Socialism

[Mel]

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 6 (December 2009).

Socialism
by Casey (Cas*)

Due to a misunderstanding of political parties and past events, there are currently a significant amount of negative opinions toward socialism. Many people wrongly relate socialism to National Socialism, commonly known as Nazism; although National Socialism might have had some socialist ideals, it is also mostly focused on race, socialist is not about race.

By definition, socialism boils down to a political system in which economies are controlled by strong welfare states, and there are equal opportunities for everyone.

Democratic Socialism is literally “for the people, by the people,” with the government answerable to the people. No country is Social Democratic yet, but many have been socialist and have incorporated democratic ideals into their governing bodies.

Socialism is not a bad thing; it's not evil, and the ideals are not bad. Many countries have some socialist ideals such as universal health care. Socialism is misunderstood, and as it is spreading rapidly throughout the world, it is important to educate ourselves about the pros and cons of this -insert whatever word you want here-.

Spain is one of many socialist countries. Just last month, there was a protest in the capital over a new bill about the ever-so-controversial issue of abortion that the government was trying to pass. Spain has currently legalized abortion only in the cases of rape or threat to the mother, which many people are fine with. However, this bill would make it easier to get an abortion, would provide education on safe sex, and would make contraception methods --particularly condoms and birth control-- easier to obtain.

It was a peaceful protest (as peaceful as protests are anyway) and although parliament may attempt to take the opinions of protesters into consideration, the bill will probably pass nonetheless. Socialism does not always do what the people want, but it typically functions to benefit, help, serve the people, and even acts in their best interest though they believe otherwise.

In conclusion, socialism is not always the root of all evils. Socialism is not a bad thing; socialism is it a good thing. Socialism is politics.