Socialism is not a Gorgeous Idea
In a recent podcast, actress Amanda Seyfried said, “Socialism is a gorgeous idea, and I know it doesn’t work perfectly.” When the podcast host pointed out that many people don’t know what socialism means, Seyfried replied, “For me, it’s taking care of each other. If I have more money, I can spend more money on other people. Isn’t that right?” This is the type of superficial thinking that has made socialism attractive to many Americans.
If Seyfried chooses to take care of others, she is certainly free to do so. And she should respect the freedom of others to refrain from taking care of others if that is their choice. However, under socialism, freedom of choice is eliminated. Citizens are forced to “take care of others” regardless of their own desires or values.
Underlying Seyfried’s love affair with socialism is the morality of altruism, which holds that we have a moral duty to place the welfare and interests of others before our own welfare and interests. Socialism makes altruism a legal mandate.
In contrast, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski recently posted a video on Instagram that warned viewers might “hurt your feelings.” In the video, Kempczinski said, “So this idea that there’s somebody out there who’s looking out for you, who’s going to make sure that you get that opportunity, who puts you in the right thing — great if it happens — but at the end of the day, nobody cares more about your career than you do.”
Seyfried believes others should take care of you. Kempczinski believes you should take responsibility for your own life.
The essential difference between capitalism and statism, of which socialism is one variant, is the difference between the voluntary and the coerced. Under capitalism, individuals are free to interact with others on terms that each party finds acceptable. Under socialism, individuals are forced to interact with others as government officials decree. Contrary to Seyfried’s claim, capitalism, not socialism, is a gorgeous idea. Capitalism is the unknown ideal.