Socialism for the Rich but no, Never the Poor

It continues to be perplexing that many people still have a wrong view of what socialism actually is about. Many people, particularly Americans, equate this political and economic system with totalitarianism, where people are the slaves to their government, and their “individuality” is snubbed out by the ruling elites. Right wing pundits used to refer to Venezuela as the prime example of socialism's failings. These people have been seriously brainwashed, and refuse to look outside the propaganda bubble presented by the main stream media.

Venezuela is for the most part, a democratic socialist country. This means their taxes are used for social programs, such as universal health care, education, and the military. The reason this country is failing economically, is barbaric international sanctions, led by the U.S. preventing the country from openly trading in the world's markets.

In fact, Australia is run, generally, by a form of democratic socialism, yet since the 1990's, the right wing government has been selling off our public assets, like transportation, water supply and sectors of education.

It is ridiculous to see certain U.S. Officials, claim that Venezuela, a democratic socialist country, must be invaded, so it can be “saved” by democracy....when the U.S. people has been suffering so, from Covid 19, because their government prefers to enact socialism for the 1%; a $4.7 trillion bailout, while leaving the population to essentially starve. This is socialism for the rich, and austerity-capitalism for the poor. It's nonsense.

Socialism basically means that the people own the means of production. The company's shares are owned by it workers and not shareholders. In this system, the “free-market” continues to exist, competing in the market place, but it's workers are in charge of the profits. In this system the workers come first, as the workers are the company's central asset.

During a pandemic, for example, in a socialist system, there would be no firings, but temporary furloughs, and the workers would continue to be paid a living wage. In a capitalist system, run by corporations and their shareholders, during a crisis, the shareholders would be paid, and the workers laid off. This is exactly what is happening in the U.S... the workers are fired while the shareholders are paid.

The United States of Corporation has done basically the same thing. A socialist bail out for the corporations and Wall Street, leaving the working class to fend for itself, during a pandemic no less. This is not the way a government should treat its citizens, socialism for the wealthy and capitalism for the people. We pay taxes for a reason, and it's certainly not to see the money go to the rich.

This is possibly an over simplification of the current situation, but simply watching where the $ flows, the fact that the rich are practising socialism for themselves, and rugged capitalism for the workers, it's woefully apparent. This gangsterism must stop.