Excuse Me: I Think I May Be Socialist

I think I'm socialist. I'm new to the scene so IDK all the finer details. I believe we should work for a stronger society and leave our "free trade" market to dictate itself. I would love to see large corporations brought to their knees, allowing small independents to grow their business. I want to hit the "restart" button on this country!

 

Careful what you say, admitting to being a socialist will generate a call from the thought Police. BTW i'm a secret socialist too....

 

lol well if you think you are i'd recommend reading the literature of the party but as i have done so it takes a great deal to get through so i'd just start out on some quotes from revolutionaries of the party. not just the socialist side but also the communist, marxist, trotskyist(sp?) etc. read em all

 

You seem to be on the right track, although it would be great for you to formulate specific ideas and use them to interact with other people in the radical left community. Radical leftism is a much more mentally involved one than the mainstream parties (read: 'Crats & 'Publicans). We love to argue and debate over things because unlike mainstream parties, we actually care about what we are doing! Great to have you, by the way.

 

Socialism is deeper than just that. It's about the whole country working like a library. About people being equal. And you kind of need to decide what kind of socialist you are... Democratic (Where people get to pick what they are doing), Communist (The government does it), etc.

 

Socialism have a very deep meaning it self, if you are or you want to be than be careful and carefully do the social works... :daisy:

 

Not something I would identify with socialism. Although I believe a member here has identified themsef as a socialist libertarian, or something of the sort. Which I don't really understand either because the ideas seem to contradict eachother

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_socialism

Actually libertarian socialism is a large branch of radical thought. Check it^

"The association of socialism with libertarianism predates that of capitalism, and many anti-authoritarians still decry what they see as a mistaken association of capitalism with libertarianism in the United States. As Noam Chomsky put it, a consistent libertarian "must oppose private ownership of the means of production and wage slavery, which is a component of this system, as incompatible with the principle that labor must be freely undertaken and under the control of the producer.""

 

welcome to the scene,socialism is becoming popular once more

 

Get a copy of Marx and Engels' Communist Manifesto and read it whilst listening to your new anthem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko372vrAsfM"]The Internationale (BEST INSTRUMENTAL) / Интернационал / L'Internationale - YouTube

 

Actually, Marx and Engels criticized socialists for being too moderate. I believe they said something along the lines of that socialists want to make everyone bourgeoisie instead of destroying the class system. He called us conservatives.

Which I am starting to see more and more, as some of my communist friends have much more radical views on many things such as violence. While I am fully a pacifist, I know people who hold that a true worker's state can only be achieved through violent revolution, which I believe is ignorant of political relativity.

 

Much of what you say in your first paragragh I can relate to the situation we faced in the Right vs Left struggles in the UK during the 70s & 80s. Even as a Marxist then, I was sceptical of the positions some of my comrades took against the Conservative State.
The end does not always justify the means. Democracy with all its flaws still requires responsible self discipline by the forces of progress (as we liked to see ourselves). Like you , I abhor violence and see it always as injurous to ones cause.
Ultimately maybe violence may be required to overthrow the forces of real power-when it comes to it. But before we get to that eventual stage, we socialists have a great deal to do to understand & trully evolve what we call socialism to make it worthy of the Human Race.

 

If we had a trustworthy government socialism would be the saving grace. Of course the Right Wingers say otherwise, but it would help so many people in need, and take money away from those that have billions that don't need it. IDK I need to form a firm political affiliation i guess. but Socialism is very attractive,

 

My take on socialism has always been that its merely evolved democracy. If its truely of the people by the people then its not the monster that the Right like to portray. Americans fear 'Big Government' & equate it with Socialism & Totalitarianism. In Europe Democracies are a blend of Socialism & Capitalism. Yes one can contradict the other,its a question of balence, a 'work in progress'.

Capitalism is creative & dynamic & draws on individualism to provide growth & wealth. Socialism ensures fairness in wealth distribution,acts as a break in stablising the economy through central & local planning & ensures genuine welfare provision.

Its a question of establishing checks & balances. Some essential Utilities-in Britain the BBC,The National Health Service,the Royal Mail, are State owned to provide basic continuity & public service,where profit is not the primary aim.