HOW DO YOU DEFINE SOCIALISM

http://patriotupdate.com/articles/how-do-you-define-socialism
The Patriot Update -- David L. Goetsch -- 1/13/2012

When defined strictly from an economic perspective, socialism is a centrally-planned economy in which the government controls the means of production and distribution and seeks to make people economically and socially equal by taking from those who have more and giving to those who have less.  This so-called redistribution of wealth—one of President Obama’s favorite concepts—is done without any consideration of the merits of those who benefit from it or the rights of those hurt by it.  However, defining socialism as just an economic system is like defining terminal cancer as just an illness. 

Socialism is more than an economic system.  It is part of a broader worldview in which the state is god and the power of government is used to take from the more productive members of society and give to the less productive (forced redistribution of wealth).  Think of President Obama’s constant attacks on the wealthy and continual demands that they pay more in taxes. 

“…the tragic failure of the twentieth century.”  Originally envisioned as a remedy for the perceived defects of capitalism, socialism has failed dismally everywhere it has been tried.  Writing about socialism’s history of failure, Helibroner says:  “…it has far surpassed capitalism in both economic malfunction and moral cruelty. 

This is the problem with the American left.  Its members continually proclaim the supposed benefits of socialism—a system few of them have ever experienced first-hand—while enjoying the proven benefits of economic freedom and the free-market.  This is hypocrisy at its worst.  Socialism is a concept that works only in theory.  It quickly breaks down when subjected to the reality of human nature.

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