Socialism? Really?

I've been putting off writing this post for a while because it concerns a topic I feel strongly about. Bill Maher has a show on TV called "Real Time" where he interviews people and they discuss issues, and he does comedy bits called "New Rules" where he just talks to the camera. In one of his recent shows he discusses the rise of the middle class in America during the '50's and '60's and says it's not a byproduct of capitalism. It's actually a fluke. It was caused by the government issuing massive taxes and redistributing the wealth throughout society. Unfortunately, he's right. Without someone twisting the arms of capitalists they won't all do much good with the freedom they have. We just have to look at child labor 100 years ago as an example.

The only thing I disagree with is his premise that it was socialism that solved it. Perhaps I confuse socialism with communism, but there was far too much capitalism going on during this time for me to say we were a socialist country.

We do need a more responsible capitalist class, and by capitalist class I don't just mean the rich investors. These days it's not uncommon to have middle class and even some poor people with a little money in stocks. These people need to use their stakes as shareholders to vote with a conscience. We need to create jobs through responsible investing. People need to be paid a good wage, not feel hopelessly impoverished at the same time they are working their asses off trying to get out of debt and into a lifestyle that would otherwise require illegal activity to pay for.

The ideal situation is to have everyone free to do what they want, but have them do good.

On Charity

One thing I think I should write about is charitable giving in general and charities in particular. The scriptures specifically state that we are supposed to be charitable people, but give us strict guidelines on how we are supposed to carry it out. Matthew 6:1-4 says, "Take heed that he do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."

It's impossible to pick up a paper without seeing a charity function advertised. These charities go 180 degrees against what God wants us to do. The fact that they are set up specifically to operate this way is evidence of how sick and sad our society is. People who donate this way aren't specifically damned, according to what scriptures tell us. Simply put, they have their reward. I would much rather be rewarded by God in the next life.

America is known as a very charitable society, and the vast majority of charitable giving is not through these public charities, with their publicity and trumpeting, but people quietly writing checks to real charities.