Hello my fellow ATS brother/sister, my question tolday is dealing with Socialism.

I'm pretty sure this was probably asked previously but I still do not undersand this. What exactly is socialim in simplistic terms? Does it have to do with constant government regulating and providing for it's people?

Let's say we take the military for example. Everything in the military is sponsored by the government, correct? Your clothes come from the gov't, food comes from the gov't, shelter is provided by the gov't... would that be considered a system under socialism?

If anyone can explain this concept please do and I will immesely appreciate it.

People confuse socialism with communism. Socialism is an economic philosophy. Capitalism is an economic philosophy. Communism is a type of government. A Constitutional Republic is a type of government.

Socialism in it's raw form is not bad. Socialism is akin to Libertarianism. Socialism gets distorted the same as Capitalism when greedy people start making the rules to benefit themselves.

The United States Constitution has a limited socialistic approach. The Federal government was erected as a social check on the states. The Federal government was designed to look after the general welfare of the citizens and provide for common defense of Freedom and pursuit of happiness. Somewhere along the lines corporations became more powerful than the people, and money became the driving force to sustain the power structure.

There is nothing unconstitutional with the government making sure the citizens it represents are able to eat, have shelter, be clothed, and have reasonable medical care. The method in which this is carried out always seems to benefit corporations or government first. This I would argue is unconstitutional.

in simple terms;

socialism is a system of government that primarily concerns itself with the welfare of the society.

capitalism is a system of government that primarily concerns itself with the welfare of the economy.

Originally posted by ExPostFacto
People confuse socialism with communism. Socialism is an economic philosophy. Capitalism is an economic philosophy. Communism is a type of government. A Constitutional Republic is a type of government.

Socialism in it's raw form is not bad. Socialism is akin to Libertarianism. Socialism gets distorted the same as Capitalism when greedy people start making the rules to benefit themselves.

The United States Constitution has a limited socialistic approach. The Federal government was erected as a social check on the states. The Federal government was designed to look after the general welfare of the citizens and provide for common defense of Freedom and pursuit of happiness. Somewhere along the lines corporations became more powerful than the people, and money became the driving force to sustain the power structure.

There is nothing unconstitutional with the government making sure the citizens it represents are able to eat, have shelter, be clothed, and have reasonable medical care. The method in which this is carried out always seems to benefit corporations or government first. This I would argue is unconstitutional.

What the hell are you talking about.

Socialism and Libertarianism are diametrically opposed.

The federal government was created to provide:

1. a unified currency facilitating trade

2. to resolve trade disputes between states

3. to provide a unified defense

Then they threw in a few token things like the post office and some general science funding

That's it.

Socialism is a system of total economic totalitarian control where property rights do not exist. Where the state owns all means of production. Where prices and wages are determined by the state. Where the state determines what is to be produced and how much is to be produced.

In short, socialism is total tyranny.

Originally posted by drwizardphd
To ask questions and seek knowledge is the opposite of ignorance.

and to answer a question is the only way to dispel ignorance, so now you've told people what socialism is not, care to put forward a view about what socialism is.

Originally posted by mnemeth1

If guns did not exist, socialism would be impossible.

even using the worst definition of socialism, most tribal societies practice socialism, the shared ownership of resources administered thorough a centrally controlled governance, no guns involved.

Originally posted by pieman

Originally posted by mnemeth1

If guns did not exist, socialism would be impossible.

even using the worst definition of socialism, most tribal societies practice socialism, the shared ownership of resources administered thorough a centrally controlled governance, no guns involved.

socialism as an economic system is not voluntary and does not respect property rights at all.

Thus, force is required.

Voluntary groupings of individuals are called corporations or "firms". Socialism advocates state authority over property. They do not advocate voluntary cooperation through mutual respect of private property.

If you have something, the state has the right to take it from you.

Originally posted by pieman

and to answer a question is the only way to dispel ignorance, so now you've told people what socialism is not, care to put forward a view about what socialism is.

I believe the question in the OP was fairly comprehensively answered by the first few posts in this thread. Including yours.

Is further elaboration really necessary?

Originally posted by mnemeth1


socialism as an economic system is not voluntary and does not respect property rights at all.

Thus, force is required.

Voluntary groupings of individuals are called corporations or "firms". Socialism advocates state authority over property. They do not advocate voluntary cooperation through mutual respect of private property.

If you have something, the state has the right to take it from you.

What are you talking about?

Believe it or not, Canadians and Europeans are allowed to own property.

I think somebody has been watching a bit too much Fox News.