One of my hopes when offering the “Political Basics” series, seen in this newspaper over the last several weeks, was to open a dialogue to discuss political issues and develop a shared understanding of the meanings of words and terms that are often misused and misunderstood.
A great example of this was seen in a response letter printed Feb. 28, where it was suggested, I had not answered “the pivotal question: Are communism and socialism synonymous?” Readers of the “Basics” series know the answer to this question: they are absolutely NOT synonymous. I explained the tenets of Communism, and why there has never been a nation that was a Communist Nation. Also, why there never WOULD be. I pointed out that nations claiming to be Communist were instead ruled by dictators.
Demonstrating why these distinctions are important, the letter writer listed the features he associated with Communism, and instead they were the features of TYRANNY. While the theory of Communism does eliminate private property, it demands COMMON ownership by all citizens. In a tyranny, the dictator “owns” and “controls” all private property. Communism would not allow that. Think of Vladimir Putin, who owns all of Russia’s assets, shares control with selected oligarchs who, if they displease him in any way, find themselves poisoned or falling out of tall windows and being quickly replaced. Whatever “The People” of Russia “own” or “control” is completely at the discretion of the dictator, Putin.
The theory of Communism suggests “central planning” thru cooperation, while in a tyranny all planning is done by the dictator. A dictator prefers a “police state.” A dictatorship will “sustain itself by suppressing free press,” (for example, by calling the media the “enemy of the people”). Communism, as instituted by its tenets, would have no fear of a free press.
I explained that Socialism in the USA has to do with common programs agreed to by the people, and paid for thru the common treasury; things such as roads, parks, libraries, and even the military. This brings up another question of definition raised by the letter writer, which is, can a nation have welfare without being a “welfare state”? Acts of kindness, sharing, and helping hands are all around us. Human beings are basically GOOD, and most will gladly help those in need. Churches often have Food Bank programs (often aided by the state), and citizens give frequently to favored charities. None of this constitutes a “welfare state.” In fact, this charity … by individuals or thru government programs … signals a nation honoring Christian principles.
Another misconception raised by the letter writer was that Socialism “works only if a person accepts that the state can manage the product of his work (his money) better than he can.” This is a completely false notion. Socialism exists when people agree on a common good, and work together to accomplish that goal, be it a road, a military, a dam, or feeding the hungry. These are things an individual cannot (or should not try to) accomplish. It’s not nefarious, insidious, or evil. It doesn’t threaten democracy or capitalism or ‘the work ethic’ or inventiveness. It’s just a community seeing a need, and filling it as part of a social contract of neighbors.
The writer suggests that “Socialism is a bacillus that drains man’s incentive to excel, to work, to create” among other debilitating effects. Federal welfare programs in the USA began in earnest in America when FDR implemented Social Security in 1935. Various (“socialist”) programs for the poor, for children and the elderly, for food, shelter, and health care, have been added regularly since then. That was 89 years ago.
Anyone 89 or younger has lived their entire life in the USA with Socialism as part of our nation’s structure. So, I would ask the writer simply this: Does this list of ills describe YOUR life? Was your incentive to work drained away? Were you stripped by Socialism of your desire to excel? If not, explain how you managed to escape this “bacillus” while stating as fact that Socialism will certainly have that effect on a nation?
Submitted by Jeff Harrison.
