Wow...I was just talking about this the other day.
Republicans are foremost for a country ruled by a “FREE MARKET” and openly favor abolishing American Democracy in favor of it. What is Democracy? Democracy is a form of government in which all citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal (and more or less direct) participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law. It can also encompass social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination.
What is a “Free Market”? Free market is an economic system in which prices and wages are determined by unrestricted competition between businesses, without government regulation or fear of monopolies.
Taken at its extreme, which is where the current Republican party wants it to go, there is a conflict between "Free Market" and "Democracy". They are incompatible. When the citizens of the USA have an equal say in things that affect their daily lives such as pollution, their wages, pensions, education, economics, immigration, social welfare, property rights, etc…. they can interfere with the free market and put restrictions on business. For example, when the people of the USA are collectively concerned that second hand smoke is harmful to everyone around the smoker, they demand that the tobacco industry be regulated. When the American people are concerned because oil is being spilled into the Gulf from an oil rig, they demand that the oil industry is regulated. When the economy is brought to its knees because of bankers give out questionable mortgages and then bet against them, the American people demand that the banking industry is regulated. When gas prices soar because of speculation on Wall Street, the American people demand that Wall Street be regulated. When jobs are sent oversees and industry in the USA falters, the American people demand regulations. When coal miners die because of unsafe work conditions, the American people demand that the coal industry is regulated. When semi-automatic weapons are making American victims of unnecessary violence, the American people demand that the gun industry be regulated. When workers rights are violated and people are being paid unfairly, the American people insist that businesses are regulated. Essentially, Democracy hinders free trade and therefore must be abolished for free trade to prosper.
Now Republicans are trying to make people believe that Democracy is Socialism. That they are the same thing. They are not. Socialism is an economic and political advocating public or common ownership and cooperative management of the means of production and allocation of resources. A socialist society is organized on the basis of relatively equal power-relations, self-management, dispersed decision-making (adhocracy) and a reduction or elimination of hierarchical and bureaucratic forms of administration and governance, the extent of which varies in different types of socialism. This ranges from the establishment of cooperative management structures to the abolition of all hierarchical structures in favor of free association.
Essentially, the Republican argument is that if you allow the American people to participate Democracy by regulating businesses and environment and promoting the welfare of the people for their common good, this is akin to giving them cooperative management and rights to make decisions in business, economics, environmental decisions, and therefore it is Socialism. Thats NOT Socialism, thats DEMOCRACY.
The American people have been sold this and they bought it. They are giving up their rights to live in a Democracy in place of living in the dictatorship of a free market. They have convinced the American people that business prosperity at any cost is the key to our future. They have been convinced that unions that protect the workers are bad. That teachers, cops and firefighters don’t deserve pensions but Congressmen, bankers, stockbrokers and executives do. The have convinced us that the corporations and wealthy people will reward the middle class if they "be good" and don't get in the way. Allow them tax cuts and pave the way for them. They have tried to convince the American people that private insurance companies will look out for their welfare. They have allowed corporations to contribute to campaigns to convince people that the canadits they back are going to look out for them. But business (any business) has one objective, to make money. That is a businesses only objective. This is scary stuff. Truly frightening. This country is going to become something none of recognize anymore. The Free Market has been given rights and individuals are losing ours.
I was reading a great article about this the other day. I will try to find it and post it.
