Editor’s note: Editorials are opinion pieces that reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication or its staff. Constructive feedback is always welcome. 

Dylan Weber

Socialism is the new fad nowadays, but what is it? Why is it popular? And why is it immoral? This article will answer all of your questions.

Socialism is an economic and political ideology that highly shortens or eliminates the gap between social classes. Defined by dictionary.com socialism is a “Political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.”  

What socialism basically means is that all production, distribution, and exchanges are managed by the government. This means that the labor and money made by citizens belong to the community, aka the government. It is popular in today’s day and age because people don’t look at it as theft.

In the words of a Mr. Yohn “It’s a gateway drug to communism.” People now look at socialism as a moral ideology. This is simply not the case. It is supposed to be fair. But realistically it’s tyranny. The notion of socialism is that you do not own your own labor, that your work is owed to society.

That is theft of one’s own hard work and time. But one common argument is that it works. No, it doesn’t. Socialism is a broken system. Many people debate that the Nordic countries are flourishing and that they themselves are socialists. This is incorrect.

They are a Social Democracy. According to Fee.org, “While it is true that the Scandinavian countries provide things like a generous social safety net and universal health care, an extensive welfare state is not the same thing as socialism.” Social democracies are based on three ideologies: freedom, justice, and solidarity. That is different than socialism.

True socialism does not embrace freedom, justice, or solidarity as core ideologies. Just look at Venezuela; the country is in ruins. All because of socialism.