A few years ago I read a book by Joseph Schumpeter. Two of the points I got from the book are were that Capitalism, left unchecked, leads to corporatism, and that the balance of that tendency is some aspects of the economy being “socialized”. A second point was that to an extent, the United States was already a “socialist” country in many aspects of its economy. Our public schools, water, sewer, libraries, electricity are all “socialized”, and to some extent so is our retirement (Social Security) and health care.
Recently, the role of “socialized” public health has become much more important as the Pandemic approaches. I’ve been struck by the tone some of my “libertarian” friends, and wrote this in an attempt to point out the folly of trying to describe our economy as either socialist or capitalist. The divide is a false choice and that’s clearer in the face of a pandemic.
I updated this during the Black Lives Matter Protests. (June 2020) Originally posted March 6, 2020.
…Then I’m a Socialist
If providing free vaccines to children (regardless of status) so my children don’t contract avoidable diseases is socialist, then I want to be a socialist;
If requiring that healthcare workers get sick leave to keep them stay home when ill so my mother in a nursing home doesn’t get their flu is socialist, then call me a socialist;
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