It seems many people are afraid of socialism. But following the outcome of the election, I’ve found many are ill-informed about what socialism is, so I’d like to clear things up and show people there is nothing to fear.
Socialism is a social organization in which the government owns and operates the means of production.
Its opposite is capitalism, where private companies and individuals control the economy.
Socialism contends that capitalist societies unjustly concentrate wealth and power within a small group; thus, socialism is an attempt to create a more equal society to live in.
That’s the technical definition. For the United States it would mean the government controlling more institutions than it does now. America is one of the least socialist of the developed nations, but expanding the government’s influence in society may prove helpful.
President-elect Barack Obama will not make America completely socialist, and it is important to remember the socialist institutions we already have, such as police, fire departments and public education. These are some of our most needed and treasured institutions.
Some common fears I’ve heard include Americans being forced to have certain jobs or go to certain schools by a socialist government. That is simply untrue, and claims like these are a clear attempt to invoke fear out of ignorance.
The biggest socialist institution America needs is universal healthcare. We are the only industrialized nation not to guarantee healthcare to its citizens.
Nearly all European and Asian nations have some degree of government-run healthcare, as do Canada, Australia and others.
One of the tools political scientists use to measure countries’ development is the Human Development Index. It combines data on life expectancy, income and educational attainment into a single score.
The U.S. is ranked 12th in this year’s data, lagging behind socialist countries such as Sweden, Canada and the Netherlands. One reason is the average American’s life expectancy is years shorter than life expectancy in these countries, whose better health is attributed to their mandated healthcare.
As the world’s richest country, the United States should not be so far down the list. It is an embarrassment to our nation, and it shows capitalism is not the best way to preserve the life and health of our people.
Healthcare is a human right that we must honor here and abroad. This small step toward socialism will not only help our citizens, but also forge a better image to the world.
