Every time Democrats propose having the government provide new assistance to those in need or a new regulation of business, the Republicans cry out,“This is Socialism.”
But after Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City, his fellow Democrats beat them to it. They were aroused primarily, I think, because they feared what a negative reaction to Mamdani from big business would do to Democrats’ chances nationally in the upcoming mid-term elections. They should be ashamed of themselves for having become so beholden to big business and for joining Republicans in criticizing a suggestion for dealing with current societal problems that is consistent with our form of economy by labeling it socialism,
Let’s get something straight. The U.S. is far from a pure capitalist, free-market, economy. We have in fact a mixed economy, where the means of production are privately held—and thus capitalist—but where there is much government intervention to control the economy, both on behalf of individuals and corporations—which is an aspect of socialism.
A lot of the problem comes from our tendency to label people and things. Even Bernie Sanders and Mamdani call themselves “democratic socialists.” But they are not socialists in any meaningful sense of the word because socialists advocate that the public own all means of production.
For example, Britain nationalized major strategic heavy industries and public utilities between 1946 and the early 1950s, returning them to the private sector during the Thatcher years. Britain during this period was indeed primarily socialist. Also, Eugene V. Debs, U.S. presidential candidate of the Socialist Party in the early 1900s was a socialist because he believed in the collective worker public ownership of industry.
In the past, when Republicans cried, “socialism,” a large segment of the public, Republicans, would nod their head like a hypnotized subject and agree that this was terrible. It is against what makes America great; not as bad as Communism, but close. But Democrats, at least in New York, did not have this aghast reaction because they had heard Mamdani and listened to him and thought his ideas were basically good.
Republicans have been pulling this scare tactic for decades. For example, in 1961, Ronald Reagan called the proposal to establish Medicare socialized medicine and warned of its disastrous impact on health care. To listen to Republicans, one would think that they were against any government spending or action that helps others or in any way interferes with the market place. That, however, is not the case.
Republicans are very supportive of the billions of dollars that the government spends, either in the form of direct payments or beneficial tax laws, that provide American corporations, especially big business, with government subsidies. They are also very supportive of government regulation/intervention that supports corporations, such as elements of the farm bill. NOTE: Almost all government farm subsidies go to large corporate farms. The embattled family farmer benefits hardly at all.
The only difference between the spending and regulation they support and the ones they don’t support and label socialism is that the former benefit big business while the latter either benefit the average American or protects him by restricting the unfettered ability of big business to act as it will.
This is hypocrisy. But the immorality of their stance is even worse. To argue against measures that protect the average American or helps those in need while supporting spending and other measures that help those who are not in need is to take a stand which is immoral.
“Ah,” they say, “but cutting back on such spending or measures will harm American business on which the economy depends and will result in the loss of jobs.” Any attempts to cut back on these items, or imposing new costs on business, are labeled, “job killers,” by Republicans.
But that is not true. What is true is that if such subsidies are cut back or new costs imposed, corporate profits will be reduced (unless they raise prices) and thus shareholders will be impacted by lower stock market prices for their shares.
I am not against corporations making a good profit and benefitting their shareholders. But many of these companies have profits at such high levels that the benefit to the larger society of cutbacks or new regulation/costs far outweighs the reduced profits to industry. For example, many of our largest, most profitable corporations pay almost no taxes through the loopholes that they enjoy.
The cost to the American taxpayer of these corporate subsidies is unconscionable, especially when the American middle class and the poor are being asked to make sacrifices (cuts in supportive government programs) in order to reduce the government deficit. It is obscene that our middle class and poor are asked to shoulder the costs of providing subsidies to those who typically already have more money than they know what to do with, other than spend it on more luxury.
The American social contract has traditionally (since the early 20th century) required all parts of our society to support the greater good, each to its ability. That concept of fairness and the greater good has been so denigrated over the course of the last few decades by the Republican Party that Republicans in government should hang their heads in shame.
Big business/corporations have a very important role to play in our society and in our economy. And government has a role in both providing an economic environment in which business can prosper as well as securing the public good and the rights of individuals. In the initial phase of the industrial revolution, the advantage was all to industry and the robber barons. During the 20th century, a balance was struck between the rights of business, the public good/the rights of individuals, and the duties of government, During the past few decades, that balance has slipped with corporations gaining more power at the expense of the public good. That balance must not just be restored but the interests of the public good should be strengthened. (See my posts, “What Is the Role of Corporations in Our Society?” and “Towards a Reformed Capitalism.”)
As for the socialism canard, so long as the means of production are in private hands, there is no socialism. Government regulation of business or the professions to secure the public good is not socialism; it is capitalism with a heart, in keeping with the role given government in the Declaration of Independence: to secure the rights of all to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The Democratic Party should not join the Republican chorus against “socialism” because that undermines their historic position that government intervention is often needed to protect the public and ensure their rights.
≈Every time Democrats propose having the government provide new assistance to those in need or a new regulation of business, the Republicans cry out,“This is Socialism.”
But after Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City, his fellow Democrats beat them to it. They were aroused primarily, I think, because they feared what a negative reaction to Mamdani from big business would do to Democrats’ chances nationally in the upcoming mid-term elections. They should be ashamed of themselves for having become so beholden to big business and for joining Republicans in criticizing by labeling a suggestion for dealing with current societal problems that is consistent with our form of economy,
Let’s get something straight. The U.S. is far from a pure capitalist, free-market, economy. We have in fact a mixed economy, where the means of production are privately held—and thus capitalist—but where there is much government intervention to control the economy, both on behalf of individuals and corporations—which is an aspect of socialism.
A lot of the problem comes from our tendency to label people and things. Even Bernie Sanders and Mamdani call themselves “democratic socialists.” But they are not socialists in any meaningful sense of the word because socialists advocate that the public own all means of production.
For example, Britain nationalized major strategic heavy industries and public utilities between 1946 and the early 1950s, returning them to the private sector during the Thatcher years. Britain during this period was indeed primarily socialist. Also, Eugene V. Debs, U.S. presidential candidate of the Socialist Party in the early 1900s was a socialist because he believed in the collective worker public ownership of industry.
In the past, when Republicans cried, “socialism,” a large segment of the public, Republicans, would nod their head like a hypnotized subject and agree that this was terrible. It is against what makes America great; not as bad as Communism, but close. But Democrats, at least in New York, did not have this aghast reaction because they had heard Mamdani and listened to him and thought his ideas were basically good.
Republicans have been pulling this scare tactic for decades. For example, in 1961, Ronald Reagan called the proposal to establish Medicare socialized medicine and warned of its disastrous impact on health care. To listen to Republicans, one would think that they were against any government spending or action that helps others or in any way interferes with the market place. That, however, is not the case.
Republicans are very supportive of the billions of dollars that the government spends, either in the form of direct payments or beneficial tax laws, that provide American corporations, especially big business, with government subsidies. They are also very supportive of government regulation/intervention that supports corporations, such as elements of the farm bill. NOTE: Almost all government farm subsidies go to large corporate farms. The embattled family farmer benefits hardly at all.
The only difference between the spending and regulation they support and the ones they don’t support and label socialism is that the former benefit big business while the latter either benefit the average American or protects him by restricting the unfettered ability of big business to act as it will.
This is hypocrisy. But the immorality of their stance is even worse. To argue against measures that protect the average American or helps those in need while supporting spending and other measures that help those who are not in need is to take a stand which is immoral.
“Ah,” they say, “but cutting back on such spending or measures will harm American business on which the economy depends and will result in the loss of jobs.” Any attempts to cut back on these items, or imposing new costs on business, are labeled, “job killers,” by Republicans.
But that is not true. What is true is that if such subsidies are cut back or new costs imposed, corporate profits will be reduced (unless they raise prices) and thus shareholders will be impacted by lower stock market prices for their shares.
I am not against corporations making a good profit and benefitting their shareholders. But many of these companies have profits at such high levels that the benefit to the larger society of cutbacks or new regulation/costs far outweighs the reduced profits to industry. For example, many of our largest, most profitable corporations pay almost no taxes through the loopholes that they enjoy.
The cost to the American taxpayer of these corporate subsidies is unconscionable, especially when the American middle class and the poor are being asked to make sacrifices (cuts in supportive government programs) in order to reduce the government deficit. It is obscene that our middle class and poor are asked to shoulder the costs of providing subsidies to those who typically already have more money than they know what to do with, other than spend it on more luxury.
The American social contract has traditionally (since the early 20th century) required all parts of our society to support the greater good, each to its ability. That concept of fairness and the greater good has been so denigrated over the course of the last few decades by the Republican Party that Republicans in government should hang their heads in shame.
Big business/corporations have a very important role to play in our society and in our economy. And government has a role in both providing an economic environment in which business can prosper as well as securing the public good and the rights of individuals. In the initial phase of the industrial revolution, the advantage was all to industry and the robber barons. During the 20th century, a balance was struck between the rights of business, the public good/the rights of individuals, and the duties of government, During the past few decades, that balance has slipped with corporations gaining more power at the expense of the public good. That balance must not just be restored but the interests of the public good should be strengthened. (See my posts, “What Is the Role of Corporations in Our Society?” and “Towards a Reformed Capitalism.”)
As for the socialism canard, so long as the means of production are in private hands, there is no socialism. Government regulation of business or the professions to secure the public good is not socialism; it is capitalism with a heart, in keeping with the role given government in the Declaration of Independence: to secure the rights of all to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The Democratic Party should not join the Republican chorus against “socialism” because that undermines their historic position that government intervention is often needed to protect the public and ensure their rights.
Preserving American Values 
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