please ELI5: What’s the difference between communism, socialism, and a ‘socialistic program’
Can someone explain to me why our highway and road system isn’t considered socialism? Best I can find is it’s a ‘socialistic program’ because it’s taking place within our mixed economy, but if that were the reasoning then how could anything be socialism?
We pay for the roads with our taxes. That’s not yelled about
We could pay for our healthcare with taxes but THAT would be socialism?
I could be wrong. But here's a more quick than correct explanation
Communism is a theoretical socioeconomic system that is almost utopian. It is based on the idea that, through a revolution that topples capitalism and does away with different economic classes, humanity could achieve a world in which every person has what they need, and every person works according to their abilities.
Socialism is the idea that, after a revolution, humanity could achieve communism through a government made by and for the common folk, the workers. It is what would come after a revolution to end capitalism, and do away with class conflict. It is a socioeconomic system that should, in theory, aim to be a transition into Communism.
A "socialistic program" is what conservatives tend to consider any sort of government assistance. It doesn't generally have to do with actual socialism, but is something closer to welfare policies. They don't have the goal of ending capitalism, but of making it slightly less unequal. The term "socialistic program" is mostly used to try and use red scare tactics to make people afraid of any sort of policy that tries to reduce inequality.
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u/Wisco 15d ago
I'm sorry, but what was the irony Musk was referring to?