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Conservatives use the term socialism to describe government programs. Their purpose is to label these programs as bad, evil, foreign.

The meaning of socialism has evolved through the years. At one time it meant that the government controlled most everything. Later socialism meant that workers controlled the means of production. The dictionary definition of socialism connects it to communism.

Today however, in our country socialism generally means the services government supplies through taxation. This socialism involves taxpayer funds being used collectively to benefit society as a whole despite income, contribution, or ability to pay. In this sense socialism means we are willing to put into government hands those things that are mutually beneficial and private industry cannot supply.

Though the word socialism has bad connotations, it has positive meaning when used in connection to programs designed to help people. Part of conservative philosophy is to limit government and lower taxes. That may not be bad in itself but it is why they oppose Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, public education, childcare, minimum wage standards, womens health issues, health care for all, and anything involving taxes. (Notice they support a strong military a prime example of socialism- because that is the only service that their big money contributors cannot supply for themselves.)

Government sees the need for programs when private industry cant or wont help. Every democratic country in the world realizes the need for government involvement and all of them have a combination of capitalism with socialism. Unfettered capitalism does not work and that is why we have rules and regulations also branded as socialism to protect us from destructive forces like pollution.

Of course many programs and rules and regulations need improvement or upgrades and maybe some should be eliminated. But there is little room for legitimate debate in Congress when Republicans want to eliminate or greatly curtail programs, while Democrats want to improve those same programs.

A step to resume debate may be not branding programs with unfair labels.

Jack Strausser,

Elysburg

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Letter to the Editor: Socialism | Opinion | dailyitem.com - Sunbury Daily Item