Is Socialism Harmful?

Socialism seeks to promote the welfare of the greatest number of people by eliminating social and economic inequalities. This notion, however, conflicts with many established customs in the United States. An economy with reduced opportunities for competition would mean that entrepreneurs would have fewer ways of making money. However, entrepreneurs exploit inequalities that exist by commodifying basic needs. Is it morally acceptable to provide health care coverage to some people and not others? Or is health care a right that ought to be tied to citizenship? Is the military a socialist organization? Is education a right or a commodity? Is society better off when its basic needs are taken care of? Does competition create jobs and offer the best services? Does the market know best what people need and can pay? Supporting key Social Studies curriculum, this anthology looks at the difficult questions of socialism in the United States from conflicting perspectives. Readers will benefit from the conversations in this book that interrogate relevant ideas and facts.