SOCIALISM. What Would Jesus Say?

By Aerik Vondenburg

Among the many accusations that have been directed at President Obama, is that he is a "socialist."So what does Socialism actually mean?

Socialism is an economic and political theory that advocates for public and common cooperative management in a highly regulated economy. It is an idea that is based upon the principles of equality and community. It advocates for the rights of the working class (proletariat), rather than only the wealthy oligarchic/capitalist ruling elite (bourgeoisie).
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If Socialism was nothing more than this, then there would be nothing un-American (or un-Christian) about it, since we can find references to these principles in both the Constitution and the writings of the Founding Fathers—as well as the Gospels. The problem is with its affiliation with other more outdated, controversial, and extremist elements (such as the elimination of private property), and of course, its connection with the dreaded shadowy specter of Stalin's and Pol Pot's brand of Communism.

In a letter to Benjamin Rush in 1803, the Founding Father Thomas Jefferson wrote of the importance of "universal philanthropy, not only to kindred and friends, to neighbors and countrymen, gathering all into one family, under the bonds of love, charity, peace, common wants, and common aids." These are the same type of principles that President Obama has been advocating for. And for this noble effort, Obama has been labeled a socialist by conservatives.

Anti government conservative Libertarian/Republicans will say that the government should not be obligated to provide what they refer to as "entitlement" programs for the people, although the government that was envisioned by the Founding Fathers was a government for the people by the people. In other words, it is a government that was responsible for providing for the "general welfare" of the citizenry.

Republicans say that so-called "socialist" healthcare (i.e. "Obamacare") is not Constitutional; however, in the Preamble to the Constitution it says that "We the people", not the wealthy corporate elite, "establish justice" and "promote the general welfare"; which is a reference to social justice. The same social justice that the Republicans mock and decry as un-American and socialist. Also, article 1 of the Constitution states that it is the job of the American government to "regulate commerce."

Republicans say that people are just too lazy to get health insurance on their own. However, since supply-side "trickle down" Reaganonmics, the hard working middle-class are having a much more difficult time making ends meet.

If healthcare reform is socialist, then fire and police departments are socialist. Medicaid, Medicare, and V.A. medical care are all socialist.

Republicans argue that fire and police relate to problems that effect other people. In that case, what about communicable diseases? Also, we must also ask ourselves: do we really want to live in a heartless society? Especially one that is supposed to be considered not only the greatest superpower on Earth, but also a so-called "Christian nation." Especially when it comes to public safety, people must come before profit.

Conservative Republicans like to say that "America has the best medical care in the world," even though according to the World Health Organization, America is actually ranked number 37, right below Costa Rica. (socialist leaning France was #1).

What they are not telling you is that America has the best healthcare technology, not the best healthcare system. These are two different things. The politicians are deliberately trying to confuse the two in order to satisfy their corporate sponsors. All that we have to do to find their true motivation is to follow the money.

The Republican party has claimed to be the party of the Christian faith; in that case, what would Jesus himself say about this issue?

In Mark Chapter 10:21-25, Jesus tells a rich man to distribute his wealth among the poor. He then goes onto say to declare that a rich man will have a difficult time making it into the Kingdom of Heaven. Likewise, in Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus reprimands those who do not help the less fortunate. The Gospels clearly indicate that Jesus related more to the proletariat than to the bourgeoisie elite. He was clearly an advocate of distribution of wealth, which is something that the conservatives have actually used as an accusation against President Obama. This is because Democrats believe that with great power comes great responsibility, as opposed to Republicans who think that with great power comes great special privilege.

What the Gospels are telling us is that Jesus was someone who would be classified by today's conservatives as a socialist.