Saturday, June 13, 2009

Death of Socialist Ideals

The recent drubbings of the Left parties in election and of the leftist ideal parties in the European Union election point to one thing, amidst such recession too the leftist ideals are not able to hold ground. Socialism which was considered as the most viable alternative to the rogue and oppressive capitalism is failing the test. Soviet Union did not survive and with Right to Property granted in China it cannot be called a socialist country though there is strong state control. What I want to discuss here in this piece is why the socialist loosed the battle despite offering world peace and harmony between countries based on mutual respect and trust. It lost though it promised that there would be no hungry people and that men would be equal, despite offering an equitable and just society it lost .Why??
Though I am not an expert and there may be thousands article written on it but I would just like to propose my idea. It lost because men are inherently wicked and such high ideals were just too much for him. It is good thing that there would be no hungry people around but to quell someone’s freedom of speech and his way of thinking just because it was not acceptable to society means that though he is not hungry but he is not satisfied and in some time rebellious feeling will begin to grow inside him. Not to mention that they had a worthy foe in America which was hell bent on making capitalism order of the day. Soviet Union were may be equal to America in terms of military power but were they prepared for the soft power that America was using against it. All over the world American lifestyle became synonymous with liberty, luxury and while the world was pursuing the great American Dream what was Russia offering us?? Bicycles, square meals a day, justice and fair society far too lofty ideas for a common man. While America was showing the world that they are free Russia was shrinking in a shell of its own.
Capitalism has many benefits too over socialism. It promotes competition, free thinking and encourage new ideas. Competition ensures that you have variety, have options. Free thinking lead to intellectual development and expression of the same. New ideas carry the world forward. In contrast in socialist society there is no competition and prices are fixed by the state, no competition and hence no option and no variety .You cannot say a word against the state and civil rights are nonexistent. Ya if that’s starting to sound like slavery don’t blame me this is the way thing is. We know of several brands like Nike, reebok, McDonalds and other all originating from capitalistic countries and none from socialistic country. It cannot be a coincidence. All of you, who would give China as an example, let me tell you it is a different form of socialism. Socialist government cannot survive for long because once people have ensured that they are well fed they yearn for free thinking and personal freedom and when this stage reached Soviet Union could not survive it. China on the other hand has learnt from the mistakes and learnt it well. First it turned its full attention on the countryside so that it has its share of support there because no revolution can succeed without rural masses. Secondly it provided them with economic freedom and security. Plus it has allowed foreign investment and with right to property it has taken another step in the direction of capitalism and if not capitalism at least mixed economy like India. For it know too well that they cannot entirely control people and that curb on free thinking and unbiased media wont last long if they do not deliver at the economic front. Though socialism did not survive excepting of course in some countries like Cuba and Venezuala they could not really exert influence the world like Soviet Union did and its good for self sufficiency but it cannot give prosperity , Chinese form of economy certainly can and in my opinion this is the way forward.

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