I listen to a lot of talk radio, all kinds, and invariably you hear someone throw out the words "Socialist", "Marxist" and "Communist", and the corresponding "isms". At times, they also seem to use them interchangably but I wondered, are they really that similar that one means the other? I didn't think so but I figured that if I had the question, others must also so this is my opportunity to educate and clear the air. Turns out they are very similar.
Socialism, at it's basic form (there are many variants), calls for public versus private ownership of property and natural resources. According to this view, people work and live in cooperation with one another and since they play a part in everything produced, why shouldn't they share in it? So if you are a "Socialist" you believe that "the people" should own or at a minimum control property for the benefit of "the people".
So how does this relate to Communism?
According to Karl Marx, Socialism is "an interim step between Capitalism and Communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles." Basically what he is saying is that when socialism is excessive misguided or unregulated socialism can turn into communism. Socialism needs to have strong accountability, responsibility, and a check and balance system in order to be effective.
So socialism is one step towards communism from capitalism. The difference between the two boils down to this; in socialism you give according to your ability and you receive based on what you have contributed. In communism, you give according to your ability but distribution is not based on what you have done, but what your needs are.
Don't think I want to go there. However if you do and want to find out more about socialism and communism, there are all kinds of resources on the web to help you find all you would ever want to know about it, including this gem found here:
So long as the capitalist performed the necessary function of administration, so long as his income was earned, he was essential; now that he merely holds stocks and bonds from which he draws unearned income while hired executives do the work, he is not essential.
So much for those small businesses that make up the backbone of our country according to these stats.
Capitalism. I think I'll keep her.
