The ‘S’ Word

Certain terms get tossed about in discussion, among them liberal, conservative, progressive, right winger, fascist, democratic and the s-word, stupid – no – socialist. I call myself at times a liberal, a progressive, a socialist, and a conservative. Others use another term listed above.

“Conservatism” is appealing to me in this sense: Progress is slow, and achievements, though often stunning in science and engineering, are plodding and slow in politics and social structure. It is not wise to make dramatic or haphazard changes in our institutions due to unintended consequences. We should observe the example of others and respect the wisdom of those who came before us. What appears to be wise in the present may not stand the test of time.

But we have to embrace change. Piecemeal and slow is the way to go.

Conservatives tend to support “free” markets and trade. I am therefore not a conservative, as I don’t support either concept. It is here that people use the ‘s’ word against me. (“Socialist”, dammit, “socialist!”)

I reduce “free” markets to a simple analogy: markets are campfires that keep us warm. Unregulated markets are more like forest fires, destructive of everything in their path.

I am also opposed to “free”, or unregulated trade when the traders are in unequal bargaining positions. Free trade has decimated resource colonies, left Latin and Central America in extreme poverty. They cannot protect their markets or build domestic industry. They find themselves importing food and exporting cash crops from productive land owned by foreigners. It’s absurd. That’s what free trade does to poor countries – it keeps them poor.

But when bargainers each have power, free trade makes sense. Canada and Western Europe and the United States, all strong and wealthy, should trade freely among themselves.

Progressives tend to want to regulate markets, tax wealth at high rates, provide public benefits like welfare, retirement, disability and survivor benefits, education and health care. I like those ideas except that sending support checks to young and healthy individuals each month tends to corrupt them, make them lazy. I support giving them commodity-style food, health care, and education – a fighting chance, without destroying initiative.

So I am somewhat conservative and quite progressive. If you call me a socialist, it would be technically wrong, as I don’t think that government should own or manage basic industries. But in current parlance – supportive of the welfare state – the term is accurate.

So go ahead and use the s-word on me if you wish. (“Socialist”, dammit. “Socialist!”)

One term needs proper defining, as many of them masquerade as conservatives. These are our right wingers. They are not conservative in any sense – they don’t believe in gradual change, they don’t respect the wisdom of others or the past. Given the reins of power, they would throw us all into chaos. In fact, they have.

Most so-called “conservatives” these days are really thoughtless, mindless reactionary right wingers. These people are the ones most deserving of “s” word.