What Socialism is and what it is NOT
I often find here very intelligent people who terribly stumble on the theme of Socialism. The key reason is complete misunderstanding of the Socialism itself. The centralized (capitalist) matrix has always used deceit and false terminology to kill any notion of a more humane society. Therefore, before anyone start to talk on socialism, he/she should first know what socialism really is, and what it is not.
Clearing up terminology is just a first step towards the more important question — how to transform society into a humane one? On that question I can offer an extensive theory which explains why is it important not only to destroy centralized capitalist matrix, but any centralized matrix. From January 3rd 2009, we have a perfect tool to do it, but let's start with a first step…
Professor Richard D. Wolff explains in 50 minutes what Socialism is NOT. Part One: Origin of American fear of Socialism, Communism and Marxism.
Duration: 49:45
Professor Richard D. Wolff explains Socialism. Part Two: The Past, Present and possible future of America.
Duration: 1:10:51
About Richard D. Wolff
Richard D. Wolff is Professor of Economics Emeritus, University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he taught economics from 1973 to 2008. He is currently a Visiting Professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs of the New School University, New York City.
More on him you can find at his Internet site:
Prof. Richard D. Wolff presentation
…And at Democracy at Work (d@w)
The problem is that a lot of people just repeat like parrots what others say especially if it fits into their world view. For example I have seen several so called anarchists say that central banks are socialists or communists.
You are quite right @onthewayout. They truly can have ideas of freedom and liberty, but they were so exposed to capitalist propaganda that they cannot grasp even simple facts like — for example — that “anarcho-capitalism” is an oxymoron which cannot exist. Even Max Keiser recently talked about “Central banking socialism in favour of 1%”, which is absurd in itself :)
Thanks, @pixresteemer.
Great post, I love hearing history that I am not aware of . Up-voted and following.
Nuff said...
Thank you very much for your support @geneticmemory. Professor Wolff is really worth following, because he knows what he is talking about.
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STOPYup, Nyc Post!! Well Done!!
Thank you, @dhimanyog.
Socialism is the blind instrument of destruction.
No it isn't @dezconocido. Please see both videos.
Venezuela is a perfect counterexample. I live it daily.
Counterexample of what, @dezconocido? You think you live in Socialism because it is labeled “Socialism”? That's precisely why professor Wolff explains what socialism is NOT.
Please watch the videos first.
Ok, I saw the videos for the second time because I was sure I was skipping something from the esteemed teacher, but it was not like that. Now, what happens in Venezuela is the counter example of what socialism is defined by Professor Richard D. Wolff. At this point I want to add that there are two ways of seeing socialism, one theoretical and the other practical. In the theoretical it looks beautiful and in practice it is a disaster, when socialism fails in some government quickly defenders of socialism say that there is no socialism "has a label" but it is not ...
Before the Chavez government took over the power of the community if they called their socialist policies and ideas, when I executed them the defenders of socialism quietly moved away from the issue since "it" is not socialism.
I inquire a little to the professor and he talks about the situation in Venezuela (of which he is not an expert) alluding to two fundamental things so that socialism works, 1) a charismatic leader and 2) a lot of money to maintain it. Venezuela had both until Chavez died and the price of a barrel of oil (previously high) collapsed, and socialism unable to keep looking for other ways to stay in power, but it is the same socialism as before but with another approach. For sure here the link http://www.rdwolff.com/briankendall/could_you_speak_about_the_situation_in_venezuela
The truth is that socialism in theory seems a great idea, but I need to add warnings that can be converted into practice, I can name some; populism, communism and among others.
And socialism is already in America (I do not know if it makes reference to the United States), and it is easy to see it if you look a bit at South America, the Latin American socialisms and you can see what they have finished and how they keep happening again and again.
Everything you see that is not socialism is because it once was.
I believe that a socialist-capitalist government can work.
x
You didn't watch those videos, did you?