"... I am a socialist because I believe in the equality of all people, and that living standards and the general welfare of the population should take precedence over corporate profits and the salaries of corporate executives..."My Views: I consider myself to be a moderate, progressive socialist. I don't have a strict doctrine, because I believe that different measures should be applied to different environments. I support the idea that any type of economy should coincide with a democratic government. Some common misconceptions of socialism are that it usually takes the form of a dictatorship, and that in it all industry is owned by the government. I cannot speak for every socialist party, but for the most part, these assumptions are false. The primary aim of socialism is to let all of society have more of a say in it's economic life, rather than having everything decided by a few corporate elites. I am a socialist because I believe in the equality of all people and that living standards and the general welfare of the population should take precedence over corporate profits and the salaries of corporate executives .Of course, I denounce things like racism, sexism, homophobia, imperialism, fascism, war (except in the most just and necessary cases) torture, social injustice and all related things of that nature (as do all dedicated leftists). Socialists have taken the lead in speaking out against these things, which seems only natural when you consider that in general the aim of socialists is to create a more free, equal and harmonious society. As for communism, I don't believe that it cannot work, but I think that it does have many problems, and has never been successful, and never will be if it doesn't reject its totalitarian aspects. I think the building of either socialism or communism should be a gradual, democratic, and progressive process, giving society ample time to adjust to any major changes. This method (as opposed to a rushed, perhaps violent one) would produce much less unnecessary suffering, more stability, and greater effectiveness. Although sometimes it is necessary to enact immediate radical reforms to alleviate the suffering of a people, and sometimes revolution (perhaps armed) is necessary when socialists are excluded from the political process and persecuted by those in power. I am not a nationalist. I don't care only about the politics and well being of my own country, rather, I would regard a foreign people's struggle for freedom as my own cause as well. I would never advocate a policy to improve life in one country, if it would result in the misery of many more outside that country.There are many problems and crises in the world today, US intervention in Colombia is escalating, war is raging throughout central Africa, Fundamentalist regimes still hold power in Iran and Afghanistan, the Israeli occupation troops in Palestine are slaughtering protesters, US power and dominance is at an all time high, poverty, disease, illiteracy are still rampant throughout the third world, and there is much much more to be depressed about. Fortunately there is still hope, and the left has been gaining some ground in world politics, for example Chile which has returned the Socialist Party to power after nearly 30 years of Pinochet's dictatorship, El Salvador where the former revolutionary group FMLN is gaining more power, Apartheid has ended in South Africa, South Korea is moving more towards re-unification with the north and farther away from US domination. People just want to be free. In general I am in agreement with the Socialist Party USA and I think they can do a better job of explaining socialist principles than I can, so please visit their website and all the other links on my Links Page. | |
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