When we talk about ideologies, “isms,” nothing is one hundred percent perfect. Perfection can only manifest itself when the organism allows natural change to continually evolve, thus maximizing its interior components and increasing its potential for its longevity.

Through the Cold War, it was a constant juxtaposition of socialism verses capitalism. But frankly, understanding the complete implementation of one “ism” or the other too quickly showed their faults.

The totalitarian Communism of the Soviet Union was a very suppressive dictatorship, with socialism as its economic engine. The problem that soon enough emerged was, there wasn’t any reward for entrepreneurial individual expression. It was simply whatever was deemed good for the state. Whether you did virtually nothing, or as much as you could, toward some given goal, you were rewarded the same. Soon, like the euphemistic expression that permeated the street, “people made believe they worked and the government made believe they paid them.”

Growing up within a Capitalistic society, that prided itself upon being “free,” versus all the demons of a Communistic totalitarian society, one would assume our well-being was being best served. But a free market mechanism dedicated to solely governing itself, ultimately repeatedly proved itself to be only looking after its own material self-interest. The greater portion of the country, found itself being considered a drain on the free market system; a welfare state of expectancy and dependency.

Unless a society guarantees well-being to its citizenry, it will be doomed to moral corruption. It is an inalienable Right of the citizen to be guaranteed good health, education and infrastructure. Anything beyond that is left for free markets to exploit to their heart’s content. A healthy educated citizenry is a body that not only doesn’t drag on the economy, but adds to it with individuals who can synergistically contribute and increase the potential of the gross national product. They have money to pay taxes and the ability to buy, let alone the breeding ground for more visionaries.

Greed, as well as the belief that everyone is the same, is equally destructive. One size does not fit all. It is imperative to have a system where the individual has the potential not only to exist but to thrive and allow change to occur for the betterment of himself and thus, the general body at large.

7/3/09