The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received January 16, 2022.
[In the Jan. 13 edition of the East Haddam News] Marilyn Gleeson brought up a very good point in her letter concerning the label “socialism” being applied very freely and often incorrectly to situations today. Let’s look at the dictionary definition of this word:
Socialism (noun): A political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
As I read it, it does not mean an authoritarian government. It actually looks to me like it means no central government at all. Everybody works together for the good of the community. Trouble is, someone is always going to want MORE for themselves – which means less for everyone else. That was true in the Soviet Union and it’s still true in Communist China, despite their claims to be “socialist” nations. The real name for a government like those is “tyranny.”
So, let’s look at two examples and figure out which term best applies to the present state of affairs in countries once considered to be democracies, including America:
1) The draconian measures imposed to supposedly control Covid-19 now have a two-year track record of failure, but continue to be successfully employed against the liberties of their respective populations.
2) The ability to openly debate any issues is rapidly disappearing in these countries as well. Ideas contrary to the prevailing trends of an elite are systematically excluded from the discussion and those expressing them are effectively canceled.
Now it’s up to you to decide whether “socialism” or “tyranny” is the better label for where we are today and, more importantly, to decide if you want to make a stand to change this trajectory before it’s too late.
Edward Wood
Killingworth
