Having lived and
worked in England for the last two years, I believe I can make a
comparison between capitalism and socialism based on my experiences
in these philosophies, both politically and economically.
This isn’t meant
as a political statement, saying one is better than the other. In my
opinion, both have some good points as well as their bad points. I’m
just speaking as a person who has worked for over 40 years and has
grown in my thoughts about what it takes to be a good employee and
citizen as well as what it takes to be a good employer and caretaker
of the nation.
What I have found to
be the most difficult part about working in a socialist society for
the last two years is that I’m not entirely working for my own
benefit. I don’t mind helping others. I did it in America by
donating to the Salvation Army throughout the year, with monetary
gifts as well as quality second hand products. In the UK, some of my
taxes goes to help others, which again I don’t mind, but the
“helping” others get can amount to more than what a full time job
offers. So in the end, why work?
The people that work
in England – work. Than you have a group that works because they
have too, yet they do just the bare minimum and rely on the
government to fill in the shortfall. In America, there were two
major times in my life where I was unemployed. The first time I
ended up homeless. The second time was because of being made
redundant.
The first time I
didn’t have enough of a work history to get government help. The
second time, I was offered classes to help find a job but I never
received a penny in unemployment compensation. I didn’t receive
food stamps or any help with rent or to help pay the utility bills.
In England, I could have had a nice “paycheck” with all the
benefits I would have received.
This part of
socialism I don’t like. If I work, I should be paid a good wage
and it is mine to do with what I want. I shouldn’t have to support
those who don’t want to work. If I work to support others, what is
the incentive to work? It is a part of American capitalism I agree
with. You work to better your life. If that means you have more
money than your neighbour than so be it. And vice-versa, if my
neighbour has more than you have, it means they have worked for it
and have earned it.
The part of
capitalism I don’t like is health care. If you have money you can
afford insurance, prescriptions, hospital care, doctors, and
everything else. If you don’t have the money you won’t be able
to take care of yourself medically without some kind of outside help.
And to get that help means getting government assistance which is
filled with shame and guilt. So people wait as long as they can
before seeing a doctor. Sometimes the wait is to long and feeling
better is no longer an option.
Years ago America
used to offer free breast cancer screenings. It was a great idea to
help poor people get checked for cancer for free. The problem was
that after being diagnosed with cancer the patients didn’t have the
resources to get treatment. So, nothing got done. The person knew
they had cancer, yet the government wouldn’t help them without
jumping through hoops and sacrificing whatever little they had just
for a chance to receive therapy.
Recently I was sent
a notice for a free bowel (colon) cancer screening. Everything
turned out to be normal and that is the end of it for two years. If
there was a problem I would have been sent for a colonoscopy and
whatever else needed would be done without anyone asking how you
would pay for it.
Something is wrong
in a society that judges healthcare with the amount of money you have
in your bank and what kind of job you have. Part of my taxes in
England go towards health care, not just for me but for those who
can’t contribute. This is part of human decency, anything less of
being treated as equal we should feel ashamed.
I’ll quit there
before I turn this into a political speech...
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