As a practicing capitalist, I couldn't agree more. However,
capitalism is not perfect, and we need to address its more
negative side effects, for those among us who suffer under
the weight of the rat race. That's why we have programs
like welfare (which has been a poorly administrated failure
that deserves the overhaul we're giving it, but was well-
intentioned and certainly has helped a lot of people who
deserved it) and government-aided work programs, etc.What is needed is both the strive for excellence and achievement
that is capitalism-- and the humanity and egalitarianism of
socialism. In essence, a mixed economy- taking the best aspects
from two economic philosophies and balancing them in a way that
best serves the purposes of our society. We are moving toward
that in the United States, even though we don't call it socialism
or a mixed economy. Many countries in Europe have socialized
medicine and free higher education, and their citizens are doing
well and competing in the global capitalist market.
Also, socialism is not communism. There are distinct differences
between the growth of the two movements, and many instances of
communists committing violence against the more democratic socialists
in order to seize power. Like I said, I'm a capitalist (albeit a
progressive one) but I wouldn't mind a few socialists in our
Congress to have some input in our legislation- in fact I welcome
the exchange of ideas-- something we don't have with our two-party
monopoly in which politicians trade rhetoric but work toward the
same ends.
BTW, the worst form of welfare is corporate welfare, where our
tax dollars go to fund the enterprises of profitable business,
including the meat industry. And all that excessive military
recruiting and out-of-control weapons production- it's government
socialism-- creating jobs where we don't need them.
