Newell-Fonda High School

Newell, Iowa

Teacher: Mrs. Doonan

 

Capitalism vs. Socialism

By Shallene Kragel

12^th grade

 

Are the social and economic differences between a capitalistic society and a socialistic society as diverse as people seem to think?  In a capitalistic society people can think for themselves and make their own life decisions without interference from the government.  In this type of society everyone is equal by being able to do what they please and to pursue their dreams as far as they like without having to be just like everyone else.  On the other hand, in a socialistic form of government, the heads of the state and the people that represent the government make the decisions concerning what the good of the state is and how the people in the state will best serve the cause of the state.  In this type of society, everyone is equal by doing the same thing as everyone else.  Nobody gets credit for doing more or less work than anyone else.  Therefore, the United States represents a capitalistic society rather than a socialist society because people have the freedom to make the choices that will affect their lives and their futures.

 

All the things that make the United States a capitalistic society are what keep it from being socialistic.  When it comes to religion in many socialistic societies, people aren’t supposed to worship a God or any superior being or to practice any religion.  It’s not as if people are forced to all worship the same religion, but they are just plain not allowed to worship any religion without fear of retaliation from the government if they were to be caught.  The next thing about a socialistic society is that everyone is equal by being just like everyone else.  No matter how much harder someone works than someone else, they still get the same or no amount of credit because the government gets it all.  Also, if someone was to create something, it would be as if they had nothing to do with it because nobody would acknowledge it as theirs.  There is no “I” in a socialistic society because everything that everyone does is for the good of the government and the people of the nation.  In all reality, there is no way that a society can be ideally socialistic because at some point in time there will be people who will try to dominate other people and take advantage of this type of system. 

  

There are many things that make the United States a capitalistic society.  The first aspect that is important to many people is religion.  Everyone is free to worship any or no God and to practice any or no religion.  The second and probably most important aspect in a capitalistic society is that everyone has the decision on how far they want to pursue their dreams and what they want to become.  Nobody can be told by the government that they can’t work harder or not as hard as someone else.  If a person decides he wants to invent something, he doesn’t have to worry about the government taking it away, and he can get a patent on it so that he can make money off of it.  Also, if somebody writes something that is worth a lot of money or value, then he can get it copyrighted, and the government has no say in what this person does with it.  In a capitalistic society everyone is equal by being able to do what they please.  Everybody starts with the chance to have the same opportunities as everyone else.  It’s each and every person’s own decision on what he wants to make of his life, and the government can’t control the future of anyone.  With this said, the United States is obviously a capitalistic society because the freedom is definitely here.

 

People in the United States have the freedom to make the choices they want, and this is what makes it a capitalistic society.  Being in a capitalistic society means people being able to get credit for what they do and having opportunities.  Nobody is exactly the same as someone else in any way.  Everybody will work either harder or not as hard as everyone else to get what they want out of life.  Therefore, the government cannot set limitations on the lives or futures of anyone.  As for a socialistic society, the government has all control.  It’s not even an option for someone to work harder than someone else to get more out of life.  Nobody works for the good of themselves, but instead for the good of the government.  Now in terms of religion, in a capitalistic society people are free to worship any or no God.  But in a socialistic society nobody is allowed to have a religion or individual beliefs of any kind.  So yes, capitalism and socialism are as diverse as people think.

 

 Answers To Questions Prompted By The Required Reading

 

1.  What does Mr. Reed mean when he says “Equal people are not free.”?

People would have to be forced into being equal and it wouldn’t be their own free will.

 

2.  What is the deadly trade-off to reliance upon government, according to Reed?

The government will take more than they will give to the people if the people depend too strongly on it.

 

3.  Why did the Founding Fathers assure that the United States became a republic rather than a pure democracy?

It provides a mechanism by which almost anyone can have some say in some matters of government.  Such as running for office, supporting candidates and causes of our choice, and speaking out in public forums.

 

4.  What is the saving grade of democracy according to Lawrence Reed?

A political change without violence.

 

5.  Richard Haas gives two unusual reasons for advocating democracy.  What are they?

Mature democracies tend not to make war on one another and it discourages terrorism.

 

6.  Give two reasons you personally would promote democracy.

My first reason is that people have a say in what happens in their country and my second reason is that democracy is a way for the people to get what they want without controlling their country.