Monday, January 10, 2011

What is Socialism and What Isn't?

     A recent letter to the editor of a large urban newspaper expressed reservations about conservatives who inveigh against socialism.  The writer opined that we already have socialism in the form of public libraries, fire departments, schools and bridges, among other similar things, and nearly everyone approves of that.  Aren't those things socialistic and aren't conservatives hypocrites when they support them and then denounce proposals for such things as universal health insurance as socialistic?  No, that kind of question reflects a misunderstanding of what socialism is.  It is not taxation of the general public for purposes which serve the undifferentiated mass of people on a non-discriminatory basis.  Libraries serve all the people, rich, poor, both genders and all races.  One may choose not to use a library, but it's there for anyone who does.  Schools serve a general public purpose even for those who have no school-age children.  Even if such purposes are served by excessive taxation or bureaucratic excess they are not socialistic.  They are objectionable, if at all, on other grounds. 
     Socialism is the taking from one group of people, usually the "rich", to benefit another, generally for political purposes.  It's chief tools are income-leveling devices such as the graduated income tax, welfare and the like.  The purpose and result are different from public-purpose spending of which almost everyone approves when it is proportinate to a valid public purpose.

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