Outdated ideas about socialism

In a letter, Larry Casey from Huntley offers his view of communism and socialism. He writes: “Socialism is an economic and political theory that holds that the public, as a group, owns and administers all means of production. Communism is the advanced form of socialism. Communism is an economic and political system that demands collective ownership of all property and eliminates all private property. Both are controlled by an appointed leader.”

This may be true, according to the archaic teachings in “The Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx, but in actual practice, it’s nowhere near that today.

Many European countries are social democracies. However, all that really means is that you have higher taxes for more government benefits. This typically applies to healthcare and education. And no, they’re not governed by a dictator or a great leader who has all power. These countries have elected leaders just like we do.

Even in China, which is a so-called communist country, you have private property ownership, which Casey indicates you cannot have with communism. Many people in China are fabulously wealthy, which is contrary to what he says about collective wealth for everybody. There are more than 500 billionaires in China, according to Forbes.

Casey’s comparison is very simplistic and dated.

Make whatever choice you want to make, but don’t be swayed by misinformed labeling.

Lawrence Kopp, Schaumburg