A political ideology which has been applied at many different levels and with many different results. It has evolved over time and has influenced many other ideologies (such as National Socialism, Communism and moderate Liberal Capitalism, Anarchists also ocassionaly refer to themselves as liberal socialists).
Modern socialist ideas are normally based on re-distribution of wealth by means of a progressive taxation system. For example providing a minimum wage for workers and health benfits in times of sickness.
Although socialism has traditionally been associated with public ownership, many Socialist governments (such as the British Labour Party under Tony Blair) now favour a system of "democratic capitalism" where the government and the market co-operate to provide basic services and living standards to the citizens of a country. See also The Third Way.
Socialism is also associated with unionisation, stemming from a belief that workers should not be exploited by artificialy created market conditions. However the intensity of this belief does seem to vary widley across different groups of socialists.
Modern socialist ideas are normally based on re-distribution of wealth by means of a progressive taxation system. For example providing a minimum wage for workers and health benfits in times of sickness.
Although socialism has traditionally been associated with public ownership, many Socialist governments (such as the British Labour Party under Tony Blair) now favour a system of "democratic capitalism" where the government and the market co-operate to provide basic services and living standards to the citizens of a country. See also The Third Way.
Socialism is also associated with unionisation, stemming from a belief that workers should not be exploited by artificialy created market conditions. However the intensity of this belief does seem to vary widley across different groups of socialists.
Arthur Scargill's style of socialism is only one of many interpretations, and differs from Tony Blair's style of socialism.
by Flame August 30, 2003
A system that is causing mass unemployment in European "utopias," where the perfect free healthcare system is inefficient and lacking in innovation.
by Anonymous October 16, 2003
Stepping stone from Capitalism to Communism. It will not work with humans and society at the current level of evolution. I do believe, however, in the far future, it will be possible. The reason socialism and communism have not worked so far is because they did not first have capitalism. You see, Capitalism provides the infrastructure needed for Socialism and Communism to work and in places like the USSR and China, they went straight from agrarian societies to Communism (skipping capitalism and socialism) so it did not work. There were other reasons as well like dictators and corruption. Communism is the perfect system but alas, human beings are NOT perfect so they are not compatible.
by BurgLyke October 12, 2003
For all you stupid dumb fucks out there who wrote definitions for communism, socialism is a cross between communism and capitalism. It actually works, most people dont realize that Germany is technically socilist and it is one of the top five richest countries in the world.
by laconic August 6, 2003
A political and economic system that has been completely and utterly discredited (most notably by the emininent Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises.)
Sadly, many people, being generally ignorant of the laws of economics, are unable to come to terms with the fact that socialism, unlike free-market capitalism, is economically incapable of generating wealth and thus can only ever impoverish any existing society when implemented.
Many people are also of the opinion that socialism, while a good idea on paper, can never work in reality purely because of human selfishness, and not because of the afore-stated economic reason. These people are quite possibly the biggest culprits when it comes to holding back human social development, as they persist in blinding countless people to socialism's true shortcomings. (American colleges, for example, are hotbeds of left-wing propaganda.)
Ardent supporters of socialism are usually bitter, twisted individuals who hate life and everything it stands for. They often have an insatiable God-complex and, remaining deliberately blind to the existence of genuine altruism and compassion, wish to destroy humanity as it exists and remodel it in their own image.
Sadly, many people, being generally ignorant of the laws of economics, are unable to come to terms with the fact that socialism, unlike free-market capitalism, is economically incapable of generating wealth and thus can only ever impoverish any existing society when implemented.
Many people are also of the opinion that socialism, while a good idea on paper, can never work in reality purely because of human selfishness, and not because of the afore-stated economic reason. These people are quite possibly the biggest culprits when it comes to holding back human social development, as they persist in blinding countless people to socialism's true shortcomings. (American colleges, for example, are hotbeds of left-wing propaganda.)
Ardent supporters of socialism are usually bitter, twisted individuals who hate life and everything it stands for. They often have an insatiable God-complex and, remaining deliberately blind to the existence of genuine altruism and compassion, wish to destroy humanity as it exists and remodel it in their own image.
by UltraBeans February 7, 2007
Canada uses socialism; its like pussified America. If you screw up in Canada, the government's got your back. America could give a fuck if you're successful.
by K Dub HOLLA October 11, 2006
A economic system where People control enterprises. Every worker owns one share of his company, therefore nobody has more than one share, and the power is so desentralized that nobody could ever go corrupt. Like now but without that power-mongering owner.
Given a bad name, because it was used a long time ago under the control of dictator. But what dumbshits fail to realize is that world was coming out of Monarchy. People were used to being oppresesd, and there was mass starvation and chaos that the people were so tired of it they were willing to beleave in any Man who claimed he could bring stabiliy. Some men like this were Hitler, Lennin Stalin. At that time culture was designed for Monarchy, or dictatorship.
And also Karl Marx said that back then it woulden't have worked any way, It move from Democracy, to Socialism to Communism. So now people have a mentality to handle this system. A system without central power controlling. Then we can move to communism
Given a bad name, because it was used a long time ago under the control of dictator. But what dumbshits fail to realize is that world was coming out of Monarchy. People were used to being oppresesd, and there was mass starvation and chaos that the people were so tired of it they were willing to beleave in any Man who claimed he could bring stabiliy. Some men like this were Hitler, Lennin Stalin. At that time culture was designed for Monarchy, or dictatorship.
And also Karl Marx said that back then it woulden't have worked any way, It move from Democracy, to Socialism to Communism. So now people have a mentality to handle this system. A system without central power controlling. Then we can move to communism
Socialism fucking works
Comment submitted with request to delete; "Writer is rambling on about a Utopian wish, does not make a logical case based upon human experience, and does not seem to be particularly literate, which makes one wonder just how much they have read or studied the subject."
Comment submitted with request to delete; "Writer is rambling on about a Utopian wish, does not make a logical case based upon human experience, and does not seem to be particularly literate, which makes one wonder just how much they have read or studied the subject."
by D March 7, 2003