| Can Democratic Socialism Work? | |
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10 Oct 2003 @ 13:52, by Bruce Kodish
It goes without saying (and apparently, goes even better with saying) that I don't consider all socialists stupid, immoral tyrants or murderers. There have been and continue to be different socialisms and they're not all the same.
Almost thirty years ago, I lived in a socialist community, an Israeli kibbutz, for two years. I learned that on that small scale (about 400 people) "democratic socialism" was not quite an oxymoron. However, I could see the strains in the utopian effort to abolish private property for the sake of social equality.
After more than 25 years, the kibbutzniks had to accede that different people are different, want different things and are differently motivated by the personal rewards they can gain for themselves.
In the early, early days, for example, no one had owned their own clothes or anything else. They picked what they needed from the communal laundry and hoped that things fit. Guess how long that system lasted? Over the years, individual homes took the place of group housing. People were allowed to accumulate their own personal belongings. And so on.
By the time I lived there, the children were still raised communally in children's houses rather than with and by their parents. That system was changing too. Parents (surprise, surprise) wanted to spend more time with their own children and felt more concern about their own children's lives than that of their neighbors. Now, I understand, in many if not most kibbutzim, children live with their parents.
Although I met many good workers, I could also see that the set-up (from each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs) might reward slackers and freeloaders and leave some of the more competent people desiring greater rewards for their efforts. Indeed, I knew a number of kibbutzniks who decided to leave in order to seek their fortune in the somewhat less socialistic climate of the greater Israeli society.
But yes, at least on the kibbutz, a democratic socialism could exist. None of the people I met who had dedicated themselves to that system seemed even slightly inclined toward totalitarian dictatorships.
The results of my kibbutz sojourn: I remained favorably inclined towards "democratic socialism" for many years. In recent times and with further reflection, however, I have have seen the 'cracks' in that system more clearly.
Even in a small scale, like that of a kibbutz, it seems inevitable that any significant effort to abolish private property in order to make everyone's income and rewards equal, leads to a reduction in individual freedom that many consider stifling and unacceptable. On a larger societal scale, such effort doesn't work and seems to lead to closed, totalitarian systems, some worse than others.
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Category: Articles
5 comments
10 Oct 2003 @ 23:04 by : Ya Habeebee!
Eizei Kibbutz Haya? Kibbutz Em, Sh'Li, Haya Kibbutz S'Dot Yam, L'Yad Caesaria. Oolai Atah Makeer Oto? Aharei HaKibbutz Ha Nifla Ha Zeh Aleetee L'Kibbutz Ha Zorea Tzafonah M'Haifa, Bead Zeh Daroma L'Kibbutz Yotvatah Sh'BaNegev Ve Aharey Zeh L'NAHAL Ve Kibbutz Eilot L'Yad Eilat. Zeh Haya B'Shnat '73. Kibalnoo Makot Hazakot Min HaMitzreem B'Shana Zoo, HaEem Atah Zocher? Eebadnoo L'Mavet Yoter M'Heitzie Hevreinoo. Roveinoo Hayeenoo Tzalchaneem Ve Hayeenoo Ha Reeshoneem Likabel Et HeHatkafa Ha Reeshona B'Partzoofeinoo Ve B'Leebeinoo...Ani Meveen Otcha. Shalom Achee.
11 Oct 2003 @ 10:56 by Bruce Kodish @24.205.69.22 : SHALOM ALEICHEM, VAXEN
Anee lo kol cach tov beevreet biangleet 8-). Obievreet stam. Aval yavantee harov shecatavta (atah adam o nkavah?)
Gartee me'75 ad'77 bSasa cmaat 3kilometer m gvool Levanon lyad Har Meron karov L'Tsfat.
Harov hazman avaditee bbreechot dageem shel Sasa liyad Kiryat Shemona.
Gam kibalnoo makot mhamichableem she hayoo biLevanon. C'she assetee ulpan b'Kiryat Shemona bJulee '75 kabalnoo katyoosha mhagovahei Levanon. Bayeet lyad ha ulpan lakach maka v'leveled completely. Eem ha PLO bLevanon, haya beetachon 'up the wazoo' cshe hayeetee baretz.
11 Oct 2003 @ 13:47 by scotty : !!
'up the wazoo' !!! OUCH! (I think !)
11 Oct 2003 @ 13:50 by vibrani : Vaxen - gever,
betach gever...
11 Oct 2003 @ 15:39 by scotty : jings !
hmm - the best that I can make of 'that' is - you're a trustworthy rooster !!!
LOL !
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