What is "socialism"? - An attempt to clear up myths/misconceptions

[DonFerrari]

donathos said:

My take on socialism isn't particularly original, perhaps, but I think it captures the essence:

Socialism (in whatever guise) requires people to act, not out of their own individual interest, but for the good of the state, or society, or the community, etc. (Never mind how we determine that good, though that is itself a can of man-eating worms.)

However, individuals tend to want to act for their own individual interest, saints, martyrs and true believers notwithstanding. This puts many or most individuals into conflict with the socialist system... and this confict necessitates heavy-handed governmental infrastructure, if socialism is to be maintained in the face of either apathy or outright disobedience.

This means: socialism will tend to destroy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Not because the intentions of socialists are bad, but because the system they advocate finally relies on people acting a certain way contra their own selfish interests, and when people don't wish to do that, then the maintenance of a socialist scheme requires that they must be forced to comply.

Historically, too, I think this has been shown to be the case.

I would say you are basically right... also human are capable of empathy and charity, but that happens to people they are close by and understand the needs, in why communities help the ones within it, but don't have the same easy to see on a whole 100M people country. That is why forced charity by the transfer of money from people to the government to supposedly redistribution to the poor is a very bad idea, also not forgetting the government overhead cost, inefficiencies and corruption.