Let's Discuss Socialism

One of the hot topics of the previous election year has been the use of the word "socialism." Republicans think Democrats are socialists and Democrats think Republicans are at best fascists or ... well, take your pick of autocrats, authoritarians and worse. However the dictionary defines the word as:

Often the word is considered a synonym of communism but the two terms are quite different. And it was quite apparent that voters WERE confused especially in the state of Florida where the Cuban-American population, because of Castro, didn't seem to know the difference.

     Now, let's compare that to capitalism:

But first a bit of history.

When the Pilgrims came to North American in 1620 trade was pretty much limited to the motherland and more specifically to the owners who financed the settlements. The grant was to a  joint stock company, granted by the king, not parliament. And this was the source of all future discontent. Parliament levied taxes, or tried to, on the various colonies who increasingly saw it as a burden because they had no voice, NO VOTE in the matter. There was more and more resistance over taxes, over the distribution of the land and individual rights. They were subjects to the king not parliament.

With the French encroaching on the English settlements, the British were forced to protect their investment at great cost. The French & Indian war lasted from 1754-1763 with over 22,000 casualties of soldiers, civilians and Native Americans. While the British emerged victorious they felt some of the costs should be bourne by the colonists they fought for. A variety of taxes were tried and largely ignored until in far away East Indies, the British EAST INDIA TRADING COMPANY, the largest conglomerate the world had ever seen, was going bankrupt. Dominating world trade during the 1700 - 1800's, it was going broke. Thinking it was too big to fail (not an uncommon thought process today) the Parliament allowed them to charge a tax on tea shipments to the colonies. Realizing they were the only people paying that tax, colonists refused leading to the infamous tea party in Boston where hundreds of pounds of tea were dumped into the bay.

This set the stage for rebellion only heightened when Britain barricaded Boston. The colonies did what they could to supply them with food and weapons. A revolution was started 1,000's of miles away over a single tax among other complaints.

This led to a United States that embraced capitalism, some say, without limits. After brutal wars over these same arguments one by one, European governments began putting limits on unbridled profits. We attempted regulation during the Gilded Age with a variety of agencies started by Teddy Roosevelt to protect trade, food and working conditions. These did not come easily and America, like Europe, had deadly strikes over often terrible living conditions for workers as their bosses lived the lives of royalty. Consider the Vanderbilt's Biltmore in Ashville, NC, one of several palatial homes.

This is an age old problem. We read about it in Egypt, Babylon, Rome, the Greek States finally reaching a pinnacle with Karl Marx who seeing the misery around him created what he saw as a solution,  Communism. This led to wars and government takeovers.

To any American and most European business owners this was anathema. They resisted any limits on making a profit. But governments need money and are required to provide certain services to their citizens that required taxes to meet their obligations. Therein lies the dilemma, who pays and how much?

In the United States Democrats see the Constitution as a social contract to protect and care for ALL citizens regardless of need, giving them the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness with no impediment to improving themselves. The Republicans see the Constitution as a capitalist document giving them unfettered rights for life, liberty and to make a profit. It's an age old battle.

However, what is commonly lost on both sides is the for need education, health and workers to do all these things. In an increasingly complex world you need educated citizens who can think, solve problems and use the increasingly complex items required. However, we also need farmers, mechanics, builders, plumbers and electricians that keep the things we use working and building anew. You must keep citizens healthy to have a vibrant society and provide for the nurturing and care of children, the future workers.

Much has been made of Japan, Russia, China and western Europe's falling populations. The dirty secret here is that without immigration both legal or illegal, the United has a declining population and has for years. With illegals being rounded up and deported Americans are finally waking up to their need for them. Ranchers, farmers, food processors have lost 1,000's of workers who have been deported and 1,000's more afraid to go to work because they are a target too. America is going to reap what they've sown. Losing workers we need and letting the billionaires pay fewer taxes than Warren Buffets secretary.

I applaud inventions, new technologies. However, none of these inventors did this alone. You won't see Elon Musk assembling a Tesla Model 3 or flying a Space X rocket. Steve Bezos on an Amazon delivery truck, Bill Gates peddling Office in a Microsoft store or even Tim Cook assembling an iPhone.  It takes workers, often thousands of them to make them become successful and build the things we often use daily. 

The biggest flaw in our system is that too few Americans have ever traveled overseas. They don't realize Europe, Asia especially China, Singapore and Japan, most of Europe, New Zealand and Australia are as modern as the United States are and oftentimes more advanced.

In Europe when you cross state lines you enter another culture, often another language and vastly different histories. In America crossing from California into Arizona you go from a blue state to a red turning purplish political state. But while we have a common central government there are already divisions. You cannot compare Louisiana to New York or Iowa to California.

I read an interesting economic book that bluntly stated, if you want to live the American dream move to Denmark. Not only will they care for you and your family they will help you start a business. I know, the argument is they have such high taxes. Do they? Add up all our taxes and healthcare costs. Who gives you cradle to grave care? They have a social state that works. There is a joke going around that if Trump wants Greenland, let Denmark buy California for a trillion dollars. They've got my vote.

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