Socialism: My Personal Experience
Nothing is more convincing than personal experience.
Despite today’s disappointing developments, I find hope in the more accurate view of socialism, as championed by Bernie Sanders. This is long overdue and fits with my experience.
These are the reasons why I find socialism attractive.
Experience during FDR New Deal in the 1930s.
The “New Deal” was correctly considered socialistic.
I lived in the small, non-industrial town of Provo, Utah, population about 25,000 and home of BYU. When FDR introduced the WPA, he put millions to work and effectively upgraded the infrastructure of our city. The work that was done at that time continues to benefit everyone.
I witnessed the construction of new schools (the one I attended and the other one where my father was the school principal), roads, railroad overpasses, curbs, irrigation systems, and bridges. I also watched as the dirt ditch in front of our home was upgraded to a concrete waterway, allowing us to irrigate our yard easily in the summer. Provo created its own plant to produce electricity, which my described father as a “gem.”
Provo’s sense of safety, health, and egalitarianism resulted in upward mobility: many of my friends became affluent professionals. Harmony resulted from a majority middle class and a lack of poverty.
Military Service 1960-63
I was a medical doctor in the United States Air Force in Germany. Our goal was to to keep the Russian and Allied armies apart.
I valued my experience living and working as a medical doctor at the Rhein Main air force base for three years. Work was enjoyable, and living in the center of Europe allowed for extensive travel opportunities. During my three years, we visited 22 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East.
This was possible because we lived in a socialistic system. Taking care of basic needs allows individuals to focus on their work and personal interests. Our basic needs were provided– housing, medical care, provisions for the maid (nanny), inexpensive groceries, and support services. This socialistic system allowed us to focus on work, family and travel.
Travel to socialistic countries
I started traveling to socialistic countries during my time in the military, and continued with more recent visits to Iceland, Sweden and Finland. It is clear that by every measurable parameter, people in socialistic countries are the happiest, healthiest, best educated, most satisfied, and most productive. They also are more progressive in terms of gender equality, have the highest percentage of women in government, and are the least militarily focused.
Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders' proposal of socialism that provides free education, universal health care, progressive tax restructuring, a focus on infrastructure, and avoidance of unnecessary military interventions resonates with me and with many Americans.
Bernie Sanders is making the case for change and is receiving broad popular support for new ideas that counter the conventional smear of socialism. Owned and controlled by corporate interests, the media has drifted right. With hired, focused marketing the public has been led to believe that socialism is anti-American and synonymous with communism. This widespread belief was strongly influenced by Reagan, who is still revered despite having promoted many policies and philosophies that have been disastrous for middle class. Only the wealthy have benefited. His “trickle down” theory is working, insofar as what its name suggests: the trickle is so little that it amounts to an unlivable wage. In contrast, the wealthy experience a “gush down” which provides huge wealth and influence.
Nothing is more convincing than personal experience.
Despite today’s disappointing developments, I find hope in the more accurate view of socialism, as championed by Bernie Sanders. This is long overdue and fits with my experience.
These are the reasons why I find socialism attractive.
Experience during FDR New Deal in the 1930s.
The “New Deal” was correctly considered socialistic.
I lived in the small, non-industrial town of Provo, Utah, population about 25,000 and home of BYU. When FDR introduced the WPA, he put millions to work and effectively upgraded the infrastructure of our city. The work that was done at that time continues to benefit everyone.
I witnessed the construction of new schools (the one I attended and the other one where my father was the school principal), roads, railroad overpasses, curbs, irrigation systems, and bridges. I also watched as the dirt ditch in front of our home was upgraded to a concrete waterway, allowing us to irrigate our yard easily in the summer. Provo created its own plant to produce electricity, which my described father as a “gem.”
Provo’s sense of safety, health, and egalitarianism resulted in upward mobility: many of my friends became affluent professionals. Harmony resulted from a majority middle class and a lack of poverty.
Military Service 1960-63
I was a medical doctor in the United States Air Force in Germany. Our goal was to to keep the Russian and Allied armies apart.
I valued my experience living and working as a medical doctor at the Rhein Main air force base for three years. Work was enjoyable, and living in the center of Europe allowed for extensive travel opportunities. During my three years, we visited 22 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East.
This was possible because we lived in a socialistic system. Taking care of basic needs allows individuals to focus on their work and personal interests. Our basic needs were provided– housing, medical care, provisions for the maid (nanny), inexpensive groceries, and support services. This socialistic system allowed us to focus on work, family and travel.
Travel to socialistic countries
I started traveling to socialistic countries during my time in the military, and continued with more recent visits to Iceland, Sweden and Finland. It is clear that by every measurable parameter, people in socialistic countries are the happiest, healthiest, best educated, most satisfied, and most productive. They also are more progressive in terms of gender equality, have the highest percentage of women in government, and are the least militarily focused.
Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders' proposal of socialism that provides free education, universal health care, progressive tax restructuring, a focus on infrastructure, and avoidance of unnecessary military interventions resonates with me and with many Americans.
Bernie Sanders is making the case for change and is receiving broad popular support for new ideas that counter the conventional smear of socialism. Owned and controlled by corporate interests, the media has drifted right. With hired, focused marketing the public has been led to believe that socialism is anti-American and synonymous with communism. This widespread belief was strongly influenced by Reagan, who is still revered despite having promoted many policies and philosophies that have been disastrous for middle class. Only the wealthy have benefited. His “trickle down” theory is working, insofar as what its name suggests: the trickle is so little that it amounts to an unlivable wage. In contrast, the wealthy experience a “gush down” which provides huge wealth and influence.