Capitalism and Socialism: Means not Ends
Too often I hear people throwing around the words Capitalism and Socialism. These two words are extremely charged, and must be used carefully. There are many who complain of the Capitalist system we preside in today, and they have extremely valid points. It is not their opinions that I am speaking of, only the way they present them.
The form that Capitalism has taken in our society is truly unsustainable. We must realize that it is the form of Capitalism, not Capitalism itself that we are really speaking of. If our Capitalist system honestly took into account one’s impact on the earth, our views on Capitalism might be different.
I am writing this because I believe compromise, and the melding of ideas is essential to the turnaround we seek. The end product: happy people and a healthy planet, is what matters most. Socialism and Capitalism are merely two extreme means to this end, not ends themselves. After all, both have potential benefits and potential dangers. We must not get consumed in fighting for a means, for it is the end that matters most.
Many people who are attached to the anti-Capitalist ideology are in reality only opposed to the current system’s negligence of the individual/corporation’s impact on the commons. Someone who longs for a truly local economy possesses Capitalistic sentiments as well. For it is inevitable that the better apple will cost more than its competitor. Capitalism is natural, and can be used for innovation.
I am by no means defending the current Capitalist system. Regulation is needed. Socialistic and Capitalistic forces can check one other to prevent abuses. We know the end, but we will never know the most efficient means.