To me communism is a very interesting subject. There are so many ideals of the idea that resonate with harmony and a firm love of all people. There is no doubt that each individual should have a place to live, a full stomach, and not to have fear that they won’t be able to survive from day to day. In this respect, it is very appealing to think that if all men are truly created equal, then all men would have an equal share.
I do, however, believe that the well meant ideals of Marx or Engels would surely become twisted by the corruption and greed that is inevitable in the fallible hearts of men. Socialism is very much the same in many ways, and I believe that at one point the two were almost interchangeable. It is argued by many that the current administration has a very socialist agenda in regards to things like health care. Socialists and communists mainly share the belief that capitalism unfairly concentrates power and wealth among a small segment of society that controls capital, creates an unequal society, and does not provide equal opportunities for everyone in society.
I beleive capitalism is the American way. Our ability to establish our own destiny in the escelons of society is what being an American is all about. We have seen, however, that capitalism can definitely have its disadvantages. When unregulated it seems that profits become the bottom line irregardless of who might get hurt in the process; whether it be the environment, local communities, the small business owner, or the family farm.
When unregulated, often monopolies are formed by large businesses and corporations which prevent the true nature of free market capitalism from taking place. In certain areas, the little guy doesn’t have the resources, manpower, or fiscal bankroll to compete in a market already dominated by big business. A perfect example of this might be Wall-Mart. They have the best prices, but they take from small businesses and support products not made in the United States. This creates less jobs, less promotion of our own countries production of goods, and often leads to jobs being sent overseas.
Without some regulation by the Government, total free market capitalism definitely has some some big downfalls. Should the government stay out of free market affairs, or is it necesssary to police the sometimes chaotic and ruthless nature of a free market? I think the answer is a little of both.
