Letter: Socialism isn’t selfishness (and it isn’t communism)

Julie Woestehoff, Evanston Resident
Posted 11/27/17

Letter to the editor from Julie Woestehoff of Evanston

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Letter: Socialism isn’t selfishness (and it isn’t communism)

Posted

Editor:

In the spirit of inclusive debate, I would like to share my perspective on some of the differences between socialism and capitalism which contrast with those expressed here recently by the Rev. Jonathan Lange and his references to Dennis Prager’s talk, “Socialism Makes People Selfish.”

To begin with, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells a young man, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor ... Then come back and follow me.” According to Acts, Jesus’s followers “had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.” There’s no suggestion here that sharing leads to selfishness or lack of freedom.

Secondly, the statement that “the only thing that has ever raised large numbers of people from abject poverty is capitalism” seems disturbingly out of step with the reality that 20 percent of children in the United States live in poverty, according to 2016 UNICEF data.

In fact, the U.S. places 34th out of 35 developed countries in the extent of child poverty, while many or most of the nations with less poverty are socialist to one extent or another. Perhaps the reason people in the U.S. give more to charity is because needs here are so much more desperate, and we are collectively so much wealthier, not because of socialist “selfishness.”

I had the wonderful opportunity to live in socialist Germany for a year, where I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy completely free and efficient health care and a living wage, even as a guest worker in a fairly low-level job.

I received a nice Christmas bonus which allowed me to travel on the excellent (and inexpensive) French railroad system all over that beautiful country, a memorable trip I could never have afforded on the salary I earned the following year when back in the U.S. 

The vibrant arts and culture I soaked up throughout my travels make me wonder how anyone could suggest that their form of government stifles individuality.

Two more points. First, it’s important not to confuse socialism with communism, which readers of Mr. Lange’s article might end up doing. 

And, finally, it’s simply tragic that attacks on policies and practices labeled as “socialist” keep getting in the way of allowing Americans the same access to basic human services that people in essentially all other developed nations have.

Too many of our children live in poverty, too many desperately ill people are denied health care, and the huge wealth and opportunity gap in this wonderful but flawed nation continues to grow. Let’s learn from the best of government action and community wisdom and give everyone a better chance at the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness we are all promised.

Julie Woestehoff

Evanston