Isms

The definitions are from www.dictionary.com:

socialism

–noun

1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.

3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

communism

–noun

1. a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.

2. (often initial capital letter) a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.

3. (initial capital letter) the principles and practices of the Communist party.

4. communalism.

Contrast the above two definitions with this one:

capitalism

–noun

an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.

Now ask yourself these questions:

1. In which type of society are people generally more well off?

2. Which type of society do we have in the USA?

3. Where are we headed?

4. Is the movement in that direction accelerating?

Here are my answers:

1. People are generally better off in a capitalist society. You only need to look at the darkness of North Korea or the general poverty of Haiti or Cuba. Having lived there for several months in 1975-76, I saw that we even live better in the USA than the folks do in England. A typical English working man near Hursley drove an automobile that probably would not have passed the US safety standards. Compare the prices of a piece of equipment in the USA such as a PC with the same in England. The last time I did that a few years ago, the cost of a PC in US dollars here was the same number as a PC in England in pounds.

2. We have a society that was never a laissez-faire capitalist society. We have from time to time and still have various government controls on maximum and/or minimum prices, things such as farm quotas and subsidies, etc.

3. We are headed into socialism. Be it a democratic socialism where people vote for their government or not doesn’t affect the well being of the people so much as does their ability to produce for their own benefit and not that of others.

4. The movement toward an absolute State controlled socialist society is accelerating. Just look at the recent takeovers of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and AIG.

Now if these trends continue, we’ll all be worse off. In the end we’re all dead anyway, but what do you want to leave your children and their children?