Oh Noes! Creeping Socialism!

Reader Comments
Back to blog

As a grad student who eats this topic up (Capitalism vs. Socialism/Democracy), I've been personally dis-enlightened through the course of my 45 years of life of the pros of unfettered capitalism in its current form. I'm all for the SBO, but the current corporatocracy that runs the world scares me! I'm currently reading two books that I highly recommend all economic/political nerd types should read: Mindful Economics by JOEL MAGNUSON, Ph.D. and The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth by Benjamin M. Friedman. Both books offer historical account of the creation of capitalism (Friedman's book more so and highlights religious overtones) as well as provocative and sometime mind-numbing cautions about our current form of doing biz; they offer thoughtful recommendations for further debate and validation. For Jah's sake, Capitalism and/or Socialism is not a finite economic system set in stone. I've seen the "rules" change regularly through my lifetime so its essentially a system in progress, and mostly for the rich. I think a regulated pluralistic system of both should be considered and catered locally but thoughtful globally. It is simple economics of supply and demand...there is only so many resources to go around and literally billions of people wanting those resources. If we don't work collectively for humanities survival then my vision of the future would be similar to the conditions in the classic movie starring Charleston Heston, "Soylant Green". Create a Great Day!

JahLove63 of CA 11:55AM April 15, 2009

Republicans in particular have been pushing socialism, for themselves that is, for decades. Just look at the rich, mostly right wing, owners of the sports teams. They have plenty, often multiple expensive homes, imported cars, jewelry, hide their money in secret accounts, and YET DEMAND THAT THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER BUY THEM STADIUMS !!??$$
In Cincinnati both main owner's of the football and baseball teams have given lots of money to Bush, McCain, and the Republican Party. Of course both like to be known as kind people, giving to worthy groups! One says he's a "good Baptist!" But they are too cheap to build their own stadiums, although they could easily afford it!
ISN'T THAT SOCIALISM !??
The Unnecessary Iraq War, which will cost over $ 1,000 BILLIONS, and $ 4,000 BILLIONS after paying interest on loans from Red China, isn't that BIG GOVERNMENT, Socialism?!
Right wingers like Glenn Beck, O'Reilly [and the rest of the Fox Channel], etc. were FOR starting this stupid war, let them pay for it!

Stephen of OH 2:37AM April 12, 2009

We need to over the "ism schism". Either can be bad if taken to extremes - or badly run. Either can work if well run. We don't have to look far to see how capitalism was screwed up. It isn't the "ism" it's how well a country is run.
Some things are best run by government like printing money - you wouldn't want everyone doing it would you? What about wars, the military or foreign policy?
However, I wouldn't want the government running the local supermarket, auto dealership or bank. Capitalism and the profit motive does work but there has to be rules and those rules have to be enforced. Otherwise you get Madoff-style "klepto-capitalism".
I'm not sure about health care. It seems nobody gets that right. However if it's a choice between unaffordable health care and socialized medicine, it's a no brainer.

Bill of CO 9:31PM April 11, 2009

I have yet to meet the man (or woman) who lives in a cave, grows or hunts his own food,
makes his own weapons, or can perform his own first aid. So we're all socialists, since we can't provide our basic necessities for ourselves.
So get over it. Socialism's just a word, just like the Constitution is just a sheet of paper, according to G.W. Bush.

al of NM 2:48PM April 11, 2009

Don't Dump On Me! Never mind treading..I have government tire tracks all over my back..The government garbage scow of regulation..fess fines and penalties has been and gone..leaving me is dust and ashes (mommie guv'mint, please may I? I will pay and obey, I promise) but..I resent the dumping..being a capitalist who invested in a business and tryiing to ..keep the business..never mind making a living.
Stop the Dumping
1) I wasn't born with a piece of paper stuck in the crack of my *ss saying how much I owed..
2) Take that load of guilt and go dump it on the "victim" of my supposed "inherited crimes." Let them be the Burden to Themselves for a change..
3) There is misery in the world..Take if up with the Maker..Don't force me to pay at the point of a gun for bailing out the entire world..or reforming it ..or curing it..I have to carry my own load..bail myself out, reform my own and cure my own ills..I would love to feed all the starving children in the world..but first I must feed my own..

Xtra of NV 2:07PM April 11, 2009

I keep hearing how our Government over the past 30 years have destroyed our society so I guess the Obama/Pelosi/Reid BIG GOVERNMENT PLAN will somehow make it all better?
Good luck with that! See ya at the revolution.

Chris Petty of GA 7:09PM April 10, 2009

Years of declining salaries, less opportunities, inability to retire, etc. It's obvious that the younger generations intend to change the system that the baby-boomer generation wrecked. The whole system was deregulated in the past 30 years and not only the financials industry. If nothing is done to improve conditions, the young seem willing to make a try with socialism.

Neil of MA 9:49AM April 10, 2009

This certainly explains the repeated blog responses repeated over and over to the Obama tune. Lies, cheats, filthy capitolists. The same filthy capitolists who sign your paycheck.
The problem with Socialism is it's like a STD.
Easy to get but hard to get rid of. Starts slow, fire a CEO here, ignore a protest there, nationalize a few industries, before you know it your kids are being wisked away to "community service" for the summer and your business was deemed no longer necessary to the state and a waste of resources.
Let us bow to the power of change!
OR, we could study history, politics and financial theory AND most importantly remember the taste of freedom before it's too late.

Chis Petty of GA 11:22PM April 09, 2009

This poll defies one of the chief principles of survey research, which is that the surveyor must operationally define the concepts at hand. I am not sure that many Americans really know what "capitalism" and "socialism" in their purest sense really are. In and of themselves, as presented to the American layperson, they are loaded terms. I would take the results of this poll with a huge chunk of salt. Even conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are neither entirely capitalist nor entirely socialist in their philosophies.

Wade of CA 9:27PM April 09, 2009

In an ideal world given non-interference by governments and allowing true unadulterated market forces of supply and demand to work, capitalism is a well-oiled machine. But the reality is that capitalism as it is commonly practiced is basically corrupted by the following (not a complete list):
1. Laws and regulations that benefit the wealthy classes to the disadvantage of the working classes (tax laws and loopholes)
2. Large investors are able to purchase large quantities of supplies (contracts), then withold them from market to drive up prices
3. Accounting rules are skewed to allow corporations to cheat where the average taxpayer would be arrested for similar practices
4. Stock market schemes are permitted that allow excessive latitude for large investors to purchase stock without real cash - options, derivatives, margins and short selling are means by which large investors can control stock without really putting their money on the line... until the bubble bursts.
5. Special interests lobbyists funded by the wealthy who corrupt politicians and bureacrats to do their bidding at the disservice of the public good.
We could go on... obviously the global economic system is in dire need of an overhaul to bring back honest business dealings.

Tony Lee of CA 4:00PM April 09, 2009