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This seems to presume that one's wealth is the only measure of individual value anyone cares about, which is just absurd. One can be wealthy beyond belief and s

This seems to presume that one's wealth is the only measure of individual value anyone cares about, which is just absurd. One can be wealthy beyond belief and still be an up-and-comer in many aspects of their life, and under socialism those aspects would almost certainly have more meaning. I would personally prefer wealth have less meaning and these other things have more, which makes socialism attractive to me.

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kazinator 3y ago
Socialism is thoroughly materialistic. The socialist state regards itself as owning the productive capacity of its individuals, and tends to the distribution of wealth. The pariah in a socialist society is he who has the capacity for work, but instead lives off the state. Or he who dodges taxes. Socialism is concerned with distribution of resources to satisfy human needs, and bring about an equitable society. But those needs are material needs, and the equality is material. It's not about redistributing spiritual or intellectual resources to make everyone equally spiritual or smart! It's purely about keeping everyone warm, dry, in good health and with a full stomach. The only non-materialistic aspect of socialism is the meta level: choosing equitable materialism over inequitable. The idea that all people deserve to be reasonably well off is a different form of materialism from "I want me and my family to be well off, screw the rest" that represents much of capitalism. Socialists regard themselves as supremely virtuous due to clinging to this idea of equality. It is almost religious. There are obvious links between equality in socialism and in Christianity. The proper socialist is like a disciple of Jesus who has renounced everything spiritual, and just remembers the stories about healing the sick, feeding the multitude, and "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's".
- readyman 3y ago
  Material sustenance predominates every other aspect of human society, so the socialists just seem to have their priorities in order when you put it that way.

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kazinator 3y ago

Socialism is thoroughly materialistic. The socialist state regards itself as owning the productive capacity of its individuals, and tends to the distribution of wealth. The pariah in a socialist society is he who has the capacity for work, but instead lives off the state. Or he who dodges taxes. Socialism is concerned with distribution of resources to satisfy human needs, and bring about an equitable society. But those needs are material needs, and the equality is material. It's not about redistributing spiritual or intellectual resources to make everyone equally spiritual or smart! It's purely about keeping everyone warm, dry, in good health and with a full stomach. The only non-materialistic aspect of socialism is the meta level: choosing equitable materialism over inequitable. The idea that all people deserve to be reasonably well off is a different form of materialism from "I want me and my family to be well off, screw the rest" that represents much of capitalism. Socialists regard themselves as supremely virtuous due to clinging to this idea of equality. It is almost religious. There are obvious links between equality in socialism and in Christianity. The proper socialist is like a disciple of Jesus who has renounced everything spiritual, and just remembers the stories about healing the sick, feeding the multitude, and "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's".

readyman 3y ago
Material sustenance predominates every other aspect of human society, so the socialists just seem to have their priorities in order when you put it that way.