Protestantism

» pink101 - What We Are

In response to Terms and distinctions posted by BrianTubbs:
.
The terms and distinctions have to be understood so we know what we are.
.
What's involved here are five different ideas; democracy, socialism, anarchism, capitalism, and communism.
.
America was never a anarchist, socialist, communist, or a capitalist nation--but it is a democratic republic. That's for starters in this thread. Let's not get started here with a framing that precludes our outcome. In a democratic republic, the people elect representatives that serve the interests of the people. We are not a pure democracy; more so, we are a republic which means we have a government that represents the people.
.
By the end of the ninteenth century, capitalist influences had taken control of our representative form of government to the extent that--pretty much--the major thrust of our economy served the selfish interests of the upper crusts of society. Laws favored business rather than the people. Trusts were running away with our economy; child labor was a national shame; employment benefits for workers were nearly unheard of; working conditions were whatever made money for capital investors; the government supported management by calling out troops and military strength to put down labor unrest; laws were passed that put men in prison for exercising free speech.
.
Now! That was the situation out of which the labor movement grew and it grew with the steady and unrelenting support of socialist and communist agitators and activators. Without those forces, very few benefits would have been won. FDR was forced to acquiese to the demands of the people as the situation had gotten so far out of hand.
.
.

-- posted by pink101