Socialism is morally wrong.

[wednes]

I've been having a little back and forth on Facebook with a Christian dude I went to college with. He was kind of a dick to me then, but no big whoop. Anyway, he posted this thing about how hypocritical Obama is for wanting to ban guns while he has the secret service to protect him. As you might imagine, I disagree. First of all, I've never heard Obama say he wants to ban all guns. Secondly, I don't think it's unreasonable for The President to have more protection than the average citizen.

The conversation descended into him saying that Capitalism is the only moral system. Everything else is theft and is therefore morally wrong. Unsurprisingly, I disagreed again. Personally, I think looking out for one's fellow man is the most morally correct thing a person can do.

Maybe this goes back to my core belief that government has an obligation to help its citizens have basic food, shelter, education, and medical care. Of course, everyone who is able should work for these things, but I don't think families of five should be put out in the street while single basketball players live in mansions because that's what Capitalism dictates.

I'm not neccesarily saying that we should change to a Socialist nation. But the idea that only Capitalism is moral is grossly ethnocentric and appears to be based on a rather skewed view of both systems. Just curious to know what you all think.

I've heard the argument that socialism "punishes the wealthy." This seems to assume that all wealthy people are such soley because of their own hard work. It also assumes that if you're poor, it's because you're not trying hard enough. From where I'm sitting, both of these assertions are patently absurd. The things we as a society put value on (physical attractiveness, sporting prowess, access to ShamWow, etc) are often ludicrous and have nothing to do with hard work. Okay, end rant.

LOST was a big snore last night. Pretty punk of them to say it'll be from a "whole new perspective" when it's the same pre-sweeps hoo ha recap they do every single year. When I get home tonight, I'm going to try and start watching those season five eps of The Practice with Michael Emersons Emmy winning performance. Good stuff.

Working on my serial killer was like pulling teeth yesterday. But I did manage to finish chapter 54. Something dastardly happened. Yeeeee!

Comments

[lickingtoad.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure we know each other well enough that you could just assume I agree completely without my obligatory 'Yeah, *that!*' post, but hey. I've got time to kill.

Alas, I'm screwed on Sunday and Wednesday again. This is three weeks straight without a single day in electronics -- if they're trying to get me to find a better job, this is a pretty good way. Grr.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Yikes. That's a bummer.

if you want a better job, you should just work harder.
That's how capitalism works.

;-]

[lickingtoad.livejournal.com]

I would love to, but their suite of "motivational techniques" includes a 'raise freeze,' 'directly linking your hours to how many people you can entice into applying for a credit card' and 'we want their money so badly, they can get away with anything short of illegal behavior, suck it up'.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

So it's actually a lot like Blockbuster.
I'm sorry to hear that. ;-[

[lickingtoad.livejournal.com]

It's a paycheck. Notice what I do with my time outside of work? Spend it with you. *mwah,* et c.

[thehula.livejournal.com]

Do I know this person? I feel like I know who you're talking about but I'm not sure and it's going to drive me INSANE. Seriously. Are you prepared to take responsibility for the spaztastic spazathon that's about to happen?
;)

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Calm down baby.
It's Mike Stahley.

[hellamama.livejournal.com]

Oh my God, that just made me laugh and laugh and laugh. I haven't thought of him in years!

Meanwhile, I wanted to comment that I love the idea of socialism, but I don't believe humans are capable of making it work.

[thehula.livejournal.com]

Gah! Did you know I had to live with him for a year? SO SKETCH. He was an adjunct faculty or some junk and lived in Brewer with us. Luckily there were ten of us, which diluted the effect, but I was the only girl, and he was grossly over-attentive.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I did know that, actually. We've talked about his um...intense affection before. I had a big crush on him for a while, and after we um...did it, he told Dan Gibney he would never have touched me because I was too ugly.

[rivetkitten.livejournal.com]

I'm a socialist dating an anarchist. Political discussions when we're together can get pretty interesting, but I'm pretty sure the two of us would be pretty willing to gang up on a rabid capitalist. (This is one reason I'm kinda hesitant about and kinda intrigued by the idea of introducing the BF to the guy I went to high school with who turned out to be a rabid Republican...)

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I can't escape the idea that middle class Republicans are being fooled by a system that doesn't give a shit about them. Socialism makes a lot more sense than capitalism, except that the people who decide that sort of thing have the most to gain from a capitalist system. *sigh*

I'd be most interested to meet an articulate anarchist.

[rivetkitten.livejournal.com]

You may get the chance. He lives in Bowling Green, OH and it is very likely that I will be moving out to join him this summer. Maybe we'd be able to meet up for Wii and political discussion some time!

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Sweeet.

[groovesinorbit]

You know I agree with you, and actually go a step further in thinking that we definitely should change over to a socialist nation. I've been following your conversation over on Facebook. You're doing an amazing job of knocking down every one of his assertions.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

Hehehehee
Thanks.

[madush69.livejournal.com]

Long day at work. Too tired to disagreee.

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I'm telling you man..believe what you want.
But LOST was a big snore.

;-]

[diachrony.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[purplecat-a2.livejournal.com]

If socialism is going to deny me access to ShamWow, I am against it. Or that snuggly blanket thingy ;)

[wednes.livejournal.com]

LOL
I think you'd be okay with that level of luxury.

[maxverbosity.livejournal.com]

I guess my only question with this post is this - why do people seem to NOT see that there is very explicit inequality of opportunity everywhere in this country?

I will also agree that, if I cannot have my ShamWow, then I am frankly fed up with socialism before it even began. LOL

[wednes.livejournal.com]

I must agree. The guy I was having this convo with said something to the affect of we all start out the same, we're born naked and we die naked. As if a guy whose parents buy him a car and send him to college is on the same footing as a guy who had to drop out of high school to support his siblings in a single parent household...

Now I'm off to soak up some stains. ;-]

[diachrony.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. In fact I think our country would be better off leaning more socialist than capitalist - much better off - and the sooner the better!

[wednes.livejournal.com]

:-]