Everyone uses labels. Most even label themselves. The problem is that almost no one can define those labels correctly. Some, not all, but some economists can correctly define those common words. I have yet to find a political scientist that can accomplish that task.For over a century and a half the word socialism has been used as a weapon against anyone less ‘conservative’ than the one wielding it. Americans have been afraid of the word, despite having no idea of what it means. On the other hand, the majority of Americans have worshiped the word capitalism as though it were the message of the New Testament.
Now, we find a few politicians donning the cloak of socialism, some with a degree of success. Of course this terrifies those who can’t move on from the past. Ironically, I seriously doubt that any of these politicians could define socialism. It’s acceptance is not because of what it means. It actually represents the growing disgust with capitalism. To be more precise, it is disgust with what the government and the oligarchs do in the name of capitalism.
First, let’s clear up a basic misunderstanding. Many people, perhaps most, confuse politics and economics. We constantly hear talk of right and left. Let’s begin there. The fewer people in control we label as right. The wider control is distributed, the farther to the left. A dictatorship controlled by a single person is as far right as can be. Democracy is to the left. There are degrees of both right and left, degrees of dictatorship and democracy.
Before going further, it is necessary to clear up another common misunderstanding. A republic is the opposite of a monarchy. One is hereditary, the other is not. A monarchy can be either a democracy or an autocracy. A republic can be a democracy or an autocracy. Despite common usage, republic and democracy are not opposites. Anyone claiming that the U.S. is a republic, not a democracy, is broadcasting his ignorance of the meaning of both.
Now we come to capitalism. It is the control of the major means of production by a few. It used to be ownership but it is common for managers to take effective control from shareholders – owners. The key is ‘major means of production.’ This includes such areas as steel, energy, mining, transportation and communications. I have heard people say that owning your home makes you a capitalist. Wrong. Even owning the majority of the production of Hula Hoops doesn’t qualify one as a capitalist. Hula Hoops are not usually considered a component of the major means of production.
Socialism is the control of the major means of production by the society, the community, the people. What is usually called socialism is the ownership of the major means of production by the government. Economists mistakenly call that state socialism. They are wrong. The government is composed of the relatively few. So, if the control is in the hands of a few, it is capitalism. Therefore, what is called state socialism should, more properly, be called state capitalism.
Right is for the few. Left is for the many. Dictatorship is to the right. Democracy is to the left. Capitalism is to the right. Socialism is to the left. Are you for the right or the left?
A minimum wage of $15 per hour is not socialism. Free college is not socialistic. Affordable health care is not socialistic. Equal pay for equal work is not socialism. Breaking up the Wall Street cabals is not socialism. Limiting and taxing multinationals is not socialism. Democratic Socialism is not socialistic.
Say you and I own a property that needs to be rehabilitated. You believe that all of the work can be done with a hammer, while I contend that it all can be accomplished with a screwdriver. You would be a Hammerist and I would be a Screwdriverist. We would both be stupid. Hammers and screwdrivers are physical tools. You try to employ the tool most suitable to the task, not the one you like the best. Ideologies are intellectual tools. Use the one most suitable to the task. Ideologies are not worth fighting or dying or killing for.
Try to solve our problems. If what you are trying doesn’t work, try something else. Labeling yourself or others doesn’t solve any problems. Using a single political or economic label is a sign that one shouldn’t be in charge of anything important.
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