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+--- Thread: What is Socialism? Why is it better? (/showthread.php?tid=12)
What is Socialism? Why is it better? - ComradeMambo - 03-26-2026
Socialism is the system upon which essential industries (in some cases all industries) are operated and organized for public benefit rather than private profit. Socialism emphasizes economic and workplace democracy, often through workers councils/cooperatives. This manifests in multiple different ways, ranging from anti-market to limited market systems, operating under different economic logic but maintaining the core principles of democracy and equality. Socialism also focuses on ensuring everyone has access to basic needs (healthcare, education, livable wages, etc...), Private property is not equivalent to personal property, as private property is the owned means of production (factories, Workshops, farms), whereas personal property is that which is not used for profit (Personal belongings, Houses (within reason), and others).
Socialism is intended and has proven to reduce/eradicate extreme inequality by preventing wealth and capital from consolidating into few hands. Socialism has, but is not limited to, social safety nets and social programs. These make access to basic needs not reliant on income, and therefore, a higher standard of living for all. As proven time and time again, workplace cooperatives are more efficient and effective than privately owned businesses. What is a cooperative? It is the practice of the workers owning where they work collectively. This also expands freedom through not being reliant on employers for healthcare or wages but rather owning your own labor. Profit driven waste is also avoided, as profit drives waste insofar as it profits the business/corporation. This extends democracy into life and work, rather than relegating democracy to simply voting for candidates, though socialism may be achieved through voting, and the equality of ownership reduces/eliminates wealth inequality that undermines democracy as a whole.