Left Many Regarding Socialism example essay topic

1,667 words
Between 1939 and 1945 the Jewish population went from fifteen million to nine million. Jewish people were unjustly singled out for persecution and many lost everything before the sadistic mastermind could be stopped. "The local headquarters for the Firma Otto Heil [... ] located in the town of Kamionka [... ] was by no means the only large German company to move operations to Polish soil to reap greater wartime profits. I.G. Farben had a large chemical factory in Monowitz, part of the Auschwitz complex. [... ] Whenever the claim is made that no one knew about the death camps and exploitation of Jewish labor, it should be remembered that these giant companies, many still in business, made use of this labor and that thousands of their employees worker right alongside the dying, skeletal Jews" (Halpern 5). America stands on the brink of facing her own "Holocaust" if action is not taken.

The current capitalist society is basically a politicians' democracy which creates the perfect breeding ground for such atrocities to occur. The American people already allow for killing by abortion. By outlawing this practice the population will increase and society will have to develop a more complete welfare system that is possible only through socialism. Transformation of the current family planning system by abolishing abortion would facilitate the transition in America to a worker's democracy, that being socialism. Socialism is an economic and political pact that stresses public and community ownership of profitable property. Properties used to manufacture goods and services, such as land and industrial sites, are considered profitable.

Within the constructs of this society all people able, excluding children and those of retirement age, are expected to work. Community ownership is viewed as the solution to the abundant public problems that plague civilizations, such as poverty and the inequalities found among the different social classes of people. Karl Marx, by far the most significant socialist in history, co-wrote the Communist Manifesto (1848) with Friedrich Engels which ultimately led to the formation of the First International (Schneck 1). Marx, a philosopher and economist, and Engels, a journalist, were both Germans who saw private property as the downfall of modern societies. Marx contended that the weaknesses of capitalism would foster its deterioration, thus enabling the working class to eradicate private property. The First International convened in 1865 in London and resulted in the idea of a revolution towards state socialism, rule strictly by the working class (1).

While many socialists agreed with the First International, some believed that reform needed to occur gradually rather than from an abrupt transformation. This concept, termed moderate socialism, matured throughout the later 1800's and early 1900's to become the central focus of many new socialist groups. The Fabian Society, established in 1884 in the United Kingdom, was just one outcome of the new movement (1). Although socialism surfaced in Europe in the 1800's, it did not find a home in the United States until 1901 (2).

Eugene V. Debs, who ran for president of the United States four times, and Victor L. Berger, who served in Congress, were influential members of the Socialist Party (2). The Socialist Party, a combination of labor advocates and Christian socialists, managed to influence politics without ever having a candidate win the presidential election. The Christian socialists emphasized biblical visions of communal property with each individual working towards a united goal of harmony. The Socialist Party also sprouted presidential candidate Norman M. Thomas whose ideas influenced the national recovery aspects of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal (2).

Despite the fact that many socialist ideas were being utilized in the United States, the Cold War weakened the interest of socialism because many connected it with Communism. This lack of attraction during the 1940's and 1950's paved the way for the development of a new socialism during the 1960's and 1970's designated the New Left (3). Sizeable capitalist corporations, advertising effects, and lack of adequate welfare programs were scrutinized by affiliates Herbert Marcuse, Noam Chomsky and Michael Harrington. The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, left many regarding socialism as inferior which furthered the need for socialist groups to adopt various other names in order to operate effectively. Age-old beliefs such as "it takes a village to raise a child" ring true, even today, and can be used in conjunction with socialism to help ease serious societal problems.

Children, especially in low-income areas, run rampant and lack some much needed guidance. A comprehensive welfare system is not the only benefit that socialism would have on these communities. The very basis of socialism demands that the needs of everyone be considered alike, with the good of all humankind as the goal. To instill such a feeling of worth and importance in people who were formerly repressed would do wonders for humanity. No longer would big businesses be allowed to exploit their workers. Economic diversities would diminish thus alleviating the immense poverty issues that plague America's cities.

Medically assisted procreation (MAP) has become increasingly more prevalent in recent years, with an estimated 500,000 children born to artificially inseminated women by 1989 (Gi thens 192). Whereas most activists hold steadfast ideas concerning the status of the fetus when dealing with abortion, the leftover MAP embryos have created a gray area of controversy. Although artificial insemination has been on record since the 1700's, it was the technology of cryogenic preservation that paved the way for in vitro fertilization (IVF) to vastly expand fertility options (191). Cryogenic preservation, the process of freezing and thawing sperm (1940), fertilized embryos and ova has been regarded as a miracle by many couples who long for a family (191).

Anti-abortionists question what happens to the remainder of the embryos whom are not chosen. They fail to find a distinction between the end result of the surplus of embryos and direct abortions. The world faces various imminent dangers due to overpopulation yet society allows for the artificial creation of life. Family planning has become just another name for eugenics.

MAP is an expensive process which allows it to retain an elite status. Politicians and physicians introduced artificial insemination slowly and have concentrated on exploiting its intense emotional effects on families to gain support from American citizens. As technology advanced, prospective parents could begin choosing certain genetic traits such as sex, hair and eye color, and soon personality and intelligence, as well as avoiding birth defects. "Applied biogenetic's, as well as MAP, are thus immediately labeled as tools of racism, a first step toward the horrific Final Solution of Nazi Germany" (199). Eliminating socialists became the aspirations of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini due to the fundamental effect that socialists had in preventing the Nazi occupation of Europe. Socialism must awaken in humanity in order to prevent history from repeating itself.

Family planning activists argue that the Roe vs. Wade (1973) decision did not invent abortion. On that argument the abortion activists are correct, but they neglect to admit that their "victory" opened the door for eugenics. Politicians allowed for the significance of the decision to be placed on the shoulders of women's rights to disguise the underlying after shocks they desired. Throughout American history the seeds of change have been planted unusually long before a desired harvest of conversion. This is exemplified by the Population Council having to hide their underlying motive to ultimately change the current family planning policy from the media during the 1950's (Baker 2). By turning the focus of family planning, including abortion, to a women's rights campaign movement the research necessary to carry out eugenics was allowed to proceed openly, although under false pretenses.

Many maintain that socialism lacks the necessary economic flexibility that the technological world receives from capitalism. Socialism would eliminate the economic depressions that have plagued the United States during its history, including the one it is currently in. Capitalism may provide plasticity, but it also drives a wedge between the social classes of people and causes extreme unrest. It is not by coincidence that the richest and most influential individuals and corporations glorify capitalism; they are the ones with the most to lose.

Ironically, it is those people who also would benefit the greatest from the implementation of socialism, which would allow them to assess their worth from within instead of materialistically. At the beginning of the twentieth century Germany had expertise in various fields of knowledge, such as science, medicine and technology. They were an exceedingly educated and an unquestionably cultured society, yet they lacked the vital component of ethics. "The Holocaust was different because it came at the hands of those we would have been certain were incapable of committing atrocities. [... ] The death camps were designed by professors and built by Ph. D. 's".

(Blech 1). The United States today in the 21st century finds itself on the forefront of much technological advancement. Whereas no one contends the hi-tech aspects of American society, can anyone be assured that ethical standards are being utilized? If we do not learn from our history then we are doomed to repeat its horrific events. Socialists were targeted by Hitler and Mussolini because socialism way the only way to stop the Nazi activity.

Politician Eduard Bernstein asserted that "socialism must be achieved within a democratic system" by making "members of the middle class [... ] allies and strip [ing] for practical reforms instead of revolutionary change" (Schneck 2). For America to remain the home of the free her citizens must abolish the current family planning system, including abortion, and set up a socialist society.

Bibliography

Baker, Kristen Lynn. "Abortion: The Savior of Democracy". Unpublished Essay. Columbia Basin Community College at Pasco, 2002.
Blech, Rabbi Benjamin. "Civilized Murderers". Aish. com. 1999.
web (13 Aug. 2002).
Ellis, Rabbi Elihu, and Rabbi Shmuel Silinsky. "Scientific Jew Hatred". Aish. com. 2002.
Halpern, Sam. "Sam Halpern- Personal Testimony". Aish. com. 1996.
Schneck, Stephen. "Socialism". World Book Online Americas Edition. web (8 Aug. 2002).