By Andre Faust (Oct 23, 2024)
political and social ideologies are filled with complexities, and the "game" is influenced by so many factors that predicting outcomes is extremely difficult. Every ideology, including socialism, capitalism, or democracy, operates within unique cultural, historical, and economic contexts. Even the most carefully designed systems can have unpredictable results due to human behaviour, random events, and unforeseen circumstances.
When I look at the most common posts regarding political ideologies, I realize that many who post have little to no understanding of political ideologies, provincial and international relations (geopolitics), and how they are interconnected. (Fortunately, there are others who have a deep understanding of these relationships and comprehend how the game is played.)
I look at our southern neighbour, the United States, and the way they handle their politics reminds me of classic TV shows like "The Gong Show" or "The Mickey Mouse Club." The band Green Day captured this sentiment well with their song "American Idiot." Why do Canadians want to become Americanized? Character assassinations does not deal with issues that we face as a country.
Both Trump and Harris have used false information and half-truths. The only difference between the two is that Harris is more refined when it comes to debates.
What amazes me is that some very intelligent people still can't grasp these concepts. Despite life experience or formal post-secondary education, they seem to have no clue how the game is played. In general, it seems like they can't see past their own backyard.
What gave me the idea was a Facebook post in response to my critique of the capitalist system. The person replied, "Is socialism better?" Before answering, I wanted to understand his level of knowledge, so I asked, "How do you define socialism?" There was no response.
As a result, I formulated a definition of socialism in terms that a fifth grader would understand.
Socialism: Socialism is like when a group of friends decides to share everything so that no one is left out. Imagine you and your friends all have toys, but some have a lot, and some have very few. In socialism, everyone agrees to share the toys so that everyone has enough to play with. It's a system where people work together and make sure everyone gets what they need, like food, housing, and education, so no one goes without. The idea is to help everyone have a good life, not just a few people. - that is as simple as it gets.
The common one dimensional rebuttals are:
1. Less Motivation to Work Hard: Imagine if everyone in your class got the same grade, no matter how hard they studied. Some might think, "Why should I study if I’m going to get the same grade anyway?" Socialism can sometimes make people feel less motivated to work hard because everyone gets the same rewards, even if they don’t do the same amount of work.
2. Not Enough Freedom to Choose: In socialism, the government often makes decisions about what jobs people can have or what things they can buy. Some people don’t like this because they feel they should be free to make their own choices, like choosing their favourite games or hobbies, instead of someone deciding for them.
3. Sharing Might Not Always Be Fair: While sharing is a good thing, some people think socialism isn’t always fair because if someone works very hard and someone else doesn’t work much at all, they both still get the same amount of things. Some people believe that those who work harder should get more rewards.
At this tells me is that they don't understand socialism, they only have a general idea, but there are many other forms of socialism.
To provide some examples:
Many forms of socialism emphasize meeting people's basic needs while still encouraging creativity and hard work. Some people are motivated by more than just money, like contributing to their community or gaining recognition for their skills.
Still in other versions of socialism, people still have many choices, but the government or community helps provide basic services, like healthcare and education, so everyone can live well.
Lastly, those who have a worldview of socialism, beyond what the propaganda machine tries to sell, will argue that fairness also means ensuring no one struggles to survive just because they had fewer opportunities or faced challenges beyond their control, like illness or bad luck.
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