The bruising battle — capitalism vs. socialism
To the Times:
Any -ism becomes evil if taken to extremes. Capitalism degenerates from a positive and constructive philosophy of individual achievement, excellence, and responsibility into one of pure greed and the lust for power. It is used to justify outright criminality, tyranny, and cold indifference to the plight of others. Socialism degenerates from a positive philosophy of concern for one’s fellow man and the general welfare to one of laziness, irresponsibility, and the lowering of standards of excellence. It eliminates all the very real differences between people, ignoring that some are smarter, stronger, and have more motivation.
I have grown weary of the endless, bitter sniping between the two parties surrounding this issue, even if not framed exactly as I have summed it up. The Republicans are forever shrieking that the Democrats want to take all their money, give it away, and establish a Socialist dictatorship. They ignore that many others simply need assistance in taking the first step. They ignore that others have a right to demand they not be abused by those who have money to dominate all the terms. They ignore that there are many who, while not having the mega-talents of the highest achievers, do work productively and competently and are entitled to some of the wealth created, wealth that could never have been created without their efforts. Therefore, all the wealth does not belong to the top 1%. They naturally will have more, it’s a question of how much more. When does justifiable “more” become the outright theft of someone else’s share?
Democrats howl that the rich are somehow inherently wicked and should be held in contempt and taxed into oblivion. They ignore the very real achievements of most of those who have attained great wealth, insinuating that it was undeserved and acquired through underhanded methods. While sometimes true, it is also true that most wealthy people have created goods and services that millions want and use and that improve their lives, and also employ many millions in producing these goods and services. The Democrats see the negatives but are blind to the positives.
Personally, I believe in commonsense-ism. Seek to better yourself and achieve the most for yourself, but at the same time don’t turn your back completely on others and lose sight of the common good, of both people and the environment. It’s not an either-or situation, it’s a both-are-needed situation. What degree of each is needed is naturally a matter of opinion.
I have tried to state my take on this basic issue, which has been with us seemingly forever, and shows no signs of vanishing anytime soon. What is your take?
From one of our greatest presidents, Teddy Roosevelt:
“Of all forms of tyranny the least attractive and the most vulgar is the tyranny of mere wealth.”
“Everything is un-American that tends either to government by a plutocracy or government by a mob. To divide along the lines of caste is un-American. All privileges based on wealth, and all enmity to honest men merely because they are wealthy, are un-American - both of them equally so.”