Socialism, A Good Thing?

Question

actually Kenny, WWII helped us pull out of the Depression.

Answer 1

Typically, the strongest economies have always been capitalist societies with some socialist regulations... for instance, see the American economy post-depression, (in fact, socialist policies helped pull America out of the depression,) and Japan's economy has some socialist aspects in regards to its work force.

Answer 2

Man you guys and girls are completely lost. I guess free thinking has sure left the building huh. WE ARE USING Socialism in our everyday lives people wake up. The police are socialism in action so are the fire departments the military to some extent. on yeah the post office and i think it works pretty good there or wait would it be better if they were a private police force.

Read Karl Marx the guy is a genius he predicted all of this some 60-70 years ago. so what he was a com-my did you guys forget that china is a communist nation. it does not stop you from buy everything that say "made in china" ask the people in the Marietta islands (a us colony) how great capitalism is i am sure they have a better idea than any of us. Remember they are us citizens by definition. we are as of today a third world country.. yeah

Answer 3

To get the right answer you have to ask the right question. By tossing in a loaded word like 'socalism' what you're going to get is all kinds right wing BS. A better question would be, 'What in the modern world of the 21st century, in a wealthy democratic first world country, should the federal government do to insure the safety, 'general welfare' and future of it's citizens. A second question would be how can this be accomplished withing the laws and traditions of a democratic first world country? We know that the 'market' can deliver physical goods without any commercial problems. But we also know that industry requires oversight or it will degenerate into the hands of criminals and polluters. Essential social services are a different matter. If there's no 'profit' in a social service it can't create a 'market', or the 'market' has to be limited in scope to those that have the wherewithall to pay for it. For that reason 'government' has to step in to provide, as Lincoln once said, "..to provide for the people that which the people cannot provide for themselves." At this point in our history I'm certain Lincoln would approve of UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE, affordable education up through the university level and an insured retirement for our elderly. All of these items are 'doable' and in no way are they 'socialistic', though I'm certain a lot of people will say so. You can count on that!

Remember..HEALTH INSURANCE..NOT HEALTH CARE....these are two seperate items.

Answer 4

Like a lot of things, it depends on what those in power do with it. It isn't good or bad by itself.

For example, prior to the Depression capitalism in America was being greatly abused. Large numbers of people were being exploited, their labor devalued to as little as possible, their attempts to organize on their own behalf violently opposed with both public and private militant force.

Capitalism was not an unalloyed good in that instance. The subsequent and much bemoaned interference of government in the situation may have been philosophical anathema to those who believe, religiously perhaps, that the free market is the answer to all our problems... but the US became the most powerful economy in the world. US wages became the envy of the world. Widespread, middle class prosperity became the rule for decades afterwards.

If capitalists don't like socialism, I think they need to make an effort to keep it from becoming necessary.

Answer 5

If judiciously applied. Where it works generally involves public services (health care, public library systems, schools, etc.). Where it doesn't work is in the sale of goods, where consumer demand shapes needs.

An example of the latter would be the Soviet town that was slated only to make a certain type of sunglasses, but the things were so ugly that nobody bought them. But the superiors, on principle, refused to change the product or stop production, so more money went into making more sunglasses that nobody wanted.

Answer 6

It pulls everyone down. The country as a whole suffers due to lack of production, high unemployment, low job creation, and general stagnation. One has to look no further then the quickly declining European countries to see a good example. Most social programs are simply not in the realm of what a government is for and does best so mismanagement is rife. The truly rich are also truly generous with their money and charities are much better suited to care for people.

Socialism is a cancer.

Answer 7

Where we might have a few good programs to help out the general populus...like Social Security, etc. For the most part Socialism is close to Commune living. You surrender your money to the Governemnt..and supposedly..in a perfect world, the government is suppose to take care of you.
Unfortunately, in real life, that isn't the way it turns out. Government ends up falling short on money and starts rationing the aid to people. Most of those 80's communes failed for about the same reason.
Socialism is a good idea on paper but in actuality it just doesn't work. On a full government scale it doesn't work either. Ask the Nazi, or the Communists, even facist Itally. Look at France, the UK and Canada's failing socialized medical programs. 6 month waiting lists for serious illness's ? Pregnant mothers told not to deliver thier babies at the hospital ? the Riots in France regarding the drain on thier resources trying to keep up with socialized medicine ?
But I guess some people , once they get an idea in thier head, just can't let it go.

Answer 8

Freedom, A Good Thing? Because with socialism, you lose freedom. I don't care what anyone else says. You go read any of the founding fathers, or read a history book, and you will see that socialism is one step away from COMMUNISM. And if anybody wants to argue that Communism is a good thing, be my guest.

Answer 9

There are some who would have you believe that any governmental regulation on business at all is in fact socialism. Do not listen to them. It is NOT socialism. While over-regulation is something to be avoided. No controls over business at all is harmful to society.

Lack of at least minimal control over businesses leads only to monopoly, money over democracy and therefore slavery

Answer 10

Many will tell you that socialism is a moderate form of Communism. Others claim them to be two distinctly different and opposite theories, communism being a cruel and harsh failure and socialism being an enlightened and successful theory. Both of these notions are false though. A recent popular distinction defines one as government controlling the means of production and the other as "the people" controlling the means of production. This too is false considering that the pursuit of either such definition is prone to developing government management of human activity. Though theory may claim distinctions between the two, in practice they become one in the same. The idea of the sharing of incomes and government management of resources exists with little distinction from communism and its euphemistic partner socialism. In practice though the same problems plague both as freedom becomes necessarily usurped and trampled on due to abuse of power, economic impossibility, and unforeseen and unintended variables among other things. Because of socialism's inherent failures, it tends to resort to extreme measures. Communism is essentially Marx's name for socialist like systems. The only reason communism is equated with more extreme is mostly due to its acquaintance to the Soviet Union.