Socialists in general (I observe) have a heart for people. They often have a righteous indignation for injustice (perceived or real) and look to ‘blot out’ the injustice by action/laws/regulation/tax codes etc.
Perhaps the socialist would be inclined to consider the following:
1. Capitalism is not ‘inherently evil’. A group trading X with another group for Y resulting in two satisfied traders is a good thing, not a bad thing. If one group makes a profit, and the other is satisfied with the trade, then what’s the big fuss? Two happy groups. If the big problem is this trade is based on X and Y being ‘privately owned’ and not government controlled, then we have a real problem.
2. It’s easy for anyone ‘evil’ to slip into any ‘system or structure’. A rebel rouser at a Maple Leaf game setting things on fire, a ‘fanatic at a church’, a Nixon in the Oval office and a greedy SOB in a big-wig capitalist penthouse are just a few examples. We don’t call hockey evil or a church evil or Capitalism evil because it permits thugs. The ‘merit’s’ or inherent structure of something defines it’s attributes not a sliver of an example within a massive framework. Let us give Socialism and Capitalism a break and equal footing in that we will assess its structures and tenants to define its legitimacy, least we commit a basic logical fallacy (part does not represent whole).
3. Many socialists I have spoken to genuinely love and care for people. I think the means of attracting capital through forced redistribution guts the heart of the very cause the socialists often decry: social justice. Here’s how:
a. Creating ‘a’ is hard. Destroying ‘a’ is easy. Substitute ‘a’ with either: relationships, a business or wealth and this should ‘ring true’.
b. Wealth is often a derivative of adding value to one’s position. Get people what they want, when they want it and you often have a by-product: profit. If you haven’t, try it! It’s fun!
c. If the socialists ‘social justice’ cause is both legitimate and true, then the context on which they surely are able to in bring about their desired result is via a system that rewards you for adding value. I.E Private charity or business where profits are invested into the desired cause.
d. If there is no ‘real value’( viz a vie CBC) then you are left to beg, demand and insist other people give up what they own to fund your agenda/social cause.
4. In the interest of best advancing the socialists cause, I suggest the following: go start a business. Sweat. Bleed. Shed tears. Dig your trench and get ready for warfare (it’s ugly out there). Create wealth by getting people what they want, when they want it (learn when we fail). Take the fruit of your created goods and invest it into the cause your heart desires. You own your profits. You choose where they go. Your reward is your investment. But hey, just like your reward is your investment, my reward is my investment. You invest in your cause, I’ll invest in mine.
5. If socialists made more money they will have experienced the fruit and benefits of the free market system. This joy and benefit would empower them to both invest where their heart sees fit and most importantly, come back to that free market system for more.
I encourage you today, don’t be the ‘demanding socialist’ who seeks to create laws that bridals’ others success and transfers ownership of the finances to your cause. How can you offer those suffering and hurting a ‘hand up’ in life when the means you are getting your solution is by sticking your hand out?
I challenge you to be an example of a solution oriented, problem solving, relationship creator, hope agent person. The last thing I know your compassionate heart wants is to teach those you are trying to help to be dependent on government for success, hope and solutions. If you can’t break that cycle yourself, how do you expect those you are helping to?
Be a working participant in the very solution you are trying to affect. You will create your wealth. You will own it. You will choose where that profit goes. This, my socialist friend, is real compassion. You become the example that others aspire to. This real-time compassion is what the hurting people of Canada need.
Capitalism gives you the best platform to serve, create and receive a reward for a job well done. The free market lets us put our character, skills and knowledge to the test and the results we get in the free market are extendable to those hurting. If we work to get good at this, we will both own our results and be able to invest in others with both money and skills that will pick the downtrodden up and carry them forward, so they too can do likewise!
If socialists saw the power of how they can move social justice forward by being an example and making the investment, I know they would abandon the pettiness of begging/demanding of other people’s money and start creating their own. Join me my socialist friends. I am working as hard as I can to create wealth to help advance people. I try my best to help people and love people. The fee market gives me the choice to be a thug, or gentlemen who creates value for customers and employees. I desire to extend the skills I have learned to help as many people as possible. I care deeply for social justice, just differently than my socialist friends…and I humbly submit… better.