Socialism vs Capitalism: Should the government provide basic needs for its people?

Question

For most of the recorded history of civilization, wealth has been controlled by the state. In feudal systems, a king or other ruler owned and controlled everything. In a socialistic system, a ruling elite or committee owns and controls everything. In either system, individual aspirations were limited to the good graces of the rulers. In other words, the common person could only advance in life as far as the people at the top would allow.
About 400 years ago or so, a new economic system started to evolve called merchantism. This was a system of international trade by merchants in the markets, in today's world it would be WalMart or KMart. This international trade fell outside of the scope of control of the kingdom in which the merchants resided. It was the first time in history that individuals, common people, were able to acquire wealth and power without being born into a gentry. It was the first time that common people were able to acquire the means to educate their young, to buy the home of their choice, to wear the fine clothes of the elite. Merchantism created a class of people that never existed before, the middle-class.
The success of merchantism in lifting people into prosperity was the basis for the eventual evolution of capitalism. Capitalism is individual ownership and control of wealth. In a capitalistic system, each individual is afforded the same power that was once limited to the king or other such ruling class.
Only under capitalism are the individual liberties and freedom on which this country is founded guaranteed. Only thru capitalism can the populace control its government. Once individual control of wealth is ceded to a government, the government has the power to coerce its populace. Once you depend on your government for your basic needs, you have lost your freedom.

You don't have to go far to see what I am talking about. Venezuela has recently adopted a socialistic government. Just this week, the government banned an opposing TV net from broadcasting. All power in Venezuela has been ceded to the government. Individual freedoms are being eliminated.

Right you are Ken:
For the very resaons you state, the capitalistic systems needs tweaking every so often.
It is much easier to curtail the actions of powerful business cartels than it is to curtail the actions of an all powerful government.
It only takes legislation to change business practices. It takes armed revolt to take down a government.

Answer 1

The government of any country should provide certain needs like a strong military, public works, etc. but the individual is the person who should be providing for himself! Socialism beats down individual creativity!

Answer 2

Capitalism is essentially the private ownership of the means of production. Basically a person or corporation owns the factories and mines and buys labor from people to work these. Socialism is when the means of production, instead of being in the hands of a single person or corporation, would be controlled by the working class itself. For example all miners, through democracy, would control the entire mining industry. Communism is the end phase of socialism where social classes, money, and even the state have been eliminated and cooperation is valued over competition. Communism is a very anti-state ideology. Fascism is the antithesis of this. Fascists believe that the state should hold total control and only through government control, could a country gain independence and supremacy. Fascists believe social classes are necessary and tend to be very towards minorities. Socialism and communism are both left wing ideologies, while fascism tends to steer more to the right wing.

Answer 3

Capitalism can certainly produce 'things', nobody has ever denied that. It has also produced an expanded 'middle-class'....no problem there. On the other hand capitalism isn't a god to be worshipped either. 'Gods' tend to remain static. Capitalism has proven to be dynamic...it has changed over time. Because of world-wide 'capitalism', as opposed to the time when 'capitalism' meant the United States and its massive production, things have changed. The current 'middle-class' is about the same in size and scope world-wide, but that means fewer here and more in other countries. Also, some of these now 'capitalistic' countries, such as China aren't exactly our good friends....which is another subject. As far as 'basic needs' are concerned now we're talking about 'services'. Capitalism can certainly supply a good many services, but it really can't supply a service that doesn't generate profit. Example: Health insurance. There's no profit in selling health insurance to sick people, the elderly or those with a pre-existing condition, not to mention that people on the low end of the earning curve who can't afford it. Education: There's no real profit in education unless the charges for supplying this 'service' are massive. Private education certainly has its place, but overall its a money loser. Water and power probably shouldn't be totally a for profit business either as both of these are truely essentials. Capitalism has to make sense and it should never be a license to steal or exploit. People must always come before profit...which is why Venezuela has fallen into such a radical black hole....the capitalists of that country never noticed the people they had the responsibilty to serve. Greed....don't play that game!

Answer 4

There is only one problem I see with your statement. It doesn't include the effect greed has on those with and what it does to those without. Like the law of survival of the fittest, the big crush the small. We have seen over the past ten years or so the consolidation of power in business. No longer do we have many outlets to choose from where let's say a super Wal-Mart moves into a neighborhood, it crushes the competition. Two major grocers closed within a two block radius of where wal-mart opened in my town and both had been there for years. What are there now, four, six, major oil players controlling the industry? Telecommunications giants live Verizon battling Vonage to stifle them, god forbid there is actually some competition. We are helping ourselves into a state run country where the working class are going to be no more than poor taxpayers supporting the wealthy. Our whole system of government and capitalism is broken and neither is going to do anything for the average person no matter how much they take from us in taxes or in hidden charges and surcharges.

Answer 5

Capitalism is fine as long as it doesn't progress into corporate fascism which it has done in many cases and becomes cartels. Once the democratic process and the media is corrupted by corporations whose only goal is greed and control.
I suspect you live in America because you have obviously not seen the truth about Venezuela. The TV network Chavez did not allow to have a new license was the same network that aided in the 2002 coup of the democratically elected president. 80% of venezuela's media is still privately controlled and critical of chavez. RCTV can still broadcast through digital or cable if it wishes as it was only the public license which wasnt renewed.

If you wish to look at some of veiws of what happened in venezuela please take a look at gregpalastoffice videos on youtube, you might find them enlightening to actually what has happened there in the last 6 years.

Answer 6

If the government removed all its restrictive controls I would agree . Since it still wants to play master then those who fail to thrive under this system must be provided for .
Cashiers in a union at a grocery store make double what a housewife in Nebraska who is none union makes for the same job .
Since there is so much disparity in wages around this nation some would say that if the only jobs in town are walmart and the local saw mill and wages are low then you have a problem with distributing wealth in a manner which serves the majority of people .

Answer 7

Government should help people who can not help them selves like the old, sick, or handicap. Not to help people how to lazy to work or want to stay home and make babies out of wedlock. Give training to people so they can find jobs. Stop making it where you can make more off the government than you can by not working.
Federal government should stick with the Constitution that say they should protect the nation, let local government do the rest. We have a better chance to change local politics or we could move to a better state.

Answer 8

Capitalism by far outstrips "government control. " Just look at the Soviet Union under Nikita K. "Collective" or centrally planned/controlled government failed miserably. Seems we are moving in the direction the Soviets went. I feel that government should stick to the basics (not education, medical care, and all New Deal Programs).

Answer 9

All the above reasons is why I love capitalism!! socialism has never worked no matter where it's been tried, for that one reason I can't understand why so many people in this country want to try socialism! it doesn't work! it leads to tyranny! Let's go back to the system the founder gave us so we can live in real freedom!

Answer 10

You understand why socialism and communism do not work. They completely ignore the most important part of being human: motivation. If I have an incentive to do something I will. Profit is the greatest incentive.

Answer 11

It's a myth that the "government" can provide anything. It can't magically make food grow or magically build a house for you. All it can do is something on the order of taking $10 from you and giving back $5 in services. In some areas that's needed ( defense, large scale infrastructure, education ) but where it's not needed.. we need to stay the hell away from it.