What is socialism? Why was Jack London attracted to it?

Question

I know what socialism is kind of, but how was the famous writer jack london attracted to it ?

Answer 1

socialism is theoretically where the people are in control of money. a lot of socialists are for the equality in terms of money. it appeals to people who don't like suffering and jack london did not like suffering. a lot of people are against it because in many cases it has been oppressive and people say it does not work. america in particular is against it. i personally would like to see a socialist society but i'm not sure it is plausible. there used to be a lot more socialists before the USSR was founded. stalin was a highly oppressive leader so most people were turned off.

peace, love, and equality

JAMES

Answer 2

Scialism is a political system which is not driven by personal profit in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer but exists for the advancement and enrichment of the whole of society.

It provides healthcare on the basis of need and not wealth, it provides free roads and education, it provides a mutually funded police force and army.

All this is paid for out of public taxation which is feared by the wealthy who are expected to pay more tax than the poor.

It is a difficult system to administer successfully because of the defects in human nature.

Jack London was probably attracted to it because his experience of life gave him an insight into the terrible effects of poverty on people who had no political power.

Answer 3

Socialism is public ownership of the means of production, which sounds good to the untrained ear but is actually a death sentence. Socialism will inevitably kill itself because without a price system, there's no way to find out how much people need things, so you'll have extreme shortages and basically everyone's lives will suck, and they'll die early, and before they die they'll get pissed off.

Here's the reason he gives for becoming a socialist:

MAY GOD STRIKE ME DEAD IF I DO

ANOTHER DAY'S HARD WORK WITH MY BODY MORE THAN I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO

DO. (his caps, not mine)

He also goes on a lot about the bottom of the 'social pit', which I believe means that he saw that some people aren't as well off as others, and he was afraid of ending up like them

Bring on the thumbs-down.

Answer 4

Socialism is what the USA has become and it is one step from Communism and some would say is Communism.

And he was attracted to it because he was a Communist.

Answer 5

socialism is IN THEORY a system where the riches of the society are used to take care of those in need

IN REALITY it is a system which benefits ONLY those in charge of bureaucracy - those who make the decisions on "who is the person in need" - and therefore multiply "handouts" and tax to death anyone who is too independent

I guess Jack London never got past the theory...

Answer 6

socialism is whats going to happen to the US if obama gets elected. its where people get confused between priviledges and rights. for example, they think health care and other social issues are rights guaranteed to them to be free.