For The People by David Mash


Recently I've gotten a reputation as a socialist. I have seen some great benefits of socialism on smaller scales. There are numerous companies throughout the world and in the U.S. where the employees own the company and are the CEOs boss. The results are employees who care about their work because they are respected there. They have good salaries and good working conditions because they actually have a say in those matters (not just an office suggestion box). However I do not think I am a socialist through and through. Socialism on a larger (country scale) takes away a lot of freedom. People do not respond well to a 1984 type regime that often has resulted from attempts at socialism. There really has never been a truly socialist nation, which is why so many people cringe at the suggestion of socialism. If I were to label myself anything, (though I would rather not) I think I might be a democratic socialist. There is the "for the people" aspect of socialism with the "tyrannical dictator preventing" aspect of a democracy. Since so many people think socialism means un-American, and would never permit a social democracy, I think I would be happy with true capitalism. In the same sense that there has never been a truly socialist nation, America is not a truly capitalistic society. Currently in America we have a perverted form of capitalism. We have a government which gives numerous benefits to the already large and powerful corporations, thus making it nearly impossible for smaller companies to compete even if they have a superior product. Large companies are often deregulated in order not to stifle profits and to create the image of a healthy national economy. Some abuses that have been ignored are: the employment of illegal immigrants for minute wages, poor working conditions, and poor and unsafe product quality (Schlosser). The latter is especially seen in the food industry where we have nations refusing our beef at times. To combat this, our country has simply gotten angry and tried pulling some political and economic power-plays to force the acceptance of our beef. Instead our government should investigate and create stricter regulations to ensure a safe product. When European nations have product complaints, they hire scientists to research. Americans hire lawyers and public relationists (Stiles). In a truly capitalistic society we would have product vs. product competition. We would have a government by the people, of the people, and for the people. Currently we have a nation by the corporate lobbyists, of the richest 1% of the nation who can afford to run for office, and for the richest 1/3 of the nation. You ask, if the current government is for only 1/3 of the nation, then why don't we vote them out of office? There are two reasons for this. First off, the government gives just enough of a hand-out to the middle class, that the middle soon ignores the lower class, thus leaving the lower without a voice (Zinn). The second reason is simply that we are given no other choice. No candidate can run for office without great financial backing. That backing most often needs to come from large corporations who of course would not support someone who would fight to limit corporate power. Only law firms have been know to support such candidates, but you must question their motivation. Simply put, in a truly capitalistic society, corporations should not be allowed to petition the government. Unfortunately, I know the corporations would still find ways to influence the government. Money is just too powerful. Even if corporations could not influence the government, they still have free reign over their employees. Story after story is available in journals and historical writings about the poor pay and working conditions given to those who broke their backs building this great nation. From the miners to the railroad workers to the factory workers, there was no overpowering the company. And this was before companies had so much influence in the government. The power of striking and unions did help a little, but a lot of times companies would just fire everyone (in a strike scenario) and hire a bunch of the unemployed Americans who were at the point of desperation and would work an abusive job. Other times, surprisingly enough, there are records of the government actually stepping in and ordering the military to force strikers back to work (Zinn). Throughout history, those with the money have gotten pretty much anyone they wanted to do their bidding, even at the start of the revolutionary war. Our fore-fathers who were so opposed to the tyrannical British government, committed some tyranny of their own. Four days after the reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston, all the townsmen were ordered to show up for a military draft. The wealthy were allowed to pay for a substitute, the poor had no choice but to serve. This scene was soon countered with rioting and shouts of: “tyranny is tyranny let it come from whom it may (Zinn).” It was clear that those who wanted the war the most, didn't have to fight it. And there we have the world's history of war. The poor fight the battles of the rich. And in corporate wars, the poor don't fight the battles, but they do lose.


No form of government or economic structure is perfect. They all have things about them that are great, but they also have things about them that are deadly. But that does not mean we close our eyes, shrug, and say “that’s just the way it is.” We should always be pushing for something better. Better to me, is being on the side of the people. It is the people who make this nation great, not the government. Questioning the government does not mean we don’t love America. In fact it means we love our country so much that we will practice our greatest right. The right to question, to protest, and to speak out to make our country greater.

George W. Bush once said, “God is on America’s side.” John Kerry said, “I pray that God is on our side.” Abraham Lincoln said, “I pray that we are on God’s side.” It is Lincoln’s statement I most agree with, and that is why I question.



References:

A Peoples History of the United States of America by Howard Zinn (History professor at Boston University)

Is the American Dream Killing You by Paul Stiles

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser