i have to write a paper on the political ideology of socialism.
i need to know answers to the three basic questions of ideology,
which are…
what is the relationship between the group and the individual?
what is the source of political power?
whats the balance between individual freedom vs material equality
PLEASE HELP
answer anything you know.
Willow Moon
July 8, 2010 at 2:12 am
basically in socialism one must give up their private lives for the good of the whole.
Sam
July 8, 2010 at 2:13 am
That first answer is completely wrong.
Socialism is a view about the proper distribution of ownership of society’s productive resources–its “means of production”, things like land, factories, etc.
It holds that the means of production should be owned collectively, by all citizens. The contrast is with capitalism. Under capitalism, the means of production are owned by a small group of elites, the capitalists.
Socialists also tend to favor a more equal distribution of things like income and wealth. But they do not require strict equality in personal property or in income or wealth. Inequalities in these things is permissible so long as it does not grow too large.
Under capitalism, by contrast, inequalities in income and wealth are allowed to grow without limit. (Think of Bill Gates versus Joe Schmoe.)
Some people say that socialism reduces freedom because it restricts people’s economic liberties. (It taxes them more; it prohibits private ownership of the means of production, etc.) But the truth of this claim depends on what we mean by freedom. Socialists argue that socialism *enlarges* freedom by ensuring that each person has the material means necessary to make use of their legal rights and liberties.
For instance: suppose that you have a legal right to take a train ride from Boston to New York. But also suppose that you lack the money to purchase the ticket. Are you free to ride the train? No, not really; you can try, but you’ll get thrown off and, if you resist, the police will incarcerate you for trespassing.
So lack of resources limits your ability to use your formal rights and liberties. Socialism tries to increase the value of your liberties by making sure that you have the financial means using them requires.
Socialism is democratic (at least it can be). The source of political power is the people.
Regarding the relationship between the group and the people, many will say, groundlessly, that socialism is ‘collectivist’ and that it tramples the individual. This is nonsense. Socialist countries can respect the rights and freedoms of individuals. Socialism is compatible with all the usual basic rights and liberties found in, for instance, the Bill of Rights.