As “democratic” socialism gains in popularity, two embarrassing trends stand out. First, this new brand of socialism is very popular among high-income, well-educated people who should disapprove of it. Second, it is much less popular among workers and the less-educated sectors of the population that socialism claims to represent.
Thus, it is not surprising that Democratic candidates who reject “democratic” socialism do better in low-income areas than the democratic socialist candidates who take the rich neighborhoods.
What is surprising is that so many people refuse to believe the evidence. They hold on to the tired myth that the poor will always like socialism and the rich will hate it. This helps socialism gain power.
Misunderstanding the Nature of Socialism
The confusion comes from a misunderstanding about the nature of socialism. Too many people see socialism as a middle ground between a market economy and communism.
Thus, rich people see socialism as a kind of insurance policy to hold on to their wealth. Unlike communism, socialism does not take everything. The government takes just enough from the rich to make them uncomfortable. It distributes just enough to the poor to allow them to become dependent upon its welfare state.
Thus, socialism becomes a means of getting “free” goods and benefits to which some feel entitled. Those with more possessions feel relieved not to have to give up everything since, they maintain, it is better to give in a little to avoid losing all.
However, this purely economic view of socialism does not tell the whole story. Socialism cannot be reduced to a Care package or an insurance policy. It goes against human nature itself.
Socialism Is Metaphysical
Socialism becomes easier to understand when seen not only as a bad economic system but also as a metaphysical one. It relies on two opposing metaphysical principles: equality and freedom. These two components live in constant tension as each tends to suppress the other. The socialists interpret these two principles in ways that run counter to human nature.
Thus, socialism always mandates equality by leveling society through regulation, taxation and even confiscation. Socialists see inequality as hateful in any of its manifestations—whether it be differences of wealth, intelligence, households or fashions. They resent it when others have much more than they do and thus favor any means to lessen differences in income, opportunities or positions.
This empowerment of envy is contrary to the virtue of justice, in which people receive what is due to them, which includes property. Taking someone’s property without just compensation makes socialism onerous.
Explaining the Socialist Paradox
The socialist myth says poor people must envy the good fortune of others, and rich people must feel guilty for their own efforts and good fortune.
Such an interpretation runs counter to the idea of social harmony inherent in human nature.
It does, however, explain the paradox of socialism’s rich supporters and poor enemies. For rich people who feel guilty, the shock of having property taken away is mitigated by the fact that they have many possessions. Taking away their wealth will have little effect on their lifestyle and do much to lessen their “guilt.”
On the other hand, the efforts to make the poor envious often fail. Those poorer people who work hard for a living have little property and therefore are more attached to what they have. They will tend to oppose socialism because their sense of property is much more developed and more closely tied to their daily lives. It takes much effort to turn them into socialists.
Freedom As License
The second component of any brand of socialism is its affirmation of freedom. All socialists hold that freedom is not the ordered choice toward what is good, but an unlimited ability to gratify the unbridled passions.
For socialists, freedom means license. Thus, socialism is an enemy of anything that limits this license/freedom, whether it be lawful authority, the rich, the family or Christian morality. All of these must be labeled enemies, since they insist on restricting “freedom.”
For this reason, the socialists can always be counted upon to support any immoral behavior, such as procured abortion, homosexual vice, promiscuity and nudity. Even in its most totalitarian forms, socialism will favor free license as a means of corrupting virtue and Christian order.
Corrupting Rich and Poor
Such an interpretation goes contrary to the order that should prevail within man, which disciplines the passions. Thus, the decadent elites will tend to favor this liberal side of socialism since riches expand and facilitate the practice of free license. Socialism will always support the promiscuous habits of those whom it subverts. It will cultivate false elites, ideas and extravagant arts that favor unbridled passions while breaking down the structures that sustain society.
While the poorer elements of society are also susceptible to moral corruption, they tend to rely upon the structures of family and religion to deal with the difficulties they face. They often have a more commonsensical outlook on life that rejects the extravagant proposals of fashion and vice that threaten their way of life.
Thus, socialist ideas tend to have less hold on the lower classes because of their attachment to traditional structures. When these classes are severed from their roots, as during the Industrial Revolution, socialism finds more fertile ground.
Everyone Is a Target
No one is exempt from the dangers of socialism. As long as pride and sensuality exist, any social class will be open to their temptations. Circumstances may make one class more susceptible than others. However, the determining factor in being a socialist is not income but one’s moral perspective.
For this reason, Christianity is a natural enemy of socialism since it insists upon people acting according to the laws of God and human nature. Fallen nature will always tend toward socialism.
Indeed, the more decadent the society, the greater is socialism’s attraction.
The practice of Christian virtue is the most efficient way to fight against socialism. Socialism cannot survive where people admire God’s order of the universe, and love and obey His Law.
Socialism has no attractions to Christians who find fulfillment and true freedom by acting according to their nature, not in the enslavement to passions.
In the final analysis, socialism is a moral problem.
Photo Credit 1 : © Pavlo Vakhrushev – stock.adobe.com
Photo Credit 2 : © Miguel – stock.adobe.com