Opinion | Why you might already be a socialist

Whoever controls the definitions of words controls the argument. And socialists work their damnedest to redefine terms because no rational person would adopt their position when exposed to the truth of it. That's not to say that there are plenty of irrational people who cling to socialism regardless of any facts or definitions. The real issue is that there are those who cling to their intentions and socialists sell themselves on the premise that they have the best intentions. The concentration of wealth in the hands of a few is intolerable. We want everyone to thrive. Thus, socialism is the best. The problem is that every from of socialism by whatever definition you choose has been tried and always ended with the same result. Failure. Free markets (lacking government or centralized control) have elevated the masses from poverty to middle class and some have even achieved great wealth. Under socialism, the masses have descended into poverty. In every instance! Look back at the Pilgrims who arrived in the New World with dreams of Utopia. They didn't call it socialism, but the intent was the same. All would contribute their work product to the community warehouse and each would receive according to their need. No, it wasn't the native tribes who saved the Pilgrims. Indeed, native tribes allied themselves with the Pilgrims to save themselves from neighboring tribes. The Pilgrims saved themselves by abandoning that foolishness. Look at China and India today where masses have achieved the middle class by free market forces. Yes, in China, the Communists keep tabs on the situation and exert control to keep the people from shaking off their tyranny, but the Communists too like the added wealth that allows them to build their military and exert growing influence in their party of the world. Meanwhile, in our modern world, those places that cling to socialism, such as Cuba and Venezuela, suffer the consequences. So, hypothesize all you want. Bask in self-righteousness for your good intentions. But the proof is in the pudding. Socialism is, was, and will always lead to the yoke of tyranny and the suffering of the masses.

Socialism in this country is a political cudgel to smear anyone who says the government should do something while usually ignoring all the things the government already does. If the government doesn't do it now and someone says they should but you don't, that's socialism. If the government does something now and you don't want it to go away, clearly not socialism.

I'm not a socialist, but I do like certain socialist institutions we have set up in this country like public libraries and the public school system. I do not agree with taking everyones money and dispersing it evenly amongst the citizens. Perhaps I do not fully understand what a socialist actually is, but when I hear 'socialist' I think of redistributing the wealth.