It Isn't Socialism

It Isn't Socialism

I keep hearing a lot of whining that Obama and the Demoncrats are taking us down the road to socialism. They aren't. Socialism is government ownership of the means of production. At most, the government has taken a small level of ownership in some financial institutions--and unlike real socialism, they generally had the option of saying "No thank you."

What the Obama Administration is doing is to taking control of private businesses, picking up bad debts, while allowing private businesses to keep the more profitable parts of the operation. Attempts such as I mentioned yesterday, which will likely have the effect (and perhaps the intent) of driving small businesses out of business for the benefit of Agribusiness, fit into another ideology: and it isn't socialism.

The closest description is fascism, where the government theoretically interferes with free markets and capitalism for the benefit of the society as a whole--but in practice, the beneficiaries are those wealthy persons with political connections.

Now, you might point out that this is a kinder, gentler form of fascism, and you are correct. But don't confuse Italian fascism with the German national socialist variation. As late as 1943, there were still opposition parties in the Italian Parliament. It was precisely because the opposition parties could not overwhelm the election rules adopted by the Fascist Party (which guaranteed first past the post 75% of the seats) that they could be tolerated. I'm sure that ACORN will end up accomplishing something similar, if they have half a chance. So far, there is no sign that the Democrats will make use of assassination to terrorize opponents. Of course, without serious gun control, they probably couldn't.

If only there were a functional Republican Party! One that actually cared about something besides being Democrat Lite.