Is It Really Socialism?

The pros and cons, as well as definitions, of socialism have been circulating profusely lately. Many of those who disagree with the current crop of Democrats accuse them of promoting socialism and identify it with failed ventures such as Venezuela. Meanwhile, many of those who are critical of the Republicans argue that what they are proposing is historic American concern for the common good and not socialism, at least not like Venezuela but something more akin to the Scandinavian countries.

I will not contribute to, what seems to me a pointless, pseudo-debate on socialism vs. capitalism. But I will observe that these are only two, relatively recent, economic systems invented by humans and neither are divinely ordained in Scripture or anywhere else. Both reflect some noble ideals and some grievous flaws. I will also observe that they are not the only human inventions of economic systems. Feudalism dominated Europe for centuries. Ancient empires and colonialism fed their wealth on the resources extracted from conquered peoples and colonies. Bartering prevailed even after the human invention of money (in many forms).

Those in positions of privilege, power, and wealth in all human systems work hard not only to maintain their status but to claim divine or natural justification for the political and economic systems from which they benefit. My sense is that this is the appeal of Ayn Rand’s thinking in certain circles today. But that is not at all new. The printing of the Guttenberg Bible in 1454 fueled the translating of the Bible into English. Without rehearsing that whole history, the Geneva Bible of 1560 that challenged the divine right of kings was embraced by the Puritans, including those who settled Massachusetts and are popularly called pilgrims. So when King James I authorized the translation we know by his name (King James Version) in 1611, he insisted on translators and translations that would support his divine right as king. That, among other things, contributed to the Puritans (aka pilgrims) coming to Massachusetts in 1620 to establish a commonwealth out of the reach of King James I. That the KJV translation became the standard Bible for evangelicals in the US for many, many years is quite ironic. However, King James I probably got more than he bargained for as both the scholarly and literary work of the translators went well beyond his attempt to manipulate the Bible to keep his power.

So in the current brouhaha about “socialism,” I believe remembering that both capitalism and socialism, and all other economic systems with their attendant political systems, are human inventions. Historically, the biblical principle of justice especially for the weak, the poor, the outsiders, the widows, the orphans gets short shrift from power people in all of these systems, some far worse than others. I would like to see the current pseudo-debates move past slapping labels, such as “socialist,” on something as a kind of curse word to dismiss both ideas and people without engaging them. Rather, can we explore together how best to nourish justice and prosperity in which all can participate? I am not intending this as either advocating socialism or criticizing capitalism, but as an appeal for genuine dialog and debate.