All of these societies have issues of various types, and they all try to solve them in the most efficient and beneficial ways they see possible. We are all in this human organizational experimentation soup together and we all suffer the same human issues of greed, selfishness, anger, and worry. We also all have the same human capacity for love, compassion, forgiveness, and hope.
When we are operating in the lowest realm of human behavior, we have far more problems than when a culture is inspired to operate at the highest level of human behavior. I think we've seen that no matter what political system people are operating within, how the political leadership behaves ethically and morally makes one of the biggest imprints on the emotional health of a nation and its ability to be productive or to collaborate on the world stage.
Since I've been able to experience a lot of different economic and political environments, here are the basic (very basic) differences I've seen between Communism vs. Capitalism vs. Socialism. Now, realize these are broad sweeping generalizations and there are always nuances based on the culture, year, or leadership, but these are what I see as underlying ideologies. The reality of today's society is that traditional definitions of these socio-economic systems are much more constrained and defined than what actually happens in reality. So every time I see politicians arguing based on definitions, I begin to wonder if they have actually visited any countries that are practicing other forms of policy, or if they are just going on 1950s textbook definitions rather than actual realities.
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Television in Communism:
Television in Capitalism:
Television in Socialism:
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Guns in Communism:
Only the military has them and can use them.
Guns in Capitalism:
Anyone can have them and can use them.
Guns in Socialism:
Only after going through an extensive vetting process can certain people have them.
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Transportation in Communism:
Government supports affordable public transportation for major commerce areas. People can have their own form of transportation when they can afford it.
Transportation in Capitalism:
Only cities with higher taxes support affordable public transportation options. Mobility for most citizens is limited or enabled by their income.
Transportation in Socialism:
Anywhere there are enough people who may need transportation, there are likely affordable public transportation options. People can have their own form of transportation when they can afford it.
When we are operating in the lowest realm of human behavior, we have far more problems than when a culture is inspired to operate at the highest level of human behavior. I think we've seen that no matter what political system people are operating within, how the political leadership behaves ethically and morally makes one of the biggest imprints on the emotional health of a nation and its ability to be productive or to collaborate on the world stage.
Since I've been able to experience a lot of different economic and political environments, here are the basic (very basic) differences I've seen between Communism vs. Capitalism vs. Socialism. Now, realize these are broad sweeping generalizations and there are always nuances based on the culture, year, or leadership, but these are what I see as underlying ideologies. The reality of today's society is that traditional definitions of these socio-economic systems are much more constrained and defined than what actually happens in reality. So every time I see politicians arguing based on definitions, I begin to wonder if they have actually visited any countries that are practicing other forms of policy, or if they are just going on 1950s textbook definitions rather than actual realities.
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Television in Communism:
Run by the government to support political and social agendas.
Television in Capitalism:
Run by media executives to drive profits and commercial interests.
Television in Socialism:
Run by organizations to drive social awareness to communal causes and concerns.
Guns in Communism:
Only the military has them and can use them.
Guns in Capitalism:
Anyone can have them and can use them.
Guns in Socialism:
Only after going through an extensive vetting process can certain people have them.
Transportation in Communism:
Government supports affordable public transportation for major commerce areas. People can have their own form of transportation when they can afford it.
Transportation in Capitalism:
Only cities with higher taxes support affordable public transportation options. Mobility for most citizens is limited or enabled by their income.
Transportation in Socialism:
Anywhere there are enough people who may need transportation, there are likely affordable public transportation options. People can have their own form of transportation when they can afford it.
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Education in Communism:
Everyone gets education included up to a certain point, but wealthier people can pay for options.
Education in Capitalism:
Everyone is supposed to get it, but poor areas may suffer transportation options or infrastructure which make it difficult for all families to access. Wealthy people can buy options.
Education in Socialism:
Everyone gets education included up to a certain point, and wealthy people can pay for options.
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Sports in Communism:
A way to demonstrate the strength of the people and society on the world stage.
Sports in Capitalism:
A way to make money as a form of entertainment and advertising venue.
Sports in Socialism:
A way to socialize with friends and travel the world.
Arts in Communism:
A way to promote cultural stories, icons, and philosophical or spiritual ideas.
Arts in Capitalism:
A way to make money as a collector or form of entertainment.
Arts in Socialism:
A way for people to wrestle with difficult issues in public spaces.
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Medicine in Communism:
All people receive basic care as determined by the government. Wealthy people can afford options.
Medicine in Capitalism:
People can receive care they or their company have paid to have at the level they have paid to have it. Insurance companies may still fight or deny payment for care and claims based on profit.
Medicine in Socialism:
All people receive the care they need to be productive members of society. Additional options are available for additional payment.
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Leadership in Communism:
Political power is ultimate power.
Leadership in Capitalism:
Financial power is ultimate power.
Leadership in Socialism:
Organizational power is ultimate power.
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Wealthy people do fine in all of these political environments. Wealthy families can essentially still have whatever they want, wherever they are. However, they profit most from a capitalist culture in which they have the least taxes and the least obligation back to the citizens of the country they are capitalizing upon. In a socialist and communist culture, wealth is more heavily regulated and the tax structure sets up companies and people to contribute more back into the society. However, since the wealthy can basically buy citizenship and set up companies in whatever country suits them best, they will always find the best position to be in and will always find ways to capitalize on societies that give them the fewest regulations and barriers possible.
Poor people or underemployed people suffer the most in a Capitalist society in which there is the least safety net for people in vulnerable situations. The attitude of every man for himself and for the pursuit of personal wealth or gain leaves little to no room to help others. This is not to say there aren't benevolent people in capitalist societies making voluntary contributions to causes that they individually care about, but let's just say it doesn't always find the people who need it most. The idea and infrastructure of helping vulnerable people is mostly left up to non-profit organizations that rely on donations or to politicians who make budget allocations and whose time is generally being bought by people who have more wealth.
China is somewhere between Communism and Capitalism. While the government still has ultimate power, you can feel the power of Capitalism to control or influence that power. There is still plenty of stratification of wealth and poverty, but need is not as apparent as it is in more capitalist cultures. The live to work culture in China pushes the Capitalism agenda further.
Australia is largely Socialist with a touch of Capitalism. Taxes are high, but so is the quality of life along with the medical and social services relative to places where Capitalism or Communism dominate the culture. There are still issues between various classes of wealth or ownership, but the general culture of work to live means that people would much rather have a comfortable and happy life for themselves and their neighbors that doesn't require a certain level of wealth to be amassed first. People are more likely to do jobs they enjoy than work in a job they hate just for the money, and this effects the overall happiness of society.
You may read this and think I'm biased toward Socialism, and you wouldn't be entirely wrong. I've enjoyed countries that have strong socialist structures a lot. There's a sense of safety, security, accountability, and people caring about looking after each other that is lacking in other structures. Meanwhile, I acknowledge how my travel habits have fully benefitted from being able to travel to those places because of the Capitalist culture I live in, which currently has a currency standard high enough and plane ticket prices low enough to afford travel to a ton of other places.
In the end, if a Capitalist culture is truly looking after the most vulnerable members of society, than life in a Capitalist society is actually quite decent. However, when the Capitalist nature of that society has capitalized too much on people by not paying living wages while raising housing costs and not providing sufficient health care standards, than Capitalism will take a dive in favor of Socialism. If socialist structures feel that government isn't using their money appropriately, they will lean toward capitalism. If people in communist structures feel their government isn't taking care of them, they will lean toward capitalism. The push and pull of what is economically viable and desirable based on the quality of life of the people will likely continue to keep pushing the needle of politics and economics back and forth. When it gets too bad for too long and it seems like there's no recovery in sight, people will find a way to flee their country for better lives elsewhere.
If what a government wants is a stable and productive society- the health and happiness of people must always be their top priority- no matter what kind of socio-economic system they have.
