Source: I don't fucking know. It was sent to me by Plague and I can't remember the URL, so if you're really keen on finding it then go and hunt for it.
I know by now many people are either celebrating or complaining about Obama's victory in the US presidential election right now. If you read this entire blog entry you probably won't need me to tell you how I feel about it, since I'll make my stance pretty obvious. While doing my fabulous geology assignment (because rocks are boring) I felt the urge to explore a particular ideology that was discussed leading up to the election, but still slightly baffles me. The idea that socialism is evil.
Now please, don't jump the gun on me. I wouldn't describe myself as a 'socialist'. However I'm really unsure what to describe myself as. Socialism seems to be where I lean most, along with my liberal ideals. But still I feel that socialism is a strategy which should be used in certain circumstances, and shouldn't become a universal policy. I feel much the same way about capitalism and communism. They all have their pros and cons, but it's up to people to recognise these and understand what situations they should be applied to.
John McCain used 'Joe the Plumber' as a representation of the 'American Dream', which relies on the concept of capitalism to insure a person has the freedom to choose the role they serve in society and what they can spend their income on. Upon hearing that Obama wanted to 'spread the wealth around', McCain supporters booed and jeered, while I sat it my seat thinking 'that doesn't sound like a bad idea'.
So, what is wrong with spreading the wealth? Well, it's very much a case of forced charity, where someone unwillingly (because of the law) gives someone a fraction of their wealth without the other person 'earning' it. In Walter Williams' article (see below) he compares social security to thievery, and believes God would oppose such forced acts of charity. His argument is that people should have the right to choose whether or not to give their hard earned dollars to another person, or more specifically who that person might be.
I can see the logic... To a degree. However, humans are greedy, selfish creatures. Even those 'under' God. What we can't see or feel we rarely ever care about, unless it is emotionally pushed upon us by a charity ad or a Salvation Army officer. That's why I believe we need a system which acts as a Robin Hood-type character... Evenly distributing wealth to those people who never got the same opportunities as those with wealth. No singular person can determine where money is needed most, and most people have no clue about many problems which impact society. A government; a collection of people elected to create cohesion, is a far better option in creating equality.
In R. G. Price's rebuttle to Williams' article he jokes about the idea that socialism is damaging to a prosperious economy, and instead argues that it has helped create the middle-class; a class many people take pride in being in because it symbolises prosperity and equality, but not gluttony.
Another opinion pressed by Raphael Kaplinsky in one of his articles is that globalisation and capitalism are unsustainable practises and the cause of great inequality and environmental degradation in this world. I must admit I can see the link here. Personally I believe that while people have the option of consuming more they will often take that option. Again, this links back to greed and simple human desires. We'd rather a Ferrari than a Toyota because it's better, not because the Toyota prevents us from getting to A to B and the Ferrari doesn't.
If we want change we will have to impliment slow changes to limit consumption of not just fuels, but food and materials. Fast changes will cause outroar for all those who live a stable or high-end lifestyle and wish to keep it. Currently the technologies are not readily available to create sustainable development right around the world.
Is socialism evil? Is socialised health care the work of the devil? Is a country one step away from communism if they support socialism? I doubt it. I think people can get paranoid about just about anything, and when someone's threatening to apply a higher tax to someone who can afford it more than the starving man, any excuse will do.
Wanna read some opinions? Of course you do:
Socialism is Evil (#1) ~ Walter E. Williams
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/articles/04/socialism.html
Socialism is Evil (#2) ~ Walter E. Williams
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/articles/04/socialism2.html
Rebuttal to Walter Williams' "Socialism is Evil" ~ R. G. Price
http://rationalrevolution.net/articles/rebuttal_to_walter_williams.htm
Globalization, Poverty and Inequality ~ Raphael Kaplinsky
http://www.polity.co.uk/book.asp?ref=9780745635538
P.S. Sorry this wasn't my usual comedic rant. Not that I should apologise since no one reads these things anyway! (Except that shitty Sasuke entry...)
Posts
5 comments:
Hey, now wait a minute, I read all your entries! BLAH!
Second - while I agree with you (I'm a closet mini-socialist myself), anyone who calls Obama a pure up straight Socialist is ignorant. He's not, pure and simply. The socialist PARTY of the United State had their guy whowas running bascially bash Obama for NOT beiong Socialist on The Colbert Report, but no one heard it because they took "spread the wealth around" to mean "those who do nothing will get monies for doing nothing."
Also the security word for me to type this was guncest. Those naughty guns.
Yeh! Hold on! I read all your blogs tooooo!
Glad to see Obama elected! I got dragged into a wikipedia editing war over whether Obama was President or President-elect. AARRGGHH!
Socialist, Democratic-Socialist, Social Democrat... people can debate these terms and argue that Obama 'is one', but ultimately, I don't think we can pin one ideology on any one person... I mean- I usually identify myself as a Democratic-socialist, but that doesn't mean that I don't have opinions that differ fundamentally.
Realistically, what matters is how the American public observe Obama's actions- [which are likely to be 'regulated' to keep the Democrats happy as a party anyway].
I am looking forward to seeing what will happen!
And Aleatz.... as a follow up to 'No Logo', read 'The Shock Doctrine
@Lightning: Although I'm not as savvy with Obama's plans as I suppose you and your fellow Americans are, I hope I was somewhere in the right ball-park with this entry. I'm sorry if it came across that I was calling him a socialist, because I believe he (a lot like me) thinks a combination of economic strategies is required, but believes more socialistic reforms are needed then his previous government.
Of course, everyone who opposes him tends to exaggerate what he really wants. I guess people condemning him for raising taxes are a little more open-minded then, say, the people who think he is the anti-christ (lulz for 'Rapture Ready').
'Guncest'? OMG! XD
@Kit: Well, isn't he 'President-elect'? I mean, he's not actually in office till next year.
Heh. I agree. We can only watch him like Australians do Rudd and hope for the best. I personally hope he's successful.
I will need to read this new book. Because No Logo was awesome. Kim is still yet to read it, even though she has had it for several months.
Oh, and while you two are here I'll show you this:
http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/results/rankings/2008/
It's the Global Peace Rankings of 2008. I could go into all the factors they determine it on. A lot of countries chuck a tantrum because they're not where they think they should be, but overall I think it is reasonable.
Australia is 27th. The UK is 49th. The USA is 97th. I don't think any of us are as high as we wish to be. *Waves fist menacingly at New Zealand*
I read your blog. *sniffs* Though with the way you've treated my pirates I don't know why *sniffles*... *decides to come back and re-comment when your increasingly astute political commentary works it's way into my brain properly*
In truth, I walked away from the computer and then came back to find you asking whether I was ignoring you. So I thought it would be funny if I said yes.
I think this is what happens when you go to uni. Every day you have someone blasting your eardrums with their opinion that it gets to the point where you think people will care about your own.
Post a Comment