Click here to find out how to get rewards for taking quizzes
5.4 Wouldn't Socialism be Better than Capitalism if it was Democratic and Free?
The Democratic Socialists of America have the word Democratic in their name. Can a socialist country be free and Democratic? Communist countries have a history of not being free. Is there something innate in communism and socialism that makes them unfree?
In a capitalist country you can start your own business, or create something and make money and keep that money. You can buy property and the property is yours. That is part of what makes you free. If a socialist or communist government takes that property from you that is taking away your freedom to have property and to make money on your own. When a government possesses the property all the power is concentrated in the government.
Socialists when they run for election promise to make things free to win votes. For example Mamdani promised free buses when he was running for mayor. He said he would get the money by taxing the rich more than they are already taxed. He also said that if landlords didn't comply with his demands he would seize their property. Prior to being elected he spoke about "seizing the means of production". These policies result in all the power going to the government instead of being distributed among the people.
Click here
to find out how to get rewards for taking quizzes
Doesn't Capitalism Make the Poor Poorer and the Rich Richer?
 Lesson List |
