On Socialism

    As capitalism enters its late stages in America, we continue to question its systems more seriously. Despite capitalism being founded on the concepts of private property, self-interest, and self-improvement, we see its rules being bent by those more fortunate, leaving less fortunate people to suffer in their wake. A fair question to ask of this system is, “Is this even fair?” Many of us have asked this, and the answer is, frankly, not really! Fairness has been a longstanding aspiration of human civilization, and different political and economic systems have sought to address the question of distributive justice, with socialism emerging as a notable contender in this pursuit. Socialism advocates for collective ownership and control of the means of production, with the primary goal of achieving greater economic and social equality. When the word “socialism” even enters the chat in America, right-wing and left-wing pundits alike get very, very nervous. It’s portrayed by the media as being essentially communist (so, essentially like the USSR when we skip some steps), and therefore is a controversial and dangerous idea to shift our collective focus to. However: before we judge this alternate option, we need to begin assessing unfair practices prevalent in the United States across financial and social domains. Then, we may be able to consider other methods of government, once we recognize what is fundamentally wrong with ours.

So, what is really wrong with capitalism, anyway? Capitalism is a primarily economic system, where production is owned by private individuals or organizations, not the government. Prices and the distribution of goods are determined by competition in the free market, the motives of which are driven by the pursuit of individual profit. Voluntary trade dominates, with resources vying to snag consumers and consumers vying with each other for resources. The main goal of capitalism is money, then, as money grants freedoms and luxuries unobtainable without it. Capitalism rewards individuals for success and progress by allowing them to grow their personal wealth through investment and other actions within the market. This sounds good, right? It allows those who want to make more money to do so. It promotes several distinct classes of work and life. If done earnestly, capitalism could function as a truly fair establishment. The only caveat here is the inherent greed built into capitalism. By basing the establishment around monetary gains, we force ourselves to focus on money and money alone to become successful. To be successful is to be happy, and to have money is to be successful. Therefore, money is equated to happiness, and without it we are thoroughly ignored and put down by those more fortunate. We are hindered by discrimination and greed across all parts of life. To fix our system is to address these issues in earnest, and the first step to these is naming them out right.

The first issue is racial injustice, which remains one of the most pervasive and deeply ingrained issues in American society. Minority communities, particularly African Americans and Hispanic Americans, continue to face discrimination and systemic racism in various aspects of life. Racial profiling, biased policing, and unequal treatment within the criminal justice system contribute to the disproportionate incarceration of people of color. The American criminal justice system in particular faces significant criticism for its harsh sentencing policies, mass incarceration rates, and racial bias. People of color, especially African Americans, are disproportionately arrested, convicted, and sentenced compared to their white counterparts for similar offenses. Rehabilitation and restorative justice programs are often underfunded, hindering opportunities for meaningful rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Disparities in access to quality education, healthcare, and housing further exacerbate the cycle of poverty and marginalization faced by minority populations. To be non white is to be disadvantaged, no ifs ands or buts.

The gender gap is still prevalent, too. Women continue to face lower wages, with women of color experiencing even greater discrepancies. The lack of adequate family leave policies, affordable childcare, and support for single mothers further compounds the challenges faced by women in balancing work and family life. Gender-based violence and sexual harassment remain prevalent issues that require continued attention and action.

The growing gap between the rich and the poor is another significant injustice in the United States today. Economic disparities have widened over the past few decades, leading to a concentration of wealth among the top percentage of the population. The wealthy enjoy tax benefits and loopholes, while low-income workers struggle to make ends meet despite their hard work. Income inequality affects access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage for those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

This leads into the next issue, which is political fear mongering and deception. The ultra rich pay news outlets to display certain forms and wording of information, purposely denying and ignoring the events that could affect them. In particular, right-wing media outlets love to talk about how Biden’s new laws would increase taxes for the everyman. In reality, his bills would only affect the top 3-4% of the population, and guess what? That’s who funds the news sites. So, the true nature of their political agenda flies under the radar, and instead the news will play back-to-back segments about how Biden’s dog bit a few people. This segment has been playing on Fox News nonstop for about 3 days now. Trump’s newest indictment has, interestingly enough, been avoided.

Unfortunately, Fox News is one of the only news sources for many americans. They remain wholly ignorant to the truth of the present, which leads into our next point. While the United States is known for its higher education opportunities, disparities in access to quality education start at an early age. Underfunded schools in low-income neighborhoods struggle to provide essential resources and qualified teachers, leading to unequal educational outcomes. The digital divide has become even more pronounced, with students from disadvantaged backgrounds facing significant challenges in accessing online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only are students in rural areas affected, those dealing with preexisting discrimination are affected as well.

That’s just scratching the surface of the current issues in America. We’ve got a lot to work on, and considering the integration of new policies from other government systems may aid us in this change. So, why did I bring up socialism earlier? Could democratic socialism be a good route for us to consider? Let’s look at some of the positives to socialism.

One of the core principles of socialism is wealth redistribution, aiming to narrow the wealth gap between the rich and the poor. By implementing progressive taxation and social welfare programs, socialist economies can provide essential services like healthcare, education, and housing, leveling the playing field for all citizens. We could require the top .1% of the population to donate to charities consistently, or to give up a percentage of their wealth to needy individuals in their communities. In this sense, we could emphasize the importance of strong social safety nets to protect vulnerable members of society. Access to healthcare, unemployment benefits, and support for the elderly and disabled help ensure that nobody is left behind during challenging times.

In socialist systems, workers often enjoy better labor protections, including collective bargaining rights, fair wages, and safer working conditions. This empowers workers and reduces the exploitation of labor, contributing to a more equitable society. Citizens would also have more equal opportunities, irrespective of their socio-economic background. Quality education, irrespective of income, is a crucial component in breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting social mobility, as we could finally reach this goal under a more socialist system.

There are issues with socialism, of course. Critics argue that socialist economies can be less efficient than capitalist ones, resulting in slower economic growth and reduced innovation. Socialism can reduce individual incentives for entrepreneurship, since wealth and rewards are distributed more equally. There would also be limited choices for consumers, too. If we were to switch to socialism, we would have to be even more careful about corruption as well. Socialist systems may be susceptible to bureaucratic inefficiencies and corruption, hindering fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. Tax burdens may be higher as well to allow for government handouts, but perhaps only for those fortunate enough to have large excess wealth.

Looking at the list of pros and cons here, we can see that socialism offers many benefits that could save the lives of millions in the United States. If we could truly fix the majority of issues plaguing our country, why not start now? We don’t have to immediately switch to a socialist system. Instead, we can introduce laws and policies that aim to correct some of these capitalist deficiencies that will do their work over a long period of time. To achieve a more just and equitable society, we need to keep the dialogue open, and stay willing to try many new approaches to address these challenges. Perhaps, if we consider this alternate option, we can foster a society that truly embodies the principles of fairness and justice for all.

Sources

Foner, Eric. “Why Is There No Socialism in the United States?” History Workshop, no. 17, 1984, pp. 57–80. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4288545. Accessed 27 July 2023.

Uetricht, Micah, “Bigger Than Bernie: How We Go from the Sanders Campaign to Democratic Socialism” Verso, 2007.

Busky, Donald. “Democratic Socialism: A Global Survey By Donald F. Busky” British library catalog, Google Scholar, 2000.

Deay, Megan. “Democratic socialism, explained by a democratic socialist” WP content, 2018, Google Scholar.

Bishop, John. “Ethics of Capitalism” University of Toronto Press, 2000, Google Scholar.

Coates, David. “Varieties of Capitalism, Varieties of Approaches.” Palgrave, 2005, Google Scholar.