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Why is Socialism not a good thing?

Or do you think it is a good thing? Tell me why this country is so scared of socialism and why capitalism is better, or not.

21 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I can safely assume that there is no perfect "ism", including both capitalism and socialism. While still in university (accessible to me thanks to social programs) my wife and I had a baby. No career yet, and we were both very young. After our baby was born (all prenatal and delivery paid for by healthcare) we lived off child benefits, my meager part-time minimum wage income, and my wife's maternity benefits for a year (we're from Canada). I finished my degree, got a job, started to save, started a business, and ended the cycle of poverty that I was born into.

    My wife stayed home and worked hard to raise our baby, I studied to not only better myself, but better my future family. Not even considering the debt load I would have had to take on to pay for the birth, if we didn't have healthcare, we could not have done it without social programs. The alternatives we had to face, was either put our baby in daycare right away, which would have netted us very little money, I would have had to quit school and get a full time job, or my wife have an abortion. We decided to use the social programs, it saved our lives, and I had the opportunity to do what I want with my career. Socialism gives hope to the poor, and it puts the poor on an equal playing field with the rich.

    If someone decides to abuse a social program that's their own choice, but there are some who use social programs to better themselves, and get ahead. My business hasn't grown as fast as it could if I wasn't taxed, but I don't care, because I know that somewhere there is another me, who just needs a helping hand to be able compete with those born with a "silver spoon".

    In our country a person's health, and access to education, should not be a direct reflection of their income level, or their parents income. That is why socialism is a good thing.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Sweetie, I just hope you didn't vote today.

    Our country, the United States of America, is built on capitalism.

    Capitalism is the characterization of our economic system which is based on private & corporate ownership of goods (the stuff we buy and sell), through investments which are purchased by the people (like you, me and bill gates) which the prices, production, and the distribution of the goods are determined mainly by competition in a free market.

    In other words if you have a good idea oh like to create a toothbrush that automatically brush your teeth as long as you direct it around your mouth, you can develop the idea, name the idea "electric toothbrush", put it for sale at a price you think people will pay for it, negotiate contracts to have stores sell your product where they too can make a profit off it and you make billions of dollars because everyone wants to buy your product you get to live in a big house, buy expensive clothes, donate a lot of money to charity and live happy having worked about 27hours a day thinking, worrying, planning, developing and implementing the America Dream. Now other people can too develop an electric toothbrush and sell it at a competitive price to compete with you, which is what's called competition and keeps you (or electric toothbrush company) from being the only one to decide the price (which would be a monopoly).......now people can believe in your idea and invest in your idea which would then give them the opportunity to make money off your idea while your idea grows......I can't believe I'm explaining this....don't they still teach this is school? The people who invest in your idea could be doing so in the form of stocks which are what in people's 401ks.....etc feel free to look up a full explanation hopefully you get the idea.....

    and at it's root

    Socialism is let's all share in your success.....which begs the question as to what's the motivation to succeed......and live the American Dream?

  • 1 decade ago

    It's because all that socialism does is make sure that everyone is equal.

    Sounds good?

    It's not.

    Think of it this way:

    You have a guy who's worked his butt off to get through college, payed tons of money for it, and because he's worked so hard and gotten tons of promotions, is now making 200k a year.

    Now, there's another guy who dropped out of school when he was sixteen because he just didn't feel like bothering with it. He sits on his porch drinking beer all day and has never had a job in his life.

    With socialism, The hard working guy will get taxed to the point that he and this bum are making the same amount of money.

    So, basically, hard working people get punished for being hard working, and people who could care less get rewarded for that.

    I'm not saying it's always like that. There are good points to socialism, like people who just can't get a job because of uncontrollable reasons, but for the most part, it's like I listed above.

    It takes all of the point out of ever trying hard. No one (with socialism) every feels the need to try hard to achieve something because they're going to get money to live on anyway.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    because socialism takes money from the rich and gives to the poor. It allows lazy people to be even lazier and puts all the burden for the country on the people who are already working the hardest. Capitalism is the way to go, its the only form that actually works. If you look at every other socialist country, it fails miserably. When theres no incentive to work hard, then everyone will be lazy.

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  • Jason
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    Socialism is terrible because the government controls everything you do, your job,finances, tells you what to think and you basically have no freedom. It goes against everything this country was founded on. Many people fought for our freedom and it would be a shame if obama leads this country to socalism.

  • 1 decade ago

    with socialism everyone is equal which means there is no reason to suceed and achieve anything.

    Heck I guess I will quit my job when the idiotobama gets in and let the government support me. why work if the wealth is being spread?

    But the us is going to cease being a superpower by 2012 so this is part of the weaking of the us to make us fall to europe's control. Just mark my words, you will see our country go downhill fast, 2012 will be our end

  • 1 decade ago

    It depends on the interpretation and level of socialism. Pure Socialism is very similar to Communism and although good in theory doesn't work well in practice. Few people have motivation to work if they know they don't need to.

    Providing free medical care and education can be deemed as socialism but it has worked in Canada and Norway to mention only two.

  • 1 decade ago

    Step 1- Go to google.com

    Step 2- Type in "Socialism"

    Step 3- Read for yourself

    Opinions will vary, there are lots of variables involved whether it is good or bad. Every country is different...mostly because people think differently and have more or less to lose.

  • jh
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Have you ever heard of incentive? If, no matter how talented you are, no matter how hard you work, you are unequally taxed and you benefits are taken away to make things "fair", at what point will you quit trying. Socialized medicine is mediocre. Socialized economies strive to the average, not to excel. At what point are you responsible for your own success? Apparently, starting January 20, 2009 in the US, no one.

  • 1 decade ago

    The "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics " = Russia, USSR. Socialism is a bridge to communism, is that what you want? Communism = "dictatorship" Do you want the "USSA"? Better think about what could happen a little more.

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