Is "socialism" a dirty word?
Aaron Davis
Issue date: 3/4/10 Section: Opinion
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We hear a lot these days about "Americans who don't want to live in a socialist country" or the always helpful, "Go live in Europe if you want to be a socialist."
What a lot (read: most) of Americans can't seem to get through their thick skulls is that America has been a socialist country for centuries. Remember when we were ready to whip some Godless commies if they ever got up the nerve to haul their vodka-soaked butts over here to the land of the free and the home of the brave? We would have been able to put up a pretty decent fight, actually, because we have some seriously awesome infrastructure - like roads - in this country. Who maintains the roads, though? Do you pay a toll every time you turn onto a new street? No, because we have socialized roads.
Your house is on fire! Oh no, what do you do? You certainly don't start thumbing through the yellow pages, looking for the cheapest firefighters. You call 911. And some socialist firefighters come and put out the fire. Do you then pay them out of pocket? No? That's called socialism, friends.
One more scenario: you want to go to college. Hypothetically, let's say your parents send you to private school for elementary and high school in order to avoid the socialism of state-funded, state-run public schools. Hell, you even have your own private library, so that you never have to go to the socialized public one. You're golden.
But there's a problem. All that money your parents spent on private schools has left you without much to spend on college. Then you hear about this excellent place called SUNY Geneseo, where you get accepted and decide to attend. You're a lousy socialist now, amigo. State-subsidized education for the win!
One of our founding fathers, those gods of the American pantheon, was one of the biggest proponents of public schooling on the planet at the time. His name was Thomas Jefferson, socialist. Perhaps you've heard of him.
So what's the problem with socialized health care? As you can see, socialism seems to work pretty well for us. In fact, we already have socialized health care: it's called Medicare and Medicaid. But these systems don't work too well; they're moribund and inefficient. What's wrong with wanting to streamline them a bit, get them in shape, make their aid available to every American, poor or rich?
In this so-called land of equality, why are some people so afraid of socialism, that greatest of equalizers? Please, let me know if you find out, because I'm still scratching my head. Also, in homage to a prominent socialist of his own time: Carthaginem esse delendam. Cato the Elder, ladies and gentlemen.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 34
Boomhauer
posted 3/04/10 @ 8:52 PM EST
Aaron, you provide some pretty poor examples to make your argument that we have been a socialist country for centuries. That is probably because you are completely wrong. (Continued…)
Aaron Davis
posted 3/05/10 @ 8:09 AM EST
So...the workers own the means of production in a socialist country yes? Well, I work. Do you work? Regardless, in a democracy (such as this one) the workers are also the state. (Continued…)
Alanna
posted 3/05/10 @ 11:25 AM EST
Dear Boomhaur,
Why is it fair that corporate CEO's who sit at desks all day make millions while people who work harder providing manual labor or services we need are barely making it? How is it fair that athletes and movie stars make millions while people in other countries can't even afford the basic necessities of life?
Why aren't these people your "Sheriffs of Nottingham"? They're taking huge excesses of money that other people need and, as is often in the case of CEO's, they're taking it based on a global system of legalized slave labor, giving the smallest margin of profit possible to the people who actually work hard to create their products. (Continued…)
Mari
posted 3/05/10 @ 2:53 PM EST
I don't think it's accurate to say it's a "socialist country" although we do have part socialism.. we're definitely more free market though. I think we'd be better off getting more socialist like the leading european countries. (Continued…)
Boomhauer
posted 3/05/10 @ 2:55 PM EST
It is honestly frightening that I am arguing the merits of socialism with people who are supposed to be educated.
Socialism is wrong. It is the government commanding power in the name of justice, which most often ends in injustice, corruption and often, death. (Continued…)
Bob Otego
posted 3/06/10 @ 4:57 PM EST
Boomhauer,
You're wasting your time.
Arguing with kids that have had everything handed to them their entire lives and now go to a SUNY institution, undoubtedly on someone else's dime (like yours and mine) have absolutely ZERO clue about the real world. (Continued…)
Alanna
posted 3/07/10 @ 12:19 PM EST
I do begrudge Steve Jobs. I begrudge a system that allows such a huge amount of the world's wealth to stay in hands that could make do with so much less. (Continued…)
Mari
posted 3/07/10 @ 5:49 PM EST
I don't have issue with wealth distribution in the sense of celebrities vs. the common joe, because while we could argue that the celebrities and athletes do less "valuable" work (a subjective concept) for less time than, say, a doctor or teacher, in the end it is our own preferences that give them this salary rather than any evil capitalist system. (Continued…)
Boomhauer
posted 3/08/10 @ 10:26 AM EST
I find it interesting that people who appear to be liberals (the overwhelming majority of posters on this website), there sure are some judgemental people who wish to deny the public of choices. (Continued…)
joanne menke
posted 3/08/10 @ 1:37 PM EST
Rebellion against authority is normal for the young, but rebellion against facts can only take you so far in life.
The highway system in the United States was not built for your convenience or driving pleasure, Aaron, but for the defense against our enemies so that our country could move large numbers of troops quickly and efficiently if ever we were attacked. (Continued…)
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