Much Less in a Context of Empowerment

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66chandona
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2023 10:12 am

Much Less in a Context of Empowerment

Post by 66chandona »

As the example of Sweden (and other social democratic countries) shows, these benefits can be provided under capitalism if the working class fights hard enough for them and the ruling class believes it is to their advantage. Socialism used to mean a system that would be superior to capitalism not only morally but economically. It would be more rational, efficient, and modern, and it would produce abundance for all. That idea was long lost. Centralized economic planning was a disaster wherever it was attempted. When the socialists have seized state power, another problem has arisen: that of democracy. It is no coincidence that many socialist nations have evolved towards authoritarianism, with power concentrated in one party, often led by a long-serving leader. In a closed circle of power, politics becomes a business for relatives and cronies.

Fidel Castro ruled Cuba for forty-nine years and ceded the government to his brother; North Korea is going for the third generation of Kims; Madame Mao and Elena Ceaușescu were clearly the special data powerful women in their respective countries (and neither of them ended well). I know what you're thinking: whatever they were called, the Soviet Union, Mao's China, and Hoxha's Albania weren't really socialist. On the other hand, if there are open elections, with a free press and organized political parties that can compete on equal terms with the ruling party, people can vote against socialism.

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That is what happened in Nicaragua in the 1990s and what seems to be happening in part today with Sweden, Denmark, France and other countries where socialist parties were once powerful. In fact, the social democratic welfare states we admire have been shrinking for years. Sweden has reduced its welfare benefits to the point that the New York Timesblamed the cutbacks for a "wave of deaths" in nursing homes during the pandemic. Furthermore, hostility to immigration is driving formerly progressive voters to the right across the social democratic world. Denmark is now one of the most hostile places in Europe for immigrants, and the Social Democrats are as tough on the issue as the xenophobic Danish People's Party.
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