NationStates Jolt Archive

Can someone explain it without being like "Down with capitalists! Down with commies!"? I am a Capitalist. I understand Communism. Both have their pros and cons. But Socialism. Oh, Socialism. The way I see it, it has both the cons of Capitalism and Communism. The people can get greedy because they have less money and they can still fail (though with slightly less chance than Capitalism). Can someone explain?

Ok, maybe it won't help much but I like the quote:
"Socialism is to think about 'us' rather than about 'me'"
So, basically it would mean that nowadays socialism should be defined more as a set of attitudes and values, stressing solidarity over selfishness.

Socialism basicly values the community above the individual. It states (unlike Liberalism and Conservatism) that human nature is not nessecarly defined at birth, and is far more plastic and maulable. Liberalism and Conservatism focus on the value of individuality and individualsim, Socalilism supports the community as a whole, and working for a common good. Socialism states that humans are social animals who work best when co-operating in groups, where as Liberalism and Conservatism would state that competition between groups is healthy and encorge it. Socialists believe humans can and should be motivated by moral insentives as opposed to material insentives.

Socialism is an economic system in which the driving force for economic activity is state decree, and resources are allocated according to a state plan.

There are two variants of socialism: communism, and fascism/nazism.

Communists acheive their aims by seizing actual ownership of property. Fascists/Nazis achieve it by centralising all the powers of ownership in the state, while leaving the name on the deed.

Here is an article which explains it: http://mises.org/story/1937

There are also lesser varients, like social democracy (a pseudo-socialism)

What do you want it to be? You can find many fine definitions in the web, but to me it's caring. Not being stingy but sharing/having to share even if it stings a bit to do so. Socialism to me means that my money isn't insensitive.

What do you want it to be? You can find many fine definitions in the web, but to me it's caring. Not being stingy but sharing/having to share even if it stings a bit to do so. Socialism to me means that my money isn't insensitive.
That sounds more like a moral system than an actual politico-economic system.

That sounds more like a moral system than an actual politico-economic system.
'What it is to me'
And in some countries it seems to be more of a moral than a political-economic system..?

Ever heard of wikipedia?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism

We no longer need any definition debates in General because of this. :D

And, if you think it's not balanced, you can edit it to make it more so! ;)

'What it is to me'
I know. I was just making an observation.

Ever heard of wikipedia?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism

We no longer need any definition debates in General because of this. :D

And, if you think it's not balanced, you can edit it to make it more so! ;)
Wiki is only as good as the last hack who edited it.

Ever heard of wikipedia?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism

We no longer need any definition debates in General because of this. :D

And, if you think it's not balanced, you can edit it to make it more so! ;)
I meant like why it's a good thing. I already know what it means.

This is the best analogy for Socialism that I know.

The Story of the Two CC's

One night, Capitalism and Communism met in a bar and decided to put aside their differences for one night of partying. Two bottles of vodka latter and Capitalism and Communism woke up the morning after in a cheap hotel with no memory of what had happened, but both were naked in a bed...

Nine months later a bastard child was born that both CC's named "Socialism" and sent to an adoption home because neither one was ready for parenthood.

Hope this helped!;)

Wiki is only as good as the last hack who edited it.
::glares::

What if that was me?

<snip>
Hope this helped!;)
This would help if we knew who/which the mother was... the problem seems to be to whom the newborn is more attached to.

I meant like why it's a good thing. I already know what it means.
It's a good thing because it's a compromise between the extreme economic systems of capitalism and communism, or a more 'moderate' or neutral, and thus implementable, version... I guess.

This is the best analogy for Socialism that I know.

The Story of the Two CC's

One night, Capitalism and Communism met in a bar and decided to put aside their differences for one night of partying. Two bottles of vodka latter and Capitalism and Communism woke up the morning after in a cheap hotel with no memory of what had happened, but both were naked in a bed...

Nine months later a bastard child was born that both CC's named "Socialism" and sent to an adoption home because neither one was ready for parenthood.

Hope this helped!;)
That's beautiful, really. And apt. But mostly beautiful.

\It states (unlike Liberalism and Conservatism) that human nature is not nessecarly defined at birth, and is far more plastic and maulable.
As a quick aside, liberalism traditionally doesn't put much stock in "human nature", the idea is that people can be whatever they make of themselves and not what they are predetermined to be. And it VAGUELY promotes cooperation in that capitalism and human society would fall apart without it. People wouldn't be very good consumers, producers, or suppliers if they trusted no one. But you're right in that socialim promotes it a whole lot more.

Liberalism and Conservatism focus on the value of individuality and individualsim,
I'm not sure how much conservatism promotes individuality. On a movement-wide level, not an individual one if nothing else.

And socialism is good because it provides better (or at least, more realistically) for those who can't provide for themselves. It also promotes cohesive social structures and closer relationships between humans and groups where liberalism and conservatism (when taken to extremes) cause more splintering between groups which can lead to war and the like. And it tries to avoid the dictatorial mire that communism--in its implementable form--tends to get stuck in.

I've also heard some arguments that it promotes freedom by giving people, as a whole, control of the economy; thus giving them more power. And by also freeing them from personal determinants beyond their control. However, I don't remember all the specifics of that argument.

That's not all of it... but that's what I can think of off the top of my head while watching TV...

Edit: Also, it's goals tend to be a little more implementable than the lofty "lets all work and play together" extreme anarchist communism. I suppose it might be described as compassionate realism by some.