The Meaning Of Socialism

Introduction

I follow a few left-wing American commentators who do embrace Socialism in their politics but still manage to denigrate it in their posts. These are a few of the ones I am talking about, Bernie Sanders, Dean Obediah and Robert Reichs:

The Meaning Of Socialism

A political and economic theory of social organisation which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

"we want a real democratic and pluralist left party—one which unites all those who believe in socialism"

I've shared those images to give some ideas about what socialism is, though ironically, it is a communist quote from Karl Marx that sums it up exactly.

Essentially, those who can contribute to the common good, and that means that those who need help can be helped. So the reality everyone that everyone can grow, and no one is cast aside. Socialism does not stop people from getting rich, it just expects that when they do, they contribute more to society.

Modern media and the rich and privileged class push that socialists are seen as nothing but freeloaders, and unfortunately, people start to believe that. Someone once said that the working poor in America see themselves as financially inconvenienced millionaires rather than people being cheated out of their real worth. The same is very true in the UK, and I see so many people who put in a hell of a lot of work to make their business work without getting the rewards that they really deserve.

After the Second World War, the Labour government put the country into debt to build an infrastructure of roads, power and rail, as well as social housing, social security for all and the National Health Service. It was not perfect, but it worked. Then, when Thatcher came, the Tories sold it all off and said, "Look how much money we've made", and that has resulted in the infrastructure being used as a source for shareholder dividends rather than for the benefit of the country.

People complain about taxes, but they are required to finance police, health, social security and infrastructure maintenance.

Socialism is for the people by the people, and the government is supposed to direct that. Left-wing governments tend to do that, but right-wing governments tend to use the taxpayers as a source of income to line their own pockets.

Many people seem to see people on benefits as freeloaders, but think on this: many working people have to claim benefits to survive because they are not paid enough, and they get called freeloaders, but the reality is that their employers are the freeloaders.

True socialism benefits everyone in society. There would be no need for a minimum wage because people would be paid what they are really worth. This would also mean they would have disposable income to spend on things that enable entrepreneurs to make more money (I hate that tag), and people would have a roof over their head, food to eat and not have to worry about getting sick or ill.

Now to the point of this piece, Reich, Obediah and Sanders continually talk about "Socialism For The Rich" denigrating the term because what they are talking about the immoral freeloading of the rich and corporate who pay little or no taxes, and therefore do not pay their way in society but still expect police and emergency protection and financial help when their businesses fail.

It is not "Socialism For The Rich", it is cheating and freeloading, and it needs to be said as that.

Thank you so moch for taking your time to read this.