IN DEFENSE OF SOCIALISM 1

In Defense of Socialism: The Key Role of Socialism in Maintaining Freedom as a Pillar of

American Culture

Nelimar Brull Torruella

English Department, Interamerican University

English III

Dr. Aileen Garced

10/31/2021
IN DEFENSE OF SOCIALISM 2

For over a century, the topic of socialism has been a hot ticket issue across the

globe. The conversation around whether socialism is a good or bad thing has sparked

propaganda, sectarian violence, and in some places, war. In the USA, many self-

proclaimed patriots express their vehement disdain for socialism as an economic model,

despite the fact that it forms an integral part of the US’s economic infrastructure. These

very people defend capitalism as the model that most upholds the American value of

freedom, while seemingly unaware that capitalism is directly responsible for taking away

the liberties of millions of Americans.

The first thing people forget when discussing economic models is that socialism

in the USA isn’t a debate – it’s an inherent part of the US economy. The US would not

exist as we know it without taxes being reallocated to public programs. While taxes

were originally a way for royalty to generate funds for things like strengthening military

or securing political power, with the help of socialism, taxes became a system by which

the public could benefit from the funds they contributed to the system. Without

socialism, there would not be a minimum wage, public schools, roads, or social security.

People would have to work until the day they died or survive exclusively through the

charity of others. There would be no one to call free of charge in case of an emergency

or fire because police and firemen would not exist as a public service. There would be

no way to reliably and safely travel on roads, or it would be a costly journey, not

including already costly gas and food. Without socialism, children who could not pay,

would not receive an education. There is simply no avoiding the positive impact that

socialism has had and continues to have on modern society.

IN DEFENSE OF SOCIALISM 3

A surprising fact is that most Americans already support the idea of socialism but

because of the way it is presented in politics and in the media, people don’t realize they

support it. According to recent studies, over half of Americans support socialist

programs or policies such as universal healthcare, free college tuition, raising the

federal minimum wage, government mandated environmental protections, higher taxes

for the wealthy, and paid leave to care for sick family members. Three quarters of

Americans or more support paid sick leave, paid maternity leave, and uncut social

security benefits. However, a recent study shows that over half of the US public views

socialism in a negative light – but how can this be if so many clearly support socialist

programs?

According to the aforementioned study, much of general public seems to believe

that the stronger a socialist model becomes, the more their freedoms guaranteed under

the US Bill of Rights will be reduced. Many also believe that capitalism promotes

economic prosperity and freedom, even though the wealth gap has increased

exponentially the past few decades under the capitalist model. The reality is that

corporate propaganda and smear campaigns have much to do with this disconnect.

Advertisements and misleading information dating back to as early as the late 19 th

century have affected the public perception of an otherwise helpful economic model.

Even FDR, the president who established policies like the federal minimum wage,

regulated work hours, weekends, and social security, would not refer to these policies

as socialist because of the backlash associated with the term.

In conclusion, it is becoming increasingly clear that the narrative around

socialism is being controlled by people who prefer personal greed to general prosperity.
IN DEFENSE OF SOCIALISM 4

It is the only way to explain how this economic model is still so negatively viewed in the

U.S. despite being the backbone of its modern economy. As time passes, more and

more people side with a socialist perspective due to the suffering caused by capitalism,

but many of them do so unaware. If this miseducation of the American public continues,

they will further fall prey to the very thing they fear most: a loss of freedom.
 IN DEFENSE OF SOCIALISM 5

References:
 
 
Aldred, J. (2019, June 6). 'socialism for the rich': The evils of bad economics. The
Guardian.https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2019/jun/06/socialism-for-the-rich-the-evils-
of-bad-economics
 
Canellos, P., White, J. B., Sitrin, S. S. and C., & Gerstein, B. M. and J. (2019, August 16). What FDR
understood about socialism that Today's Democrats don't. POLITICO Magazine.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/08/16/democrats-socialism-fdr-roosevelt-
227622/. 
 
Cray, C. (2011, September 21). The Lewis Powell memo: A corporate blueprint to dominate democracy.
Greenpeace USA. https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/democracy/the-lewis-powell-memo-a-
corporate-blueprint-to-dominate-democracy/. 
 
PBS Digital Studios. (2020, September 22). Origin of Everything: History of Socialism in America
[Video]. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/video/history-of-socialism-in-america-frql1u/
 
Pew Research Center. (2020, August 25). Americans' views of 'socialism' and 'capitalism' in their own
words. Pew Research Center - U.S. Politics & Policy.
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2019/10/07/in-their-own-words-behind-americans-views-
of-socialism-and-capitalism/. 
 
ProCon. (2021, August 3). American socialism - top 3 pros and cons. ProCon.org.
https://www.procon.org/headlines/american-socialism-top-2-pros-and-cons/.