Is America Turning to Socialism?

In recent years, our ideas of government and the role of government within society seem to be taking a turn, whether it's for the better or worse is up to you to decide. We as Americans have always prided ourselves in the fact that we are a democratic country, that we the people have a say in how our country is ruled. In the early years of our country, our government was present to keep the peace and provide a justice system for those that didn’t follow the laws agreed upon by the people. Most people agreed that a smaller government providing minimal service was the best way to run our country. Now we are on a track where the government is becoming more prominent in our daily lives. Increased government controls and taxes are just a few the repercussions Americans are experiencing in the past few years.

 

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines democracy as, “a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections” (Merriam-Webster, 2012). It also goes on to define Socialism as, “any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods” (Merriam-Webster, 2012). A nationwide poll completed in July 2012 showed that two of every five Americans believe that our country is progressing into a socialist state (Trumbull, 07/13/2012).

More and more, Americans are becoming dependent on government aid and, furthermore, believe that they are ‘entitled’ to it. A recent poll conducted by CBS News and The New York Times found that 66 percent of Americans think that the wealth of our country should be more evenly distributed. “Or to put it another way, two-thirds of Americans think that rich people have too much money — and that everyone else doesn’t have enough” (Goldberg, 10/28/2011). The same poll also found that two-thirds of Americans support raising taxes on the wealthy. These are just two of the supporting indications that we are moving towards Socialism, where the government controls the supplies, whether it’s money, food, guns, etc., and distributes them to the ones they think need it the most. They are taking the money away from the wealthy in the form of higher taxes and turning around and giving it to everyone who isn’t rich.

We are killing the “American Spirit”. We have been encouraged to work hard, complete our education with a college degree, get a high paying job, move up within your profession, and raise a family. As young kids, people teach us effort and hard work are directly related to outcome and results. The harder you work and the more time and effort you put in, the greater the results will be. Yet, it seems now that working hard and getting ahead are no longer worth it. If I get a higher paying job, I’m just going to get taxed more. Instead, I can be lazy and not work and get money and resources from the government and still be able to survive comfortably. We are punishing success! And, for what, the purpose of fairness?

People come to America because they are able to live their life with less restrictions, run their own business with fewer governmental regulations, and make it their own way – the American Way. Well, as far as I’m concerned, the American Way is no longer. I’m not sure how we could’ve let this happen. Haven’t we learned enough from our neighbors such as Russia and France to name a couple? In France, the richest, wealthiest people of the country are putting their properties up for sale and are leaving the country even before new inheritance and wealth tax laws have gone into effect.

Looking at this situation from a sociological standpoint, the functionalist perspective of sociology believes that government’s role within society is to enforce the norms and regulate conflict, and provide some resources to families such as education, for a cost which they pay for through taxes. There is a continual path here, as the children grow up and receive their education, they get a job, raise their family, and pay taxes. It is an ongoing loop that must adapt as the country goes through recessions and other economic situations. Functionalists also believe that society is held together by social agreement in which members agree upon, and work together to achieve, what is best for society as a whole.

With this in mind, it is hard to see where we are headed as a country. According to the polling results during the most recent presidential election, our country is split almost directly down the middle in beliefs and hopes for this country as a whole. How will we continue to find this social consensus when there is such a large number on each side of the fence? How do we decide if the officials we elect into office truly have the people’s best interests in mind or if they have their own agenda to meet? I’m afraid we may never know the answers to these questions.

Things to check out:

Websites:

The People's Cube

http://thepeoplescube.com/

News Articles:

“Fleeing Taxes, France’s Rich Are Putting Their Homes on the Market”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/greathomesanddestinations/16iht-retax16.html?ref=politicsandgovernment&_r=0

“France’s Nutty Socialism”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/opinion/frances-nutty-socialism.html?ref=politicsandgovernment


“Socialism vs. Capitalism: Which is the Moral System”

http://ashbrook.org/publications/onprin-v1n3-thompson/


"American Socialization is Economically Impossible"

http://www.theburningplatform.com/?p=36854