What's wrong with Socialism?

Question

By socialism I DO NOT MEAN COMMUNISM, which is a failed system. I do mean a political, economic and social System, which advocates socialism as a basis for the economy, which would be a market economy directed and guided by socialist planners making adjustments as shortages and surpluses occurred rather than relying on a free price mechanism, and democracy as a governing principle. This implies government ownership of the commanding heights of the economy, such as heavy industry, energy, and infrastructure, while introducing decentralised decision making and giving local managers more freedom to make decisions and respond to market demands and that political power would be in the hands of the people,

sometimes indirectly through a democratic state, but often emphasising direct democracy and self-management, through workers' councils. private ownership and entrepreneurship in the service and other secondary economic sectors would be encouraged. The market is allowed to determine prices for consumer goods and agricultural products, and farmers are allowed to sell all or some of their products on the open market and keep some or all of the profit as an incentive to increase and improve production.

COMMUNISM has failed, Socialism never has.

Answer 1

The United States already is semi-socialistic and it is necessary to "some" extent for a safe and healthy society. If we didn't have some public services, such as basic, basic county health care, public schools, etc., we'd probably have an illiterate and diseased society!

For some reason a lot of folks don't seem to understand the difference between degrees of socialism and then socialism vs. communism. A minimal degree of Socialism (such as in western europe) offers a free and democratic society, only with some tax dollars used for social programs.

Neither pure Capitalism nor pure Socialism is good ... moderation, or something inbetween, is what is best.

Answer 2

There are 3 central problems with socialism. The first is that the market coordinates information and knowledge through a signaling system - prices. The market is a system that pools individual knowledge and rewards that knowledge. If you interfere with price system, it does not work. You lose the benefits of a market economy, and that means impoverishment.

If you do not give people incentive, then you have to rely on terror, as was done in the old Soviet Union. People will not hang around and hand their work over to others. They leave or stop working.

The third problem is that when power is concentrated it is abused royally.

Great Britain tried what you suggest and shortly before the election of Margaret Thatcher's government, there was talk of military coups and the country was impoverished.

It simply does not work. If you doub this, you should read the late Robert Heilbroner who was a Professor at City University in New York and who loyally supported what you say to the bitter end. He then had the civility and good manners to concede that Hayek and von Mises had been right all along.

Socialism can exist at the price of poverty and terror.

Answer 3

I think that socialism is a political system totaly controlled by the money system. the socialism is an ideal for us BUT in our societies it can run ! Capitalism has made its job and now the religion in Europe is only profit. It's the reason about : rape, violent social behaviour (I live in the South of France, in marseille, then : violence, rapes, hold ups, mafia, ... it's not a story, it's the reality we know there ! )
If people like us has the same courage that I have, capitalism can't survive ! but it's only a dream because the most people I know isn't able to do anything against the system because of their parents or their neighbours!
Destroy all the tv receptors and you'll see the revolution. Now, we haven't any true socialism because of the television.
Imagine !
We'd control all the tv receptors, then all the people have to speak with heir neighbours, with their friends, with their job comrades and .......... They'd discuss about all the problems we have and they'll organize the revolution . Socialism will be here !

Answer 4

Socialism is what France has, where the government limits hours that can be worked and prices that can be charged. And the goverment imposes many other regulations to centrally control the economy. The reason that is not a good approach is because the unemployment and suicide rate is double in France compared to the U.S. You need to look at the results of Socialism, which few consider. So Socialism is especially damaging to the poor because there are fewer jobs available. I used to be on welfare but beause I live in the US, was able to find jobs where I could learn to serve others better and in time earn a high income. The Democratic Socialist congress in the U.S. are working to reduce these jobs for the poor by increasing minimum wage and imposing large taxes on the owners of private equity, so less jobs will be created. These are French-type measures. In time it does appear the U.S. will be a Socialist nation and the poor will be big losers.

Answer 5

Pure socialism has been shown to be an ineffective economic theory as it takes away individual incentive to build new, grow, and innovate. Monetary success is a great motivator, and having a lot of choice in the market depends upon free enterprise.

However, those that think a pure capitalistic or free enterprise system is the way to go are wrong also. With pure capitalism the ultimate, logical end is a series of monopolies that control everything, thus stiffling diversity in the marketplace. We do need government to step in and break up trusts when needed in order for capitalism to work.

Also, people seem to think that those who fall through the cracks will just lay down in a gutter somewhere and wait to die. Wrong. They arent just going to let themselves or their family's starve! People will do what it takes to survive. They turn to crime. With the increasingly stiffer jail sentences we have been imposing, the criminals are even more desperate to not get caught. This leads to more armed robberies ending the in the murder of the victims.
Some "socialized" balance has to occur to maintain the system. By having the best fed and best sheltered "poor" in the world, we have staved off unrest of the lower class.

Truly, a bit of socialism in a predominately capitalist structure seems to work the best.

This of course is a over-simplified answer. I could expound on this for pages and pages, but this should suffice for this type of forum.

In the end guys, lets stop responding half-wittedly with remarks like "commie" and "traitor" and have a real discussion based upon facts.
Thanks.

Answer 6

Our system of government is based on the self-evident truth that all men are endowed by their Creator.... I am sure you have heard these words before. They are critically important. They are proclaiming that men have rights that come from God, not from any government and cannot be taken away by any government.

In socialism, the first order of business is enforced atheism. The reason for this, is that socialism cannot work if there is any moral absolutism or a moral authority superior to the government. Socialism can only function under moral relativism or secular humanism. This allows the government to do as it pleases with no appeal for its victims.

If the president of the U.S. decided to kill all disabled people he could not do it due to moral absolutism. "All men are created equal with certain unalienable rights" even disabled people. Our government holds the sanctity of the individual and individual rights.

However, this is not so in socialism. The government can, (and in many socialist counties already have) euthanized people it felt were unproductive such as mentally incompetent and crippled people.

Socialist governments eliminate property rights and concerns itself with the collective only. Individuals do not matter and individuality is discouraged. Such a system destroys the human spirit. While its proponents espouse equality, they do not tell you how such equality is achieved. It is achieved by making everyone equally miserable. Expect poor productivity from people who are devoid of any incentives. Expect a sad and depressed population devoid of any hope that things will improve because they cannot.

There is no liberty no freedom of expression. There cannot be any freedom of speech or assembly. These things are too dangerous to a socilaist nation. The people must be kept ignorant of the outside world.

Such is socialism. In America we have equal opportunity. In socialism there are equal results no matter how hard you try you never get anywhere. Birth, school, work, death, there is no happiness to pursue. You are just another cog in a giant socialist machine.

In America even the most modestly born can aspire to be anything he/she wishes. No gurantees but if you work hard enough and dedicate yourself you can achieve your dreams. In socialism, dreams are discouraged. You can be jailed for discussing your dreams.

Despite all the "workers paradise" nonsense you have been sold, socilaist countries have the worst working conditions, the least safety devices, the least protective equipment and highest pollution of any industrialized countries.

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Answer 7

In theory it is the best system. In the real world it quickly leads to a government like communism. Many people in this world are greedy and want more than their share. In a Free Market, if the idea doesn't sell then the enterprising person loses out. Also, in socialism rarely does the drive for new technology exist. Why do you think the United States is so far ahead of the rest of the world in technology. After Japan joined the Free Enterprise System, look at what happened to them. They are a world power in business. Germany after we rebuilt it. How do you think we successfully put the first man on the moon?

Answer 8

The big problem with a socialist government is that if something does go wrong with the system, it's the governments problem. And as we all know, the principle job of the government is to try to convince the people that nothing is their fault. When our government privatizes something, they're really selling the liability.

Answer 9

Your not taking in for the fact that a social system is in effect, Look at Mass, with mandatory health care, It doesn't matter the cost you are required to have it by law. the no smoking policies in the US, That use it for taxes but your not allowed to smoke. The allowable usage of the most dangerous drug in the world. The Dem's will get what they want because people like you are afraid to stand up for your self with out the government giving you your entitlements.

Answer 10

It sounds good in theory but has failed because those of us who work for a living end up paying for those who are too lazy to work. The main component of Socialism I disagree with is that it feels that all problems can be solved by bigger and more government. I favor less government.