longer.blue

Socialism is the idea that the business of government, all the laws, the regulation - & all of the process of designing & manufacturing things, getting product to customers, making sales & making profits - is something everyone in society can take ownership of, be a part of, and organize for themselves. Socialism is a progressive participatory mindset. An inclusive sustem, everyone benefits & has a part to play & there is space for caring & sharing... For example, in socialism, healthcare, aged care, & other vital services are a cost - a social liability shared by all, they are financed by all & do not need to make a profit, They are in fact, more efficient when run as non-profit ventures as most infrastructure (roads, parks, libraries etc) are. Conservatism is the idea that ordinary people provide only the labor & the consumer base, & almost all of the business of government, of designing, manufacturing & regulating things, of getting product to customers, making sales & profiting - is now "privatized" That is - these activities are reserved for a powerful corporate elite who now control capital expenditure & are able to manipulate the market so that the ordinary people become liable - & take the pain - for any losses (socialism with a twist!) BUT - almost all profits are still reserved primarily for their benefit only. Conservatism is a retrogressive mindset masquerading as opportunity for all. Both these systems have their moderate, reasonable central ground & both have their rabid extremes. Good government is about finding that middle ground & reconciling these opposing views so that we have a society where we care & share at the bottom end, but we simultaneously reward innovation & enterprise at the top end - & we do it all without resorting to injustice or exploitation See the problem now?