‘Socialism’: A Molotov cocktail in public discourse
By Byron Williams, Lee Publications, February 19, 2023
Yes, you are correct if you guessed Socialism. Nothing stirs up certain types more than Socialism. Yet, when you ask for their definition, they usually seem lost, or they quickly say Communism, as in the old-style Soviet version, or the more modern Chinese capitalist-communist version.
Never does it occur to them that Socialism is and has been a vital force in American life, and that, probably, they, or someone close to them, is or has benefitted greatly from socialistic programs. With a moment’s thought, you can probably list several. And in that list, you shouldn’t leave out the G.I. Bill of Rights, or various subsidies to American corporations, or medical research funded by our government, or … well, you get it, the list goes on and on. You’d think with all this that we were living in a Socialist country.
But as Williams discusses, lacking a clear definition accepted by all, Socialsim has become a convenient political punching bag. For more, read his piece, the conclusion of which is a quote from Harry Truman that pretty well sums up things:
“Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years. Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security. Socialism is what they called farm price supports. Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance. Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations. Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.” October 10, 1952. w/c
Writer / Critic 