A teacher’s perspective: Firing Day at a Charter School

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35. Pure "Socialism" vs Pure "Capitalism" is a fun debate to have in the classroom.

Given that binary choice, I would choose the ideal of pure "Socialism".
Since you insist that the "blend" hasn't worked, a claim I dispute,
perhaps you could point out an example of pure 'Socialism" that has worked?
I won't be holding my breath.

ANY system can be corrupted by greed,
and care must be taken to protect ANY system from those who would corrupt it for personal gain. The GREEDY will always be with us. They can't be "abolished".

You are correct in claiming that our system today is broken.
I would be the last to try and defend our current system of Unbridled, Savage Capitalism.
The system we have today is far different from the system we had coming out of WW2.

The New Deal, the Fair Deal, and the Great Society has been systematically dismantled by craven politicians in BOTH dominant parties,
and the last vestiges are being attacked by the Party that once claimed to be the Workers Party.

The blend we had coming out of WW2 built the largest, wealthiest, and most Upwardly Mobile Working Class the WORLD has ever seen.
Had we continued along the course set by FDR with the Economic Bill or Rights (SOTU, 1944)

"In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established [font size=3]for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.[/font]

Among these are:

*The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

*The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

*The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

*The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

*The right of every family to a decent home;

*The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

*The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

*The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being".

....combined with the Social Improvements of the 60s under LBJ, we would be in a much better place today. We were headed in the right direction before Reagan and the "Centrist" "Democrats".

Unless you are willing to abolish "Capital" all together,
and with that the ownership of property,
there is no way to implement YOUR ideal system of Pure Socialism,
and I'm not sure I would want to live there anyway.


I MUCH prefer a system that rewards Excellence, Creativity, Industriousness, Efficiency, Performance, Productivity, Savings, Frugality, and Hard Work with reasonable accumulations of Private Property (Capital),
but enforces a more equitable distribution of wealth through:

* a steeply progressive Income Tax (like we had in the 60s),

*Capital Gains taxed as Income

*a steep Wealth Tax above a moderately comfortable limit,

*and very steep Inheritance Tax with provisions to protect small family businesses.

These taxes would be used to fund the Basic Human Rights as stipulated by FDR (above),
AND level the playing field every generation.
(The more successful European "blend" countries do the above)

Even the emerging"Socialist" countries of Latin America are careful NOT to demand an "End to Capitalism", and distinguish between NeoLiberal Free Market Capitalism and Restrained Capitalism.

[font size=3]"The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."[/font]
----Bolivian Reform President Evo Morales

I'll stand with Evo Morales,
and when I put my pay check into a Savings Account instead of spending it all on Friday Night,
I won't feel the slightest bit of guilt about drawing interest thanks to "Capitalism".