Where Knowledge Rules

Home:

Politics, News & Issues

Get a Widget for this title

Explaining socialism

Anyone who hasn't been living under a rock has heard some pretty nasty things about socialism lately. We think we understand it, based on the rhetoric we are deluged with every day. We hear that socialism is the road to communism, where the government dominates every citizen's private lives, telling us where to work, when to work, who we should marry, and so on.




The truth is quite different. Would it surprise you to know that America already is a socialist nation? Or that, in fact, capitalism depends on socialism to survive?




To find the real truth, and get past the misconceptions and propaganda, we Americans have to first realize that we don't really understand socialism at all. Then, we have to ask ourselves a question: What is socialism, really?




At its core, socialism is a vital need for every community, from cities and towns to great big continent-spanning nations. It is the pooling of resources into a communal fund in order to do something that no individual can do alone. Socialism, simply, is providing a service to a community at community expense.




In fact, every modern nation in existence today is socialist, to some degree or another. It is not a "necessary evil", as some would say, but an immense benefit; socialism is the entire reason that humans began living in communities to begin with, way back at the dawn of recorded history.




Despite what propagandists on the right have to say about it, even they are strongly in favor of socialism: every one of them proudly wears their pro-military status on their sleeve. That's right having a standing military is a function of socialism.




It is the veritable definition of socialism: the entire community pays for the service of soldiers because the entire community benefits. Providing for the common defense is one of the oldest applications of socialism. Even in the pre-civilized era of humanity, everyone who could contribute to a community's defense, did.




Socialism provides the mechanism by which nearly all of our most vital community services operate. Local fire departments, police forces, schools, libraries, highways, sewer systems virtually every aspect of community living, all those things that make life in a modern civilized society possible, are all the result of socialism.




Opponents of socialism are quick to bring up some of socialisms more questionable applications: inflated bureaucracies, excessive federal agencies, and committees without end. All of that government red tape is every entrepreneur's worst nightmare,


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Explaining socialism

  • 1 of 19

    by Bryan Belrad

    Anyone who hasn't been living under a rock has heard some pretty nasty things about socialism lately. We think we understand

    read more

  • 2 of 19

    by Kennedy Ifeh

    What is Socialism? Socialism is making wealth collective. Modern day misconception equates Marxism with Socialism. Marxism

    read more

  • 3 of 19

    by Rick Badman

    Socialism is based on a fantasy that everyone can be equal. The problem is, most people want to make themselves better than

    read more

  • 4 of 19

    by David Hacker

    Socialism, a Marxist philosophy that has stood the test of time and caused bloodcurdling nightmares for the Capitalist in

    read more

  • 5 of 19

    by Woody Johnson

    Is Our Country On A Path Of No Return


    We ushered in a new president, well I didn't usher him in, I had a good idea of

    read more

View All Articles on:
Explaining socialism

Add your voice

Know something about Explaining socialism?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Should public housing be run by the government?

Click for your side.

122042

Featured Partner

Masons

Washington, D.C. Masons, members of the Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, D.C. Freemasonry is first and foremos...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA