The beliefs of modern socialism were first written about by Karl Marx in his 1848 book, The Communist Manifesto. Marx believed that the current political systems built on state capitalism were unsustainable and would ultimately be destroyed by the working class in a revolution. Capitalism and oppression are inseparable. Marx believed that the working class would ultimately rise up against the ruling class to control the means of production.
True Equality
Almost every state in existence today has an unequal distribution of wealth that is sustained by dividing the working class using race, sex, or xenophobia. The working class is the majority of any capitalist system while the wealth is concentrated among a relatively small amount of people. Socialism removes the class struggle by providing for everyone regardless of class.
Socialism is a system which ignores borders. For any wealth to be accumulated within a country, it has been done at the expense of the workers. These workers have the power to form revolutionary groups regardless of what current political controls are in place. Policies like NAFTA and terms like illegal immigration are irrelevant under socialism.
Organizing Socialism
Unions in The United States may be a form of socialism which exists within an overwhelming capitalist framework. Most unions may have begun from revolutionary acts in the face of oppression, but true socialism is the organization of the working class completely independent of businesses, including unions. The need to bargain for labor contracts with business leaders would be obsolete in a truly socialist society. Workplaces would be democratic with the workers making decisions typically forced upon them by management.
What Socialism is Not
There is a large difference between true socialism and what is claimed to be socialism by governments like China and Cuba. The governments might claim to be acting in the interest of their citizens, but they remain run by the state and not by the people. The working class of these countries still has no democratic control of the wealth or means of production.
Socialism is not communism. If there was a spectrum of systems that had capitalism at one end and communism at the other, socialism would occupy a great deal of the middle ground. Socialism is necessary in order to form a communist society. In addition, communism makes all property public, removes any right of estate and creates a government to stand in opposition to any form of capitalism. The most famous example of communism was the Soviet Union, which was formed during the Russian Revolution of 1917 and used Marxist ideals as the basis for the new society.
Socialism is not fascism. Fascism rejects people of different races or backgrounds in the name of purity and community. Socialism has a place for all citizens who want to take part in controlling the wealth that arises from their labor.
See also; Misconceptions About Socialism
The Economic Bailout and The Media
In 2008 Congress approved a $700 billion "bailout" of insurance companies and select banks. Although this has been labeled as socialism by the media, it is absolutely not what would be considered true socialism. If it were, every citizen would have been given an opportunity to directly vote to approve or reject this decision by the government. Additionally, all employees of AIG and Goldman Sachs would have decided whether to approve high risk loans which ultimately lead to the following economic crisis.
The difference between true socialism and what is portrayed in the media is very significant. Regardless of the current political climate, it is important to understand the possibilites available to all citizens under a socialist system of government.
References
The International Socialist Organization, "What We Stand For" http://www.internationalsocialist.org/what_we_stand_for.html
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