Counterpoint: If capitalism did the right thing, we wouldn't need socialism
A guest column by Chuck Gabriele published Dec. 12 in The Desert Sun used a fabricated conversation between FDR and Harry Truman to accuse Democrats of pushing the U.S. toward socialism.
Abraham Lincoln feared that would happen when he freed slaves in 1863, but his crystal ball was better than Franklin and Harry’s. Old Abe knew capitalism would be the root cause.
Using some of Lincoln's actual words as a basis, I can imagine Abe talking to his wife, Mary, when drafting the Emancipation Proclamation:
“Even as I write this Mary, I worry about those damned capitalists.”
“Abe, capital has its rights, which are worthy of protection as any other right.”
“Capital is only the fruit of labor, Mary, and could never have existed had not labor first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” His mood grew grim. “These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert, to fleece the people.”
“Fleece is a strong word, Abe.”
“You’re right, Mary. Abuse is a better descriptor. Mark my words, those capitalists will refuse to share profits with employees, the workers who generated those profits. Or, they’ll hold wages down. Hell, they might even find ways to have work done by machines or in other countries to eliminate jobs.”
“Why would they do that, Abe?”
“Because maximizing shareholder wealth is their priority. Capitalists don’t care about workers. To them, labor is expendable, easily replaceable and abundant in supply.”
“Abe, calm—”
The great man slammed his fist on the table.
“This greed will extend into controlling food, water, housing, and healthcare. Can you imagine what capitalists will do to the cost of education? The average working man won’t be able to afford to send his children to college or buy a house or take a decent vacation. They won’t ever be able to retire; all their meager income will go to food and rent. Both parents will have to work — which will endanger the family as a sacred unit. They’ll toil so feverishly until they wear out and get sick. Of course, capitalism will take control of people’s medical care. They’ll make care something that only the rich can afford. They’ll dream up Machiavellian excuses to avoid paying for people’s care.”
“Abe, how will they do that?”
“Capitalism will create mechanisms of control to influence what people read, listen to and learn in school. Like a fox, they will trick people into believing false narratives like the Civil War was about states’ rights instead of slavery. When Tom Jefferson wrote ‘All men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights’, he meant all people, not just people with money.
“They might even go so far as to say there is no point in protecting the masses from pollution or disease. Where does all that smoke from trains and factories go, Mary? Can you imagine if George Washington did not inoculate his troops against smallpox? There’s no way we would have won the Revolutionary War if he hadn’t mandated that. If Ben Franklin knew capitalists would pervert his free press to support all of this, he would roll over in his grave.
“Capitalists want to divide people into have and have-nots because poor people will always be hungry and therefor easier to control. When people go hungry, not just for food, but also their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, they will become unruly and desperate. They’ll use their guns to take their frustrations out on the world.”
“How much damage can a musket do, Abe?”
“Trust their greed, Mary. Capitalists will invent better weaponry that will eviscerate people in mass quantities. If I had my way, I’d allow people to bear arms, but restrict the seriously dangerous weapons to our military.”
“But the Second Amendment allows you to regulate the militia. It’s necessary to the security of a free state.”
“It also says it shall not be infringed, Mary. Capitalists will focus on the part that allows them to profit.”
“Whoever drafted that Abe, should be sent back to grammar school.”
“I agree. Ultimately, the people will look to their leaders for solutions. But I fear, Mary, instead of solving the root cause — that capitalism abuses the worker — we will drift toward socialism. Someone will create a retirement fund or tax-funded education or medical care.
“The sad part is it all could be avoided. If capitalism would simply do the right thing — share their profits with their workers, at least enough to lead a comfortable life — there would be no need for socialist solutions.”
“I’m not optimistic, dear husband,” Mary said, “But I hope capitalists take your advice.”
John Stipa lives near Wilmington, North Carolina.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Counterpoint: We need socialism because of capitalism's flaws
