Here’s Why You’re Wrong About Socialism… and Capitalism
The answer comes down to a preference
Are we actually talking about this? Unfortunately, we must. I’ve partaken in too many drunken arguments about the merits of socialism and capitalism, and I’m over it.
I don’t think I’m alone here — people are curious about the economic opinions of millennials. We are the next generation of leaders, after all.
Look, I don’t have a problem with curiosity. I just have a problem with people attacking my thoughts. I’m not sure I’ve lived long enough to work out an opinion that holds any water!
The curiosity comes from all sides: friends, coworkers, parents, bosses. What should be a friendly conversation turns into that bar scene from Good Will Hunting — a battle of the wits bundling in morals, political views, and, on some occasions, masculinity?
- If you’re in favor of tax hikes, you must be a communist snowflake.
- If you’re in favor of free enterprise, you must be a capitalist pig.
Business colleagues have called me a socialist who will, with time, come to his senses. Meanwhile, my friends see me as a staunch capitalist. “You’re reading a book about Elon Musk? Why?”
You’ve probably concluded that I’m neither — a centrist who doesn’t have the guts to take a hard stance. Maybe, I call it a different understanding of the relationship between socialism and capitalism.
So whether you’re a snowflake or a pig, here’s why you’re wrong.
Both Systems Are Destructive At Their Extremes
When you talk about expanding capitalism, what you’re actually saying is you want to widen freedoms. When you talk about socialism, you’re saying you want to increase equality. Both are desired, of course, but the systems tug at their extremes — a policy in one direction will be at the expense of a policy in the other.
Mortal enemies, if you will, like Taylor Swift and Kanye West.
An economy that assigns pure capitalism will soon discover freedoms they wish never existed, like the freedom to oppress others in the name of growth.
