To the editor: Individuals aren’t selecting “socialism” over “capitalism.” They’re selecting spending priorities that favor human beings over firms (“Can socialism ever be greater than only a fad in America?,” Nov. 4).
Capitalism, as practiced within the U.S., has advanced into crony capitalism and even predatory capitalism — straying removed from textbook capitalism, which really acknowledges the necessity for rules to stop devolving into oligarchy and monopoly.
The transfer towards “socialism,” as columnist Jonah Goldberg defines it, is definitely a rejection of the horrible “firms are individuals” and “cash is speech” Supreme Court docket selections which have plagued our politics and our economics as precise human beings wrestle within the face of grotesque company greed. Textbook socialism is all about authorities management of the technique of manufacturing for all sectors of the financial system with a view to flatten out wealth distribution.
The “socialism” Goldberg objects to is actually altering the spending priorities of tax income to favor individuals, not synthetic intelligence, robots or billionaires and their companies that wipe out competitors. The switch of wealth from the employees in our financial system to a small variety of particular person hoarders has been rising for at the least the final 40 years. Now, working individuals often wrestle to afford meals, clothes, shelter, healthcare, security or some other indicators of a wholesome society.
Utilizing the coded language of many years of right-wing concern mongering serves no function. It merely distracts us from the straightforward fact that our authorities is meant to serve “we the individuals” and will “promote the final welfare” thereof.
David Gene Echt, Torrance
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To the editor: Within the richest nation on the earth, there ought to be a flooring under which no one can fall, offering primary housing, healthcare, meals and security. Above that flooring, capitalism and free enterprise can flourish and people can thrive based mostly on competitors and innovation.
If one needs to specific oneself by the humanities, by serving to others, supporting the atmosphere or in some other approach that’s not based mostly on how a lot one is paid, so be it. And if one needs to speculate, construct or in any other case pursue different endeavors that are supposed to generate earnings, that’s fantastic too. Name that system no matter you need.
Anita Rufus, Palm Desert
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To the editor: Being a self-described progressive, I’m shocked by the variety of occasions that I agree with Goldberg. It provides me hope that there’s a approach out of our present divide. When he factors out that Trump’s insurance policies of “large tariffs, cronyism, industrial planning and partial authorities possession of industries” don’t align with the definition of capitalism, I couldn’t agree extra.
Goldberg, nonetheless, doesn’t inform us that the insurance policies of the Trump administration have been famous to dovetail with what was referred to as Nationwide Socialism in Germany earlier than and through World Struggle II.
Larry Harmell, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Goldberg’s tackle socialism is basic conservative thought: Don’t scratch the floor an excessive amount of, as a result of the dialog can shortly go towards you. Simply invoke Karl Marx and remind outdated those who, after they had been younger, that line of thought was thought of dangerous.
Capitalism has all the time been an unfair financial technique. However if you mix it with unfair market practices like an arguably rigged inventory market, enormous tax cuts for the rich and big company mergers, it turns into the Gilded Age. Goldberg ought to try the tougher argument: reforming his beloved capitalism, to the purpose the place some other concept gained’t be as favorable.
Michael Harold, West Los Angeles
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To the editor: Goldberg, in making an attempt to find out whether or not socialism is right here to remain, notes that settlement on what it really is appears to be missing. Might I respectfully (and I do respect Goldberg) counsel the next? Socialism, by stopping poverty, averts communism.
My grandfather, amongst many different activists within the Netherlands, fought for socialism, leading to that nation changing into and enduring as a social democracy. This places to relaxation the lie {that a} socialist political system inevitably results in a communist one.
Anneke Mendiola, Santa Ana
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To the editor: Listening to New York Metropolis mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s speech was such a breath of contemporary air. He proudly calls himself a “democratic socialist,” whereas President Trump and his minions name him a radical left-wing “communist.”
Why don’t our leaders begin educating the American individuals what “socialism” actually means? As in, inexpensive housing, healthcare for everybody, clear air, honest wages, free training, common little one care, dietary safety and prioritizing group pursuits over particular person ones.
Tony Haftel, Temecula
