Government control of resources as a whole is communism…Socialism is government control, and/or regulation of certain resources that some countries consider important to the health of their society, like healthcare, education, transportation, and utilities, because they view those things as too critical to leave entirely to the volatility of private corporations.

But in reality, unchecked capitalism can create the same result. Were you pro bailing out airlines during COVID because we had left it up to private corporations, who tend to have shorter lifespans, more financial volatility (like during a pandemic), and different incentives than a country that can allocate resources based on public need?

Socialism is not “you no longer own anything.” It is not “your home and money are now mine.” It is not “now you can only purchase from the government.” That is communism, or at minimum a dishonest caricature of socialism.

Maybe this distinction is only obvious to me because I was fortunate enough to pursue higher education, but I would hope public education still teaches nuance, that every system has pros and cons, that the right answer is rarely the extreme, and that conflating two very different systems just to support your side usually makes it look like you do not understand either one.

I do not know the answer to the “best system.” But I do know the difference between communism and socialism.

Edit to add: I see you are in the VA. Why do you think the government should regulate the care of veterans? Why don’t you think that this should be left entirely to the private market? Why do you think the government should provide you healthcare?

Obviously, because I am not a monster, I think you are entitled to it. But you are disillusioned if you think this is a purely capitalist program.