Burlington High
School
Burlington, Kansas
Teacher: Devra Parker
What’s Your
Philosophy?
By Kierston Kopfman
12th grade
There
are many systems of government; among these are capitalism and socialism.
Capitalism is an
economic system in which the
means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and
development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits
gained in a free market. Socialism is any of various theories or systems of
social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is
owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls
the economy. I believe that our country is a socialistic economy.
The
United States is a socialistic nation because we have a centralized government.
Also, socialism has many theories or systems of social organizations where the
means of producing and disturbing good are owned collectively. We are much more
socialistic compared to capitalistic because capitalism is privately or
corporately owned and deals with the free market.
If we
were a capitalistic government, it is like saying we are owned and controlled by
some higher power, and I am not talking about God. I am talking about a
Government official. We wouldn’t have as much liberty or freedom as we have now.
We would be slaves to someone and not be able to work for our own goals and
ambitions. The government would control and have a say in everything we do, and
I think that is wrong.
We
should feel privileged and lucky that we get to live in such a great society.
Just think of all the other countries and how their government is. I would hate
it; we get to live each and every day freely and without fear to what the
government will do to us. We get life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
it is given to us by Congress. Socialism gives me much more insight on just how
auspicious we really are.
Socialism says that there must be state ownership and control of the fundamental
means of production and distribution of prosperity. To achieve this, we must do
rebuilding of the existing capitalist or other political system of any country;
including the United States through peaceful, democratic, and parliamentary
means. Every person has a say in our government, not just the officials that we
elect.
The
attempt to build a socialist society is an effort to give the freedom we as
United States citizens are promised, we are teased and laughed at by our class
of society. Experts call this the Soviet experiment. Within this essential
respect the experiment obviously failed. “If censured for the apparent inability
to catch up with the more spectacular Western measures of wealth, the Soviet
experiment can always point to the horribly backward starting point; there is an
beyond doubt decrease of the distance dividing the experiment from its
capitalist competitors, and too many achievements in eradicating the most
extreme forms of material poverty.” That is why we as citizens of the U.S.
should thank our government for being socialistic.
Many people don’t know that there are two types of socialism, Soviet socialism and Democratic socialism. Democratic socialism is where people (socialist) believe that the economy and society should be run democratically in order to meet all the needs of the society and not just make a few people happy. In order to make a more just society, many structures of our government and economy must be changed through greater economic and social democracy. This way the every day Americans can participate in the decisions that affect our lives. Democracy and socialism go hand in hand. Many places in the world wherever the idea of democracy has taken starting place, the vision of socialism has taken basis as well; people think that this has happened everywhere but in the United States. Because of this, many untrue ideas and judgments about socialism have developed in the U.S.
All in all, I think that socialism is the smarter and safer move, and although I believe we are a socialistic economy, if we are not, we should become one. Democratic socialism is fair and just; we actually get to voice our opinions and we are not controlled by one person but a group of persons we as a whole country voted for. If government officials and people in this world want to make the world a better place, than we need to work on perfecting our socialism; it would be unjust, un-loyal, and unpatriotic to not better our socialistic government. The United States of America is socialistic over capitalistic because we all have a say for what goes on in our country.
Answers To Questions Prompted By The Required Reading
Seven Principles of
Sound Public Policy
Q1- What does Mr.
Reed mean when he says "Equal people are not free."?
Mr. Reed is meaning that even though the constitution states that all men are created equal, it doesn’t mean we are free. We all have to pay taxes and there are many different levels of income; the poor pay just as much as the rich. People are not free because although they can live their lives to their own destinies, it will not be a result of their income.
Q2- What is the deadly trade-off to reliance upon government, according to Reed?
If you rely on Government to a certain extent, then people are giving up what many take for granted as freedom. Equal people are not free and free people are not equal. The two concepts should never overlap.
The Calf of Democracy
Q3-
Why did the Founding Fathers assure that the United States became a republic
rather than a pure democracy?
Our founders established a republic, and a republican form of government, modifies pure democracy considerably. It provides a mechanism by which almost anyone can have some say in some matters of the government. If we want we can run for office, support and vote for candidates and causes. We have the right to speak out, and some matters are relied on by a majority vote.
Q4- What is the saving grace of democracy according to Lawrence Reed?
The saving grace of democracy according to Lawrence Reed is Freedom. Each individual living in the United States can live life how they chose because of their freedom. They have the freedom of speech, and have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Freedom Is Not a
Doctrine
Q5- Richard Haas
gives two unusual reasons for advocating democracy. What are they?
Richard Hass gives two unusual reasons for advocating democracy is a useful component on the campaign against terrorism. The other reason he gives for advocating democracy is that mature democracies tend not to make war on each other.
Q6- Give two reasons you personally would promote democracy.
I would personally
promote democracy because it is fair and it is just. Everyone has a say and it
goes by the majority, it is real life. There are many leaders not just one so it
is fairer than a dictatorship.
Q7- Comment (any
length) on President Bush's current foreign policy.
I think that President
Bush, considering the amount of pressure he is under, is doing a fantastic job.
He is having us help another country improve their Government and live a free
life, and trying to help Katrina victims. That is not something a lot of people
would do if they got attacked by that countries terrorist.
Internet
Activities
Visit the Society
for Disseminating Economic Knowledge: "New Economic School-Georgia"
Georgia was part of the old Soviet Union.
You will find this web site by browsing the Economic Freedom Network and
scrolling to "S" for Society.
http://www.freetheworld.com/other.html On first impression the site may
appear amateurish. The English translation may materialized only partially.
However it provides a link to a very well done flash presentation.
http://www.isil.org/resources/introduction.swf
Q8- How did you interpret each of the four different hats ("officials with fine hats")?
The crown represents the king and the period of time they ruled we the people. The top represents the presidents of the United States. I made a distinction between Abe Lincoln and our past/present presidents. The graduation hat represents teachers and professors that help shape the citizens of today. The derby hat is a representation of the average citizen.
Q9- How did you interpret the megaphone, baby, knife/gun ("No matter how officials are selected")?
Officials/humans have no rights or no claims higher that any other human, no matter their behavior or the number of people they have supporting them. We all chose what we do with our lives and no one else’s. The megaphone represents our voice and freedom of speech, the baby is a symbol of life, everyone has it but what you do with it is up to you. The knife and gun represents murder and is a result of choosing evil people to run our government.
Q10- Browse the "Favorite Links" of the Economic Freedom Network http://www.freetheworld.com/other.html and share one of your favorite discoveries with us. Make sure you copy the url. Tell us why you chose it.
www.cato.org, this site is my favorite because it talks about topics that deal with the United States. It has up to date issues like reforming social security.
Q11- Once again go to www.freetheworld.com and this time note the question asked near the top of the page: "How much economic freedom exists in your country?" and randomly choose five countries. List the name of each and their highest and lowest year for economic freedom.
Albania: Highest-2003 (6.1) Lowest-1990 (4.3)
Benin: Highest-2001 (5.7) Lowest-1995 (4.6)
Egypt: Highest -2000 (6.7) Lowest-1975 (4.3)
Bahamas: Highest-1990 and 1975 (6.7) Lowest-1990 (6.2)
Turkey: Highest-2003 (5.9) Lowest-1980 (3.7)
Q12- Which of your five countries had the greatest degree of economic freedom according to this exercise?
The country I chose that had the greatest degree of economic freedom was the Bahamas.
Q13- What was the summary
rating and rank in the year it achieved this degree of economic freedom?
(You can find this information by clicking on the
Economic Freedom of the World: 2004 Annual Report and then choosing
Chapter 3 and scrolling to your chosen country.)
The Bahamas had the highest rank of 6.4 (18) it achieved it in 1980, the year it got economic freedom.