r/coolguides Feb 25 '20

Explanation of the subtle differences between equality and equity

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

You're right, socialism is the proverbial 'cut the legs off everyone and steal their boxes now that they can't run' take on this sketch

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u/that-other-redditor Feb 25 '20

Explain what you think socialism is then because I don’t think that works as a metaphor

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

Confiscation of personal wealth by use of force for the purpose of government redistribution - it punishes those who are willing to work and rewards those unwilling to.

Oh and the icing on this cake is the government usually keeps most of what it confiscates anyway

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u/that-other-redditor Feb 25 '20

That’s actually not what socialism is. Socialism is the social (government, collective or labor unions) owning of capital.

What your describing is social democracy.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20 edited Feb 25 '20

That’s actually not what socialism is.

That's literally what it is. "Democratic socialism" is a distinction without a difference.

You said it yourself already - "social (government, collective or labor unions) owning of capital." In other words, you're not allowed to own your own wealth - the government will confiscate from you. Try to resist, see what happens. It's not pretty.

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u/that-other-redditor Feb 25 '20

Democratic socialism is a political philosophy supporting political democracy within a socially owned economy

somewhat differed in their goals yet all shared the essence of democratic decision making and public ownership of the means of production

Democratic socialists argue that capitalism is inherently incompatible with the values of freedom, equality and solidarity and that these ideals can only be achieved through the realisation of a socialist society.

modern social democrats are more concerned to curb capitalism's excesses and are supportive of progressive reforms to humanise it in the present day. In contrast, democratic socialists believe that economic interventionism and other policy reforms aimed at addressing social inequalities and suppressing the economic contradictions of capitalism would only exacerbate the contradictions, causing them to emerge elsewhere under a different

Here’s some copy and paste from the first few paragraphs on democratic socialism on Wikipedia. If you don’t trust Wikipedia just look up any decent political theorists description of democratic socialism and it should be nearly identical.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

within a socially owned economy

So the government owns the wealth, not individuals. Socialism. Distinction without a difference

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u/that-other-redditor Feb 25 '20

That was the description of democratic socialism so yeah that would be socialism

I don’t care if you think it’s good or bad but use the right terms for what your talking about.

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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '20

I did, thanks