Socialism and Education

Despite the fact that the term is tossed around like a live hand grenade, very few people actually know what Socialism is. They view it as synonymous with communism (an extreme and republican version of socialism which also mandates complete elimination of private ownership), state socialism (that’s the Nazi party, and is entirely different), and fascism (most socialism is, in fact, democratic).

But, then, what is socialism? And what isn’t socialism?

The definitions of socialism are varied, and there are many types of socialists, ranging from market socialists (and libertarian socialists) to communists, and then (like yours truly) socialized syndicalists. Each one has a slightly different take on what socialism should entail for a country.

In Broad Terms

Socialism: A Governmental system wherein the basic necessities of life are provided for all citizens, and the economic system is run by a non-Capitalist methodology.

Socialists believe that the privately owned market should be modified, eliminated, or supplemented, to the point that is no longer run by capitalism. This may be through the elimination of private ownership and a fully publicly owned set of industry and production (such as with Communism), a market system with key aspects being publicly owned (such as with Market Socialism), a market where all corporations are owned by its workers (such as with Socialized Syndicalism), or a Government where most of the forms of industry are publicly owned but where private property is still allowed (such as with standard Socialism).

Anything that is publicly owned is a socialized aspect of Government. Every allegedly Capitalist Government has both socialist and privately owned aspects, and are all “mixed governments” (with public education, public roads, public libraries, and public services being just a few of the commonly socialized aspects). A government isn’t socialist simply by having socialist aspects. To reach the point of being Socialist, the Government would have to provide all basic needs for citizens on an egalitarian opportunity level (all citizens, regardless of wealth and so on, receive these necessities).

This doesn’t necessarily mean hand outs. This can mean that the Government provides jobs for people so they can earn their food and lodging. This can mean the Government providing public health care, transportation, and education. Once the citizens no longer have to rely on the market for their livelihood, we have reached Socialism.

Optional Aspects of Socialism

Additional things that may or may not be a part of Socialism include:

• The elimination of privately held banks (all banks would become publicly owned).
• The elimination of inheritance.
• The elimination of privately owned housing.
• The elimination of wage labor.
• The elimination of private ownership.
• The elimination of a market system.

Market Socialism

Market Socialism is a less extreme form of Socialism that states that key aspects of life should be publicly owned and guaranteed for all citizens, including education, housing opportunities, job opportunities, healthcare, and other basic necessities. It includes a market that is still run by private ownership of the means of production (Capitalism) but with more significant regulations on that market as well as the foundation of Socialist programs that allow for a more egalitarian system of opportunity.

Socialized Syndicalism

Socialized Syndicalism also provides a form of market socialism, but in this case the market is not run by Capitalists, but by Syndicates. Every individual who works for any company becomes a part owner in this company (a lose working definition of Syndicalism), thus eliminating wage labor exploitation and the generation of capital (as well as the growing gap between the upper and middle class in America). It also believes that a foundation of social programs to allow equal opportunity for basic living necessities and education are required to provide truly equal opportunity.

Socialism

More pure Socialism believes in more than a foundation of social programs, but states that the means of production should be owned by the public. All factories and companies would be owned by the general public, and (typically) democratically run by the general public for the public good. Private ownership is allowed but limited in Socialism.

Communism

Communism is a more extreme variety of Socialism which also includes a Republican (rather than Democratic) basis of Government, the elimination of inheritance, and the elimination of private ownership (especially of property for housing and similar, but also including any material goods of significant value).