Sydney+K’s+2018+OpEd+Article

Why Socialism Should Not Exist in America Ah, socialism. The form of government everyone seems to want, but can’t seem to get a full grasp on what they’re asking for. Socialism is classically defined as an economy and government where the means of production, distribution, and exchange are regulated by the people as a whole, which sounds a bit confusing at first, but when most people hear that this form of government primarily calls for access to free healthcare, and everyone is paid equitably, they get pretty excited over this seemingly utopian society. Though some would gladly ignore this for the sake of overthrowing a (reasonably) detestable president, the problematic “paradise” called socialism is not an acceptable form of government, and it has never been this way throughout history.

One of the primary reasons socialism draws in voters today is the idea that capitalism’s “trickle-down” economics is seen as a failure, and that socialism evenly spreads the wealth out, which is (you guessed it) not true! Socialism doesn’t reward people for being entrepreneurial or uniquely competitive by setting immovable wages, which means the community decides what you get paid and that’s it. Not further discussion. It stifles human nature to be competitive and individual, which is virtually impossible to suppress in society without force. Also, this erasure of distinct creativity leads to less innovation to move society along, which we all can agree is a terrible idea. This also leads to less aspiring workers who may truly enter more scientific or college-educated fields for their personal or financial interests, but see no reason to when you can be paid almost the same amount for doing so much less. If any socialist party were to argue for giving incentives to entrepreneurs, it would simply turn itself into an inefficient copy of free markets, thus destroying its classification as socialist.

Additionally, the much wanted free health care from a socialist society is only partial because it would call for the solidifying of the healthcare providers into one community payer, which causes increased taxes no matter what, and the rationing and shortages of doctors and medicine available, because everyone has equal access. That means if the bar for spending is set too low, someone may not receive adequate care, and if the bar is too high, then there is the chance for over prescription, and more unwelcome taxes for everyone. These single-payer systems usually unravel, allowing for the rich to take advantage by buying superior care, creating more economic inequalities, which is something socialism is supposed to fight in the first place. Morally, everyone deserves health care, but socialism’s single payer method is extremely unjust for society and is easily taken advantage of.

If you still want to go be a truly socialist community, be my guest! Go form your own country and have fun there, if that’s really what you want (since "socialist" countries such as Denmark and Canada aren't truly socialist, as demonstrated above). But for your sake and our country’s, don’t drag your “socialism” into American politics. It won’t work.