General BenjaminA
TNPer
Socialist Cause
By Benjamin (Ohio) and Martin (Ohio)
Numerous people have a misinformed view of what a Socialist government and society would be. Many think that citizens would have no rights, no property; however this is not the case. In a Socialist society, economically speaking, due to government control, planning, and management of all forms of production, the basic needs of the people are met for little to no cost, leaving you with more money to spend on personal needs. The government in a Socialist society is democratically elected, controlled by the working class, making it a much more direct democracy than what we consider democracy today, and thus the government acts on behalf of the needs of the people. People come before profits. In today’s society, only the rich who pay the campaigns for politicians and such have any real say. The workers do not. Socialism in a nutshell is truly owned by the people, the working masses. The argument that Socialism is against private property is a false argument. In Capitalism, the government owns all property technically (since not paying taxes means you lose your property, thus making it pretty much like a renting, not owning, of property by the people.) In Socialism, the government would still own all property, but in a different way (not through taxes but simply legally) and since the workers control the government instead of the rich, you actually have MORE say than in Capitalism over our property.
Socialism is rooted strongly in a democratic way of life and is obligated to give everyone political and personal freedoms. Socialism is more open then Capitalism, because the goal of Socialism is the betterment of the people, not increasing profits. As mentioned before, in economic terms we have much more freedom to spend our hard-earned money on our own personal needs. In terms of personal freedom, Socialism promotes the fullest expression of individuality and the rights of the people. The Communist Party, USA, for instance, has even developed an expanded Bill of Rights for the USA that they see as absolutely necessary in a Socialist society. Laws in a Socialist society would probably be common sense, such as, as long as what you’re doing doesn’t hurt anyone, it doesn’t matter. As long as you work, you will be taken care of. This eliminates the lazy from benefiting unless they work, and usually this creates a chain reaction and such things as obesity or otherwise being overweight and other harmful bodily problems relating to lack of work can get quite a dent in their numbers. Now in the United States, the people have to worry about their primary needs while in Socialist countries you don’t, so people have more time to have fun, spend money, relax, work and do extracurricular activities, such as sports. In a socialist government, health care, education at all levels, and human’s basic needs are free to the people and are provided by the government. The cost you might ask? None. Taxes aren’t necessary in a Socialist society because other forms of production (non-necessary ones, like televisions, radios, computers, and so on) will make a profit that they use to subsidize (pay for) the necessities that are provided to the people. With a well-educated work force, and a healthy work force, the society progresses immensely in the areas of science, technology, architecture and other areas of life, and people are better able to express themselves and work together.
The current Socialist countries are considered somewhat Socialist, but most have never been a true socialist country. To be a true socialist country, the government has to be completely for the people, rid themselves of their military, and to promote peace, although while Capitalist nations still exist to threaten them in the world, militaries for defense only will still be necessary. In fact, military build-up is a strong negative for Socialism. In Capitalism, the government buys military products from companies, and the companies get richer. But in Socialism, the government already owned the military production companies, so they just use resources and there is no return whatsoever. There’s no economic benefit. In place of a large military, there can usually be instead a well-funded police force that keeps the peace, but does not violate the people’s rights. Businesses must all be owned and operated by the government in Socialism, usually according to a plan every few years to meet the people’s interests. The workers, having control over business democratically, will have a vested interest in making sure production goes smoothly, and thus control them themselves, without bosses, who are unnecessary and oppressive.
This concludes my little booklet. Now for a general ending to this is would I would like to end with, a simple math equation for those who are religious and support Capitalism.
Capitalism = Greed, imperialistic, inequality = Sin = Hell
Socialism = Sharing, equality, peace = Happiness and love = Heaven
In many ways, Capitalism promotes greed and inhuman treatment of others, and careless and extreme competition which can and usually does result in sinfulness. Socialism promotes the general welfare of its people and the distribution of all goods to everyone based on their contribution, creating as much equality as possible, peace, and friendship. The very early Christian practiced a form of Socialism, particularly in the book of Acts. The lived in communities, shared everything they grew and made, ate together, were peaceful and did not war with each other. They were in sense the first Socialists. They promoted equality, love, peace, sharing, and ultimately the true socialist cause! It is the Christian way to oppose oppression, much like Christians did in fighting to end slavery. Today, we just have a softer slavery. Imagine if a slave owner gave slaves an hourly wage instead of food, clothes, and shelter, and then imagine they could choose any slave owner they wanted to work for. They could try not being a slave, but then they’d have no money and might die. Now replace slave with worker, and slave owner with Capitalist, and you have modern-day slavery, wage-slavery. If we truly believe in what Christ tried to teach us, we cannot sit idly by and let sin corrupt people in their daily lives. We must fight it, and the only way to do so is to actively support a move towards a better world, a just, moral world. And only true Socialism can bring that.
By Benjamin (Ohio) and Martin (Ohio)
Numerous people have a misinformed view of what a Socialist government and society would be. Many think that citizens would have no rights, no property; however this is not the case. In a Socialist society, economically speaking, due to government control, planning, and management of all forms of production, the basic needs of the people are met for little to no cost, leaving you with more money to spend on personal needs. The government in a Socialist society is democratically elected, controlled by the working class, making it a much more direct democracy than what we consider democracy today, and thus the government acts on behalf of the needs of the people. People come before profits. In today’s society, only the rich who pay the campaigns for politicians and such have any real say. The workers do not. Socialism in a nutshell is truly owned by the people, the working masses. The argument that Socialism is against private property is a false argument. In Capitalism, the government owns all property technically (since not paying taxes means you lose your property, thus making it pretty much like a renting, not owning, of property by the people.) In Socialism, the government would still own all property, but in a different way (not through taxes but simply legally) and since the workers control the government instead of the rich, you actually have MORE say than in Capitalism over our property.
Socialism is rooted strongly in a democratic way of life and is obligated to give everyone political and personal freedoms. Socialism is more open then Capitalism, because the goal of Socialism is the betterment of the people, not increasing profits. As mentioned before, in economic terms we have much more freedom to spend our hard-earned money on our own personal needs. In terms of personal freedom, Socialism promotes the fullest expression of individuality and the rights of the people. The Communist Party, USA, for instance, has even developed an expanded Bill of Rights for the USA that they see as absolutely necessary in a Socialist society. Laws in a Socialist society would probably be common sense, such as, as long as what you’re doing doesn’t hurt anyone, it doesn’t matter. As long as you work, you will be taken care of. This eliminates the lazy from benefiting unless they work, and usually this creates a chain reaction and such things as obesity or otherwise being overweight and other harmful bodily problems relating to lack of work can get quite a dent in their numbers. Now in the United States, the people have to worry about their primary needs while in Socialist countries you don’t, so people have more time to have fun, spend money, relax, work and do extracurricular activities, such as sports. In a socialist government, health care, education at all levels, and human’s basic needs are free to the people and are provided by the government. The cost you might ask? None. Taxes aren’t necessary in a Socialist society because other forms of production (non-necessary ones, like televisions, radios, computers, and so on) will make a profit that they use to subsidize (pay for) the necessities that are provided to the people. With a well-educated work force, and a healthy work force, the society progresses immensely in the areas of science, technology, architecture and other areas of life, and people are better able to express themselves and work together.
The current Socialist countries are considered somewhat Socialist, but most have never been a true socialist country. To be a true socialist country, the government has to be completely for the people, rid themselves of their military, and to promote peace, although while Capitalist nations still exist to threaten them in the world, militaries for defense only will still be necessary. In fact, military build-up is a strong negative for Socialism. In Capitalism, the government buys military products from companies, and the companies get richer. But in Socialism, the government already owned the military production companies, so they just use resources and there is no return whatsoever. There’s no economic benefit. In place of a large military, there can usually be instead a well-funded police force that keeps the peace, but does not violate the people’s rights. Businesses must all be owned and operated by the government in Socialism, usually according to a plan every few years to meet the people’s interests. The workers, having control over business democratically, will have a vested interest in making sure production goes smoothly, and thus control them themselves, without bosses, who are unnecessary and oppressive.
This concludes my little booklet. Now for a general ending to this is would I would like to end with, a simple math equation for those who are religious and support Capitalism.
Capitalism = Greed, imperialistic, inequality = Sin = Hell
Socialism = Sharing, equality, peace = Happiness and love = Heaven
In many ways, Capitalism promotes greed and inhuman treatment of others, and careless and extreme competition which can and usually does result in sinfulness. Socialism promotes the general welfare of its people and the distribution of all goods to everyone based on their contribution, creating as much equality as possible, peace, and friendship. The very early Christian practiced a form of Socialism, particularly in the book of Acts. The lived in communities, shared everything they grew and made, ate together, were peaceful and did not war with each other. They were in sense the first Socialists. They promoted equality, love, peace, sharing, and ultimately the true socialist cause! It is the Christian way to oppose oppression, much like Christians did in fighting to end slavery. Today, we just have a softer slavery. Imagine if a slave owner gave slaves an hourly wage instead of food, clothes, and shelter, and then imagine they could choose any slave owner they wanted to work for. They could try not being a slave, but then they’d have no money and might die. Now replace slave with worker, and slave owner with Capitalist, and you have modern-day slavery, wage-slavery. If we truly believe in what Christ tried to teach us, we cannot sit idly by and let sin corrupt people in their daily lives. We must fight it, and the only way to do so is to actively support a move towards a better world, a just, moral world. And only true Socialism can bring that.
, as our resident commie.
.
