America needs to be run by socialism?

Question

Lets face it capitalism isn't working. Too many people are being left behind and only the select few run everything. And even then the select few face severe emotional stress and ultimately making it to the top does not have its rewards. I know this because the people in my family and friends that made it to the top say its not worth it based on the big picture.

The wealth of the earth belongs to all men or to none. Under capitalism, property is concentrated into the hands of relatively few well-off people, leaving the many with nothing and at the mercy of the rich for work, charity, etc. This leads to gross inequality, exploitation and misery. Nor is it economically efficient, as the rich have so much already they have no incentive to use their land productively. Socialism seeks to redistribute wealth and to ensure that the means of production are at the service of the whole of society, so that all can benefit and none will go without.

It is very clear that socialism is superior

Answer 1

Um, what on earth are you talking about?

First off you have no economic argument in your statement. Economic arguments have numbers or at the least sources. Your argument has no numbers and no sources. As such, your argument is not economic. I would say that it is political in nature or of opinion perhaps.

Second, you have no objective standards. How many people constitute "too many" being left behind? What manner of "socialism" do you expouse? You state a vague notion to simply get rid of a system of capitalism, but you don't really specify what should replace it. Simply put, you state the ends you want, but not the practical means to get there or how they would work....

Thirdly, your point about "making it to the top" not being worth it is well taken even if nothing more than hearsay is presented to support it. However, you again give no means to fix the problem you point out. Capitalism runs off the idea of voluntary trade: value for value. The essential notion of a socialist society is force: disguised behind political slogans, but force in spite of the sugarcoating.... Your argument is that we can force people to have a better life whether you know it or not....

That runs along the lines of: "We can force people to be happy: corpses are remarkably non violent and never complain...."

Socialism doesn't work, period. There hasn't been a single nation on earth that consistantly practiced it and survived. The list of nations ruined by socialism just keeps growing. Take a look at Mugbee's nation in Africa... Prices double every 28 hours. No one benefits from that....

My favorite part of your argument is this:

"so that all can benefit and none will go without."

And where, may I ask, do you think all the material is going to come from to provide "everyone" with whatever they need/want. How do you determine "need?" Whose needs will be met and by whom? "Redistributing Wealth" is a nice way of saying legalized theft. In capitalism, things go to those who produce them. In socialism, things go to those who politically loot them. Ask yourself if you think you will have the political clout to fight for the looted resources when and if a socialist system arises here. Don't believe me? Check out the black markets that exist in socialist countries....

"It is very clear that socialsm is superior."

How exactly did you reach that conclusion? What did you measure it up against?

With all due respect your statements are not very clear....

Answer 2

I agree with Churchill that capitalism is the best of bad systems.

Socialism works in theory, not in practice.  Few people who grew up in socialist regimes actually admire them.

Answer 3

we must find a balance between our greed and our desire to help people and live in a social society.

As per the "superiority" of capitalism, there are more capitalist nations that have failed than succeeded. US dominance comes from war and the establishment of producer nations to feed the consumer nation much like the British Empire. Here you are well off, the people who make the toys are not. Great you say but capitalism did not achieve this. That's called imperialism.

Answer 4

Well, here is why I disagree. I think capitalism has flaws, but socalism has even more.

1- You will pay 40-60% of your paycheck in taxes

2- You think $4 for gas is bad? They pay $8 in soc. Europe

3- The government runs EVERYTHING

4- Socalism is government welfare, so no one will work

And here is something to think about: Suppose in wealth redistribution, a doctor gets the same as a fast food worker. Why would someone even want to be a doctor when they can get the same money working at Burger King.

Answer 5

Capitalism is unparalleled as an engine of economic growth.  The problem is, we haven't any useful system for focusing the engine on the things that matter to us.  Like solving our dependence on oil for example.   We have the talent and the technology and the resources to develop and implement alternative systems, but not the political will to do so.

I wonder if the real problem is our inability as a country to recognize when companies are creating advertisements to convince us to buy and consume things that are not good for us.   We lack the sense to vote for politicians that will act in our best interests, and instead inexplicably vote for the candidates who favor the interests of the very wealthy.

I'm not sure the problems you describe are what follow from capitalism vs socialism, but rather the dumbing down of the american middle class.   The vote for Bush's second term continues to amaze me, how that many people could vote for a person who clearly was not interested at all in solving the problems you mentioned.

Answer 6

False and delusional. It has been tried and ALWAYS failed. Under the current system, there are rewards for hard work. Under socialistic governments, there is no incentive to produce, think, or better yourself. You end up with a welfare state and total economic breakdown ie. the Soviet.

Answer 7

Socialism will leave everybody behind.. Just look at Zimbabwe..

Answer 8

How is it clear? Because 10 million Ukrainians can't be all dead? Because the utopian societies (Icarians, etc) are all prospering today?

The few socialist experiments have all ended very badly. While capitalism leaves many behind, socialism leaves many diseased, destitute, and destroyed. Compare the happy medium in the middle class - has socialism ever produced a member of the middle class?