There seems to be a common belief among many Americans that capitalism is the American way, and socialism is the enemy of the American way. But in reality, America's economic system always has been based on a combination of capitalism and socialism. Nothing in the U.S. Constitution says we should be aiming for pure capitalism, and few rational Americans actually want that. Without taxation and the redistribution of wealth for roads, bridges, schools, ports, hospitals, the Navy, the Army – in other words, socialism – America never would have become America.
So this whole debate over capitalism or socialism seems to me like a phony debate. The real debate is about whether rich people should have to pay more or less in taxes to help feed, shelter, heal and educate poor people. It's a valid debate, but I feel it has been ludicrously miscast as the apocalyptic battle of capitalism vs. socialism. It makes sense that many rich people would not want to pay more, either out of self-interest or a sincere belief that too many handouts keep poor people from going out into the world and making their own way.
What does not make sense is that poor and middle-class Americans rarely argue the merits of socialism. It would be just as valid as arguing the merits of capitalism, since our economic system is a hybrid of the two. Why is no one championing socialism in our heavily socialistic society? Our best friends in the world over in Europe are proudly socialistic, and we don't hold it against them. But we Americans don't like to see ourselves that way. Why?
It seems that the word “socialism” began to take on seriously negative connotations in the U.S. around the end of World War II. We did not stop practicing socialism; we just stopped calling it what it is. Was it because of the Nazis? The Russians? Why didn't our allies in Europe develop the same aversion to the word? Can someone please explain this to me?
So this whole debate over capitalism or socialism seems to me like a phony debate. The real debate is about whether rich people should have to pay more or less in taxes to help feed, shelter, heal and educate poor people. It's a valid debate, but I feel it has been ludicrously miscast as the apocalyptic battle of capitalism vs. socialism. It makes sense that many rich people would not want to pay more, either out of self-interest or a sincere belief that too many handouts keep poor people from going out into the world and making their own way.
What does not make sense is that poor and middle-class Americans rarely argue the merits of socialism. It would be just as valid as arguing the merits of capitalism, since our economic system is a hybrid of the two. Why is no one championing socialism in our heavily socialistic society? Our best friends in the world over in Europe are proudly socialistic, and we don't hold it against them. But we Americans don't like to see ourselves that way. Why?
It seems that the word “socialism” began to take on seriously negative connotations in the U.S. around the end of World War II. We did not stop practicing socialism; we just stopped calling it what it is. Was it because of the Nazis? The Russians? Why didn't our allies in Europe develop the same aversion to the word? Can someone please explain this to me?
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1tLZAgu
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