What is more important, economic and political freedom? or Socialism?

Question

Before you answer please google both of these and gain some minimal knowledge of the subjects before responding! I personally believe that economic freedom and political freedom cannot be seperated! When government grows in power the people lose control of many aspects of life! Please respond peacefully! Everyone I know wants the best for human society, we just have different ways of going about it!

Answer 1

To be blunt, Socialism is a failure. In every society and in every country it has ever been tried it has eventually failed. I can get into a long dissertation about it if you want but the most important fact about it is that it does not work, no matter how good it sounds.

I believe in personal rights and responsibilities. We are each responsible for our actions and should be made to suffer the consequences of our actions. That also means when we work harder, smarter and faster than others we should reap the rewards. One of the biggest flaws in socialism is that it removes the basic incentive to achieve, personal gain. Without an inventive, everything degenerates into mediocrity. Mediocrity is the path to failure.

Answer 2

well... there are social democracies right now in Europe (like Sweden) that seem to be doing a pretty good job of separating, at least some aspects, of economic and political freedom?

so, I think it's not only possible theoretically, but it's in action now in the world... and it's working well, relatively low unemployment, super low poverty rate (almost zero) and high taxes granted, no free lunches...

it's not pure socialism, but it's probably pretty close, and I mean if you can eliminate poverty, then that's probably about as close as you want to get, since that's usually the goal...

I mean our government has grown substantially over the past 100 years (probably by several hundred times)... yet I don't think we've lost hardly any freedoms, in fact, some have gained freedoms (if you're black or a woman, you can do things you never could before, so many more freedoms gained than lost)...

the simple fact is, most socialism/communism in the past really only seemed to be a cover for a dictatorship, more of a means of power than an actual social agenda... so of course it doesn't work when it's just dictators dressed up as socialism... a few social programs don't make something socialist...

and have you studied the history of pure capitalism, what you may call "economic freedom"? the industrial revolution is horrible... basically slavery on most in poverty with no way to get out, and no one cared... this was the situation when what we currently think of as "socialism" was thought up...

and social programs have increased worker safety standards, pay and standard of living by hundreds of times... pure economic freedom is far from an ideal economy.... our government has many socialistic safeguards on it now...

governments that don't have those safeguards are third world countries with horrible standards of living... it's not a coincidence...

some mix of both social programs and some economic freedoms are probably the best...

Answer 3

Economic and political freedom are important. However, physical, mental and emotional needs must be met before a person can avail him or herself of economic and political freedom. Good government works to make sure all citizens have those basic needs met so they can particpate in economic and political freedom. Balance is the most important concept of all.

Answer 4

I don't believe you can have economic or political freedom and socialism in the same system, they are mutually exclusive. If people have freedom, there will be no equality. It's one of the sad truths of life that millions have died needlessly to avoid. We would live much happier lives if we just accepted it as a fundamental law of the universe.