Socialism in America
The concept of socialism in the United States, sounds weird, right? Even though the United States is a capitalist economy there are some factions of the economy, society and political system that are socialist in nature. This concept has been explained in the following paragraphs. To know more, read on.
The reason why socialism is often frowned upon in the United States, is that it leads to communism and is often tagged as a reaction to capitalism. Well, the second fact is common public assumption, it is in fact a reaction to the cruelty and inhuman brutality of capitalism. As the name itself suggests, 'socialism' is all about the society, its business is minded in a manner which benefits the society. Before we get to know more about socialism in the United States, it is necessary to know more about socialism as an ideology. Also please note that I am not stating historical facts in this article, but the elaboration is more of an analysis of socialism in United States. You may also refer to American history for more inputs.
What is Socialism?
'What is socialism', the answer is huge and the question, that only Karl Marx can answer, whatever we know about socialism is a mere interpretation of the philosophies put forth by thinkers. In a broad sense, socialism is a social, economic and political theory and ideology that aims at bringing the process of 'production' under the control of every faction of society. Many interpretations of Marx's writings advocate state ownership of capital, or factors of production or public control of production. The broader interpretation of socialism is however more different, and to some extent more broad. Socialism, in the real sense, consists of a process of production where the have's and have not's combine forces to become one class and have equal share in the contribution and benefit of the process of production.
Marx always predicted that have not's would always rise to abolish the have's and establish one single class. This process was supposed to be dynamic and the government was supposed to merely be a medium through which one class would work on the process of production. Hence the idea of state owned production and factors of production. Some very important elements of socialism, that we often tend to ignore, consist of actually finding our interest in work, without getting alienated from one's own self, collectively contributing, in cash or kind, to the society and to the process of production.
Socialism in America
No economy in this world can survive without adapting the merits of all economic, social and political ideologies, hence you will find that even in the political, economic and social ideologies of the United States, there is small hint of socialism, the magnitude is however very, very small.
Examples of socialism started with the propaganda of Eugene V. Debs and writings of Theodore H. White can be pointed out as the first socialist American leader and thinker. Debs headed the Socialist Party of America in one presidential election of 1912. Before that he participated in Pullman strike in 1897, for which he was jailed, where he converted to socialism. The party participated in the Progressive Movement and worked on making 'one class one nation', a success. Following the failure of 1912 elections, socialism fell out of favor and there was a drastic shift in the supporters when Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt's policies catered to the demands of all the people who were 'have not's'. The Cold war saw the complete disappearance of socialism in United States as the social constitution was highly anti-communist and pro-American capitalist.
Recession that struck the US economy saw some revival of socialism. Examples of socialism and pro-socialist policies can be traced back to the well thought out Obama administration policies (which was immaturely criticized by some people for its socialistic approach). Though socialism, today, is not thoroughly taking over capitalism, its needed presence is now being genuinely felt. Some decisions of the Administration in international diplomacy and some internal employment and resource allocation laws was a small revival of socialism. The year 2010, saw the Obama administration work for one very important cause, employment for the people. Call it socialism, or even 'Obama policy', the Democrats have indeed improved the nations condition.
When Obama and his administration, started adopting policies that were aimed at saving the American society from economic recession and further economic downfall, sarcasm and criticism was thrown at them. However the people criticizing the Administration never realized that socialism is needed as of the moment, not to introduce the 'Red' banner in the States but to improve the economy, and stop the ongoing troubles of the people. Socialism is not a political proclamation or some evil-planned-dictatorship-cum-rule, but it merely is an ideology that places the concern for people's well-being before anything else. All we need is a liberal acceptance of the pure and simple meaning of socialism, as put forth by Karl Marx.
Socialism in America can be explained with the help of a few simple lines:
'Worshiped are those who pray and enrich,
Men of honor are we and happiness in life we deserve,
For love, pray and work we do not just for ourselves but,
for the society, and our nation's people,
pray we lay down our alienated souls on the altar of freedom,
rich and poor are we who serve a master, who has,
and whom are we to have not,
the Almighty, made men equal,
If not equal, we do deserve to sow some and reap some...'
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