Socialism 101

In the current American political lexicon the term “socialist” has been used in a disparaging manner as to invoke resentment and anger against one political party against another or others for many years, if not decades. Contemporarily the term and philosophy itself is muddled in controversy over its true and root meaning.

Historically and the text in and of Socrates’ writings he did not accept “democracy” as a political theory or even philosophy, and where socialism is a key aspect thereof. Rather:

Socrates thought that: ‘the purpose of politics was not to capture power, nor it was an art how to remain in power. Political ethics make good and proper citizens. Both public and private persons must learn the art of political ethics.’

Socrates (469-399 B.C.)

What can be gleaned from this re-definition or even blatant revisionism of what it means to be a ‘socialist,’ in terms of ‘socialism’ needs to be understood in how it started and where it is now. 👇

“Socialism describes any political or economic theory that says the community, rather than individuals, should own and manage property and natural resources.

The term “socialism” has been applied to very different economic and political systems throughout history, including utopianism, anarchism, Soviet communism and social democracy. These systems vary widely in structure, but they share an opposition to an unrestricted market economy, and the belief that public ownership of the means of production (and making money) will lead to better distribution of wealth and a more egalitarian society.

The intellectual roots of socialism go back at least as far as ancient Greek times, when the philosopher Plato depicted a type of collective society in his dialog, Republic (360 B.C.). In 16th-century England, Thomas More drew on Platonic ideals for his Utopia, an imaginary island where money has been abolished and people live and work communally.

In the late 18th century, the invention of the steam engine powered the Industrial Revolution, which brought sweeping economic and social change first to Great Britain, then to the rest of the world. Factory owners became wealthy, while many workers lived in increasing poverty, laboring for long hours under difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions . . .”

Source: History.com

In summary, and on an interpersonal note, when someone or anyone tosses the term ‘socialist,’ socialistic’ or ‘socialism,’ in a disparaging and demeaning manner remind them that the roads that they drive on; the police that protect them; the medical community that provides care and services in a time of crisis or disaster, retirement and protection in the latter years of life, and above all the right to vote and that of speech are ingrained in the term – for anarchy, fascism, authoritarianism and or totalitarianism have proven to be failures in time immemorial.