Socialism in America

Alright so all this talk about Obama bringing socialism to the good ol' US of A begs the question: What is socialism? Let's start with a definition of Socialism (from dictionary.com)

1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.

It also begs the question what is capitalism? (also from dictionary.com)

an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production,distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.

So in America are there any parts of our society that fall squarely in the socialism definition - - are their any elements of capital, land, and services that are maintained and controlled by the "community as a whole"/Government?

Well there certainly is Social Security. No doubt most people would accept that's socialistic in nature. Of course that has long been wrought with issues and most anti-socialists would raise that as an example of what's wrong with socialism.

What other goods/services are provided by our government of by and for the people?

How about education?

Traditionally America has been very proud of our educational system (although that's waned in recent years). A core tenet of our Democratic/Republic is that we need an informed citizenry. Enter: Public Education. The issues with the current system do exist, but to advocate a capitalistic route to education sounds absurd: Private Schools only. Only those kids whose parents can afford to send their children to school will receive an education. Is that really the kind of America you'd want: One where vast segments of the population might remain illiterate? One without opportunity for all children? Is that honestly a way to rebuild our economy? I think not. I think that the problems of our public education systems notwithstanding, a socialized approach to education better serves our nation than a privatized one.

What about the providing for the common defense the preamble of the US constitutions calls for?

America is proud of our Military. We have a strong military that ensures our freedom and safety. But our military is not privatized. Their prowess is helped by the valuable efforts of private industry to be sure, but at its heart the US military is great because it is socialized. Private citizens don't hire their own militias to wage the US' wars. The United States of America as a whole provides for the military through funding and direction. Defense and safety is not privatized in America. It is socialized. Of course the government does contract with private contractors - but it does so socialistically. Wealthy individuals don't pay for a military to ensure only their own freedoms. Each American supports and pays for a common defense. This also feeds over into the police officers who are socialized to ensure the rule of law and order for all. When criminals are incarcerated, the prisons, and indeed entire justice system, are run for the benefit of the entire society - - ownership and control lies with the people/community as a whole (as mediated by the government and juries) not by private individuals or corporations.

Also in the defense vein are firefighters. People don't (anymore) purchase fire protection from private entities. Communities have socialized firefighting for the good of the community as a whole.

On the commerce side america has a publicly run postal service. It helps businesses, the press, our democratic process. Although it has it's share of financial woes it serves an important role in America (and still allows for its private competition to thrive alongside while guaranteeing a minimum service!).

America also has a great interstate system and city roads for transit and commerce - and yep they're socialistic in nature! The roads are paid for (through taxes) and controlled (through driving/road codes) by the community. People don't pay for access each time they pull out the driveway. They aren't privately controlled. Even toll roads which are paid for are generally not privately owned and operated. (of course their are some privately owned roads and access-ways - but those are the exception, not the rule and generally they still defer to the laws and community standards for public roads). Imagine if every time you wanted to go to the store you had to pay a fee to Big-Road-Co. That would certainly hinder commerce and hurt the economy as a whole. Moving goods across the country could prove to be a costly endeavor. Roads are socialized. They are even often essentially a subsidy for private companies who are able to provide their goods/services cheaper and more efficiently.

Speaking of transit, the airways are publicly owned and controlled. Private companies fly the skies, but they do so under the guidance and control of the government. The skies are socialized to ensure that transcontinental flights can travel without having to secure rights from the landowners down below (as declared by Congress and affirmed by the Supreme Court in US v. Causby) or some other entity that owns the skies. The socialized control of the sky is also down to ensure safety.

Does anyone advocate removing these socialist policies? Do they want to stop providing for the least of society? Do they want to stop supporting public education so our nation's children can be unequivocally left behind? Do they want to stop funding our military in favor of private security so that only the wealthy can have their freedoms protected? Do they want to privatize all transit so many people can only afford to become recluses?

Do they want us to become TRULY capitalistic with no government controls over safety, monopolies, or other unscrupulous business practices? True and pure capitalism is simply un-American.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of socialism in America. But I hope it demonstrates the absurdity in using a denunciation of “socialism” to induce fear and resist change. That is not to say the we do need change. It's just to point out that saying “...but the president's plan amounts to socialism...” is a profoundly ignorant and paper thin red herring of an argument.

America is not a capitalist nation (it's never been). America is not a socialist nation (it's never been).

America is... America and must (continue to) take the best bits of capitalism, the best bits of socialism, and the best bits of any other theory around to keep making us great!