What is a socialist? or socialism? Why is it bad?

Answer 1

Socialism is basically charity and as such could be categorized as compassion. In that respect it is good. But
Capitalism is human nature (people strive to reach higher levels of stature). This is not necessarily related to dollars as it could also be an ego or simply a dream to achieve a certain plateau in their lives (get married, have kids and grandkids). Point is- Capitalism as natural as breathing to humans. Socialism is artificial. Should I be forced to provide charity? Obviously the State should provide citizens protection against situations beyond their control and offer them the opportunity to live their lives relatively comfortable in times of hardship. That is where socialism offers the benefit. However, as human nature is to reach higher levels of stature, there are many who will fake hardships (pan handlers on the street corner claiming to be homeless) and basically steal the charity. These same individuals also make up the group of people who would prefer to steal than to work at minimum wage. There are many people of all kinds that prefer to steal than work honestly. At the end of the day, the charity is drained and the truly poor and hungry are still poor and hungry. A balance must be had but it would likely be weighted towards capitalism with just the right amount of socialism mixed in. Sort of like salt, too much will ruin the meal.

Looking at dictionary definitions do little to bring these truths into perspective to the guy on the street.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, socialism simply fails. Socialism forgets about where the money has come from and why they had it in the first place. It forgets about economic growth and focuses on the other end, feeding the people! Norway is not a good example of socialism. Everyday people try to vote out this big government action while their economies continue to spiral downward. Socialism is like a disease. Even though it wants the best for the people, it always produces the worst outcome. People try to point at France and Sweden and Norway as examples but many of the people over there are feeling the negative affects of socialism! Their healthcare is going into huge debt due to oversubsidization! Their welfare programs are getting drained and France especially is going into huge debt with the E.U. Is this what our children need? Socialism moves into healthy capitalistic markets destroying jobs and focuses rather on full employment than full production. The proponents view anybody who is against big government as evil and this begins a class warfare, something similar to what we have today! Peace will never be found through coercive government force! Many people disagree with how the government interacts with it's people. I noticed someone earlier that said socialism will decrease religion. This is not true. When economic freedoms are taken, moral and political freedoms are usually not far behind. In America, the two big parties try to make it look like they are against each other when really they are the same entity in disguise as two parties! The freedom party is gone! Politicians will never be able to create a healthy economy. This is the job of the people! The people create the efficiency, the people create the products, the people give the real jobs! The government just steps in and ruins the competitive market reducing any incentives and/or efficiency created by the market! Socialism will never work, especially as the world gets bigger! America will fail after we adopt Socialism! Economic freedom is so much more important. Socialism truly does feed politicians first, then the people second! The politicians know this, they aren't that stupid! How can people trust other humans displaced outside of the competitive market? Government is known for corruption, so how can people justify that corruption levels can be kept low? It's never happened! Those countries named earlier are beginning to go into debt, bankruptcy, and worse, they keep using more government to solve the problem! You have to force human nature into competitive markets! Big government is just the opposite! The links will help you get a better grasp for the things and reasons why capitalism, even with as many negatives as it has, is greener than socialism!

Answer 3

Broadly speaking, socialism is a political-economic system in which the means of production (or at least major parts of it) are owned by the state. In practice, you usually see a mixture--as in Sweden or India, where the government holds ownership in whole or in part in some industries but leaves others to private ownership.

Also--in a system like Swedans, for instance (which is a good example of a successful socialist system) you see a much more extensive "welfare state--a national health care system, for instance).

Not--this does NOT mean the system is not democratic. Also--it is not, in any sense of the word, communist. A communist system abolishes all private ownership and property rights--and indeed even themarket economy itsllf. Socialism does none of these things.

If you are going to ask if socialism is "right" or "wrong" the answer is that it does not violate any human rights, per se. Some socialist systems are very strong in this area, in fact. You can make a good arguement that communism is "wrong"--in practice it denies opportunity, freedom, etc.--and does so unaboidablly when it assumes ownership of the means of production in their entirety and abolishes the market economy and everything that goes with it. Why? One example (granted an oversimplification--but it illustrates the point): you can't change employers-because the only employer is the state. You can't buy what you want --because wha tis available is based on the state's alllocation of resources. You can't start you're own newspaper-or radio station--allis owned by thes tate.

As to whether socialism is a wise choice (as opposed to value judgments about "right or wrong") I wouuld say no. Even in a successful system like Swedan, the state's presence in the market and the extensive welfare state tend to stifle innovation. But the reality is that all industrial nations (including the US) have some socialistic elements. And that's unavoidable. For example, in the US, the state owns most of the roads. And that won't change--because those roads are necessary. But no one has ever figured out a market mechanism to provide them on a private basis that works as a general policy (and not from lack of trying). The trick is to balance things out--government presence in the economic sphere where its really needed, and steer clear of the rest. And there is--and probably always be--disputes about where to draw that line.

Answer 4

A socialist believes in big goverment. High taxes and lots of government funded programs. It is considered bad by some because it takes away the individual drive to work harder and be a more productive member of society. Basically what capitalism is and the "American Dream". Why would anyone want to work and be a surgeon which is high skill and stress levels if they make the same amount of money as a blue-collar job? Why would anyone have any desire to create new inventions and concepts if you can't really profit from it? Sweden is socialist and it works very well for them. I see benefits to it but not enough to agree with it.

Answer 5

Socialists believe in redistributing income to those who can't work (the elderly, children, disabled people etc), the unemployed,... Americans often consider socialism to be the same as communism but that's not quite true. European nations have socialist parties that believe in social programs and welfare but don't oppose capitalism.
Communism dictates that all property is the people's and should be goverened by the state. Bad things happen when the state controls all wealth.

Answer 6

Socialism is the idea that everyone works for the good of all. It tends to make a few very powerful, and everyone else little more than a slave to the government. The basic premise is that no one should have or own more than any other common citizen. The income of everyone goes to help everyone. Personal endeavor to excel is discouraged, and the national industrial output drops as well. Post WW2 Russia is a prime example. Russia turned to other countries, such as the USA for grain to feed their people when they could not produce enough for themselves. The collective farms were a disaster, the 5 year plans were never met. People who do nothing get the same rewards for food, medical care and housing as anyone else who does work. The result of socialism can be seen in the disaster, economically that Russia is today. If you want to work yourself to exhaustion, get little for it, while others you know do very little and get the same rewards for effort that you do, then socialism is your best way of life and government. If it isn't, then capitalism would be better for you.

Answer 7

So far the replies reflect utter stupidy - - - Mussolini was a Fascist not a Socialist - - - Modern Norway is a good example of Socialism - - - essentially a society pooling its wealth & resources for the benefit of its citizens - - -
Socialism is not inherently bad, it is how things are managed that cause problems as with any form of goverment. Actually America is largely a Socialist society only it benefits Republicans to blast anything other than their own agenda as Evil hence the stupid replies that this question has generated..


Peace

Here is Wikipedia's Take
Socialism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control.[1] This control may be either direct—exercised through popular collectives such as workers' councils—or indirect—exercised on behalf of the people by the state. As an economic system, socialism is often characterized by state or community ownership of the means of production.

The modern socialist movement had its origin largely in the working class movement of the late-19th century. In this period, the term "socialism" was first used in connection with European social critics who condemned capitalism and private property. For Karl Marx, who helped establish and define the modern socialist movement, socialism implied the abolition of money, markets, capital, and labor as a commodity.

A diverse array of doctrines and movements have been referred to as "socialist." Since the 19th century, socialists have not agreed on a common doctrine or program. The various adherents of socialist movements are split into differing and sometimes opposing branches, particularly between reformist socialists and communists.

Since the 19th century, socialists have differed in their vision of socialism as a system of economic organization. Some socialists have championed the complete nationalization of the means of production, while social democrats have proposed selective nationalization of key industries within the framework of mixed economies. Some Marxists, including those inspired by the Soviet model of economic development, have advocated the creation of centrally planned economies directed by a state that owns all the means of production. Others, including Communists in Yugoslavia and Hungary in the 1970s and 1980s, Chinese Communists since the reform era, and some Western economists, have proposed various forms of market socialism, attempting to reconcile the presumed advantages of cooperative or state ownership of the means of production with letting market forces, rather than central planners, guide production and exchange.[2] Anarcho-syndicalists and some elements of the U.S. New Left favor decentralized collective ownership in the form of cooperatives or workers' councils. Others may advocate different arrangements."

Answer 8

Socialism is an economic system which collects and redistributes wealth in an effort to make everyone 'equal'.
In fact, this system breeds dependence on government.

Economic systems that perpetuate or construct dependence or reward sloth strike at the very heart of what it means to be human.

A socialist is a person who practices socialism.

Answer 9

I think socialism is bad because it is based upon the Marxist teaching of "From each according to ability, to each according to need." It is the implementation of the redistribution of wealth; giving to the non-performers what they take from those who work for a living. Of course, those in power take their cut first and foremost. The leaders live like royalty, while the middle class bust their butts to make a decent living wage or salary. Then the welfare moms and the lazy come along and suck up from the governmental trough.

Answer 10

Hillary has not allowed herself to be bought by the conservative GOP government.she is the party of the new socialist party,mostly liberals,and democrats.at a moderate level it will be good for America.comrade,,cheers...p,s it is benificial to the poor.