Who Says that Socialism is Bad for America?

One of the constant themes of the Republican presidential campaign has been that voting Democratic would be tantamount to supporting socialism. The GOP - staunch defenders of capitalism and free markets - claims that the Democrats want to "redistribute wealth". This threatens certain people on many levels - both those who are wealthy and are afraid of losing what they have, and those who feel that sharing the bounty is equivalent to fostering a welfare state.

However, it seems to me that this fear of a "socialized" America is unfounded and schizophrenic. Those same individuals who despise the thought of single-payer health care and government regulated labor are at the same time the biggest supporters of the U.S. military.

And what are the American armed forces if not the single largest socialized entity in our nation? While the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines provide a valuable service in time of war, they add absolutely nothing to our gross domestic product. They do not contribute in any meaningful way to the nation's economy by producing goods or providing taxable services. In fact, when one considers that more than half of the U.S. budget is spent on military and DOD salaries, weapons systems, and veterans' benefits, the military is actually a giant drain on our economic health.

Consider the fact that most military members receive free or subsidized housing, free meals at the chow hall or subsidized groceries at the commissary, free health care with no choice of providers, and 30 days of vacation time a year. I am not suggesting that enlisted folks have it easy. I am merely stating that the job security and work conditions enjoyed by the American armed forces eerily reflect those of employees in Socialist nations, where worker benefits are fixed and employees are not at the mercy of big corporations.

While I don't profess to be any kind of economics expert, I believe that neither pure Capitalism nor pure Socialism is the answer to our current financial woes. However, I do think it is not just the job of the government to defend the people, but also to support its people. By that I don't mean to put them all on the dole, but to provide them with an environment in which to flourish. While Republicans suggest that the best environment is one with opportunities for companies to thrive and employ people, I think that giving working people a modicum of job security and benefits that will allow them to survive without begging is a good thing too.

Job security allows citizens breathing room to be creative, and the luxury of planning to spend on long term purchases like cars and homes without wondering if they will be laid off or bankrupt tomorrow. Medical coverage and educational allowances may be costly initiatives, but prevention is far cheaper in the long run than dealing with the fallout of emergencies later on. If providing for the common welfare by giving Americans a bottom that won't fall out from under is Socialism, well then, I'm all for it.