume public utilities like water. They decry government incompetence while corporations gouge them with non-competitive prices. I'm not here to say socialist policies are always the better option, but it does make a very interesting case study; American aversion to proven effective socialist policies while embracing actively and provably destructive policies on the basis of "capitalist merit."
Source: degrees in political science and international relations.
---------------

You can see the other users comments.. I found it interesting, and liked what others had to say on this subject. Originally Posted by Stan.Dupp

Read George Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm, or rent the movies.

Sooner or later, socialism runs out of other people's money.

That's the problem. That's why it is considered bad.

If a socialists offers you candy....RUN!

LMAO...ok I think you did a good job of explaining like I'm five! But did you read the link? Oh wells.. thanks for the responses.. it's all good..

Read George Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm, or rent the movies. Originally Posted by I B Hankering

Which is better? The movie, or the book? =P

Which is better? The movie, or the book? =P Originally Posted by Stan.Dupp

The books are better, but the movie 1984, with John Hurt, is pretty good. However, I had already read the books, so I understood who the characters were and what they were doing. The movie Animal Farm isn't so good.

Orwell's books illustrate how socialism, as Orwell saw it in being applied in the Soviet Union between 1917 and the end of WWII, tends to universally reduce society to a lower, more desperate level rather than universally elevating society as its advocates promise. Only the leaders live in the utopian world they promised to their followers.

Sooner or later, socialism runs out of other people's money. Then people start to die or they are jailed.

That's the problem. That's why it is considered bad. Originally Posted by ExNYer

Fixed it for you.

Socialism in pure theory is not bad. BUT, in reality the politicians are the only ones that live well.

Explain like I'm five...
Originally Posted by Stan.Dupp

That would be a stretch for our Tea lot. Anything past two is beyond them.

That would be a stretch for our Tea lot. Anything past two is beyond them. Originally Posted by WTF

Which is good since the Liberal Obama-lovers can't count past one.

What's your number WTF?

. Depends on how many of you retards are around me...

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/dipasquale/050620

The single biggest problem with socialism, communism, or any other similar type of society is Human Nature will sooner or later take over.

People will get sick and tired of working to support someone who won't.

Just read "The Fountainhead" and then "Atlas Shrugged"; that will answer your questions.

If not then you are a lost cause and should move back to CA.