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Help give America back to the people!
Most Americans during the early nineteenth century held a self-image of America that was in harmony with the ideals expressed as a result of the Revolutionary War. They viewed their society as a relatively homogenous nation of small producers and yeoman farmers. That pacifying image, however, was becoming obsolete as a result of the Industrial Revolution.
Nevertheless, Americans had choices; and these choices made the erosion of social status more bearable. After all, Americans could escape the industrialization of the budding capitalist society at any time if their social decline became too unbearable. This escape was accomplished by moving to the frontier; and countless Americans did just that. Although capitalists try to spin America's Westward Expansion in positive patriotic expressions, such as – the Pioneer Spirit and Manifest Destiny; the reality was quite different.
Writers of the time, such as Laura Engles Wilder in her Little House series, speak of financial crisis as a primary motivation for moving out onto the frontier. To be sure, the frontier was a hostile place. There were far fewer residents that could come to the settlers' aid during natural disasters. There were Indians hostile to anglo encroachment onto their lands. And, wild animals roamed the land for which homesteads provided stationary sources of food. Yet, pioneers took their chances with the dangerous frontier conditions because the hostility they were fleeing seemed much worse. That hostility was industrialized capitalism.
Nevertheless, Americans had choices; and these choices made the erosion of social status more bearable. After all, Americans could escape the industrialization of the budding capitalist society at any time if their social decline became too unbearable. This escape was accomplished by moving to the frontier; and countless Americans did just that. Although capitalists try to spin America's Westward Expansion in positive patriotic expressions, such as – the Pioneer Spirit and Manifest Destiny; the reality was quite different.
Writers of the time, such as Laura Engles Wilder in her Little House series, speak of financial crisis as a primary motivation for moving out onto the frontier. To be sure, the frontier was a hostile place. There were far fewer residents that could come to the settlers' aid during natural disasters. There were Indians hostile to anglo encroachment onto their lands. And, wild animals roamed the land for which homesteads provided stationary sources of food. Yet, pioneers took their chances with the dangerous frontier conditions because the hostility they were fleeing seemed much worse. That hostility was industrialized capitalism.
The Roots of Socialism
A History of Socialism
Capitalism robs individuals of their autonomy
Sponsored by the Socialist Central Committee
55 South State Street, Suite 359 | Indianapolis, Indiana 46201
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
55 South State Street, Suite 359 | Indianapolis, Indiana 46201
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Cold War politics have left socialism severely crippled. And, Democrats and Republicans have divided socialist ideals between each other to create a perception that both parties represent legitimate interests of working-class Americans. Democrats and Republicans, however, represent the interests of two ruling leisure-class groups, generally stated as - Harvard vs Yale. Both democratic and republican politicians quickly become wealthy advocating the interests of the leisure-class from whom they accept campaign bribes.
The only political party that is truly concerned with the interests of the working-class is the Socialist Party. With your help America's Socialist Party can reclaim its stolen ideals from both Republican and Democratic parties, and to regain its prominent role in shaping an American vision that considers the needs and equality of all Americans.
The only political party that is truly concerned with the interests of the working-class is the Socialist Party. With your help America's Socialist Party can reclaim its stolen ideals from both Republican and Democratic parties, and to regain its prominent role in shaping an American vision that considers the needs and equality of all Americans.
The Great Depression brought about the greatest influence of socialism on America's capitalist system. By then many Americans were looking to the Russian Revolution for clues as to how the American capitalist system could be reformed as well. But, that all came to an end by the end of World War II. Russia failed to provide democracy to the people. Instead, an authoritarian corporate system was developed. The fact that Russia's authoritarian corporate government had imperial ambitions similar to Nazi fascism created the Cold War. And, capitalists in America found the situation conducive to eroding the social reform brought about over the past several decades.
The ruling leisure-class influenced politicians to frame Cold War rhetoric as “Democracy versus Communism” rather than “Democracy versus Corporate Authoritarianism.” Socialist expression was then demonized during the McCarthy Era as anti-American support for Soviet Imperialism. Red-Bating became national policy.
Liberals, whose only concern was equal rights and poverty, were labeled as Communist Sympathizers and accused of being Russian spies. People lost their jobs when they voiced their support for labor reform. Affluent media and pop-culture personalities were blacklisted as unpatriotic when they voiced opposition to the unjust treatment of Americans. The whole Cold War era can be labeled as a capitalist witch-hunt against anyone concerned with social reform. This era reached its climax when President Ronald Reagan led the movement to destroy worker unions in America's corporations.
The ruling leisure-class influenced politicians to frame Cold War rhetoric as “Democracy versus Communism” rather than “Democracy versus Corporate Authoritarianism.” Socialist expression was then demonized during the McCarthy Era as anti-American support for Soviet Imperialism. Red-Bating became national policy.
Liberals, whose only concern was equal rights and poverty, were labeled as Communist Sympathizers and accused of being Russian spies. People lost their jobs when they voiced their support for labor reform. Affluent media and pop-culture personalities were blacklisted as unpatriotic when they voiced opposition to the unjust treatment of Americans. The whole Cold War era can be labeled as a capitalist witch-hunt against anyone concerned with social reform. This era reached its climax when President Ronald Reagan led the movement to destroy worker unions in America's corporations.
It was within the context of America's disdain towards capitalists and industrialists that the message of Frederick Jackson Turner resonated so greatly when he announced the closing of the frontier in 1893. Frederick Jackson Turner was a historian that tied the American psyche to westward expansion; and he questioned how Americans would begin to change when they no longer had a frontier to escape to.
The closing of the frontier, the loss of unclaimed land where people could flee the oppressive forces of a capitalist society, saw a distinct rise in melancholy (depression). A rapid increase in state hospitals were needed to contain those who could not tolerate the humiliating and degrading existence as a capitalist's employee. Modern research indicates that capitalism-induced depression and anxiety affects 18-20% of the American public today.
To combat melancholy and lunacy (depression and anxiety), consumerism quickly expanded during this era as a form of self-practiced psycho-therapy. Today, consumerism remains the primary treatment for capitalism-induced psychological disorders. In times of economic crisis when people have less access to self-therapeutic consumerism, we still see rises in psychological disorders.
The connection most psychological disorders have to capitalism is the primary reason why psychological records, unlike other medical records, by law go unreported. The ruling leisure-class that influences political policy does not want the general population to realize capitalism is the root cause of most psychological disorders, that capitalism is fundamentally an emotionally unhealthy economic system.
The closing of the frontier, the loss of unclaimed land where people could flee the oppressive forces of a capitalist society, saw a distinct rise in melancholy (depression). A rapid increase in state hospitals were needed to contain those who could not tolerate the humiliating and degrading existence as a capitalist's employee. Modern research indicates that capitalism-induced depression and anxiety affects 18-20% of the American public today.
To combat melancholy and lunacy (depression and anxiety), consumerism quickly expanded during this era as a form of self-practiced psycho-therapy. Today, consumerism remains the primary treatment for capitalism-induced psychological disorders. In times of economic crisis when people have less access to self-therapeutic consumerism, we still see rises in psychological disorders.
The connection most psychological disorders have to capitalism is the primary reason why psychological records, unlike other medical records, by law go unreported. The ruling leisure-class that influences political policy does not want the general population to realize capitalism is the root cause of most psychological disorders, that capitalism is fundamentally an emotionally unhealthy economic system.
Although a growing managerial-class saw tremendous opportunities within the rising industrialization of the mid-nineteenth century, most people did not. While many Americans did set out in search of the freedom offered on the frontier, not everyone was willing to endure the risks associated with frontier life. For many, capitalism meant the entrance into wage-slavery as the advancement of industrialization undermined the livelihoods of the artisan-economy.
Americans knew of the social stratification that prevailed in Europe. They could see social stratification was gaining a foothold in America as well. Most people saw their way of life threatened; and along with it - Equality, the American birthright.
The threat against Equality created fears among Americans. People began considering ways to confront the changes under way. This willingness to confront the ruling leisure and managerial classes translated into popular politics.
Gone were the days when politics were mere theoretical concerns of the leisure-class. An insistence was developing to redress grievances of the working-class and to consider the needs of the poor that the new capitalist society had not provided enough work for. That insistence on social reforms, deprivation caused by social stratification, and concerns for those who were denied opportunities to work became known as Socialism.
The rapid spread of socialism was known as the Progressive Era, which is commonly considered to be a time from the late 1890s through World War I. Socialism during the Progressive Era was rapidly embraced by countless people. Millions of immigrants were arriving in the United States only to be faced with very few employment opportunities while being relegated to crowded, dilapidated housing in urban slums. African Americans too, saw recently won rights erode as Southerners imposed segregation throughout the South. Women were still denied the right to vote and to control wealth of any sizable amount. And, those American that did work found industrialists reducing wages and raising prices. Socialism became a central philosophy for many people who recognized that abuse of the public trust by corporations and politicians was systemic.
Americans knew of the social stratification that prevailed in Europe. They could see social stratification was gaining a foothold in America as well. Most people saw their way of life threatened; and along with it - Equality, the American birthright.
The threat against Equality created fears among Americans. People began considering ways to confront the changes under way. This willingness to confront the ruling leisure and managerial classes translated into popular politics.
Gone were the days when politics were mere theoretical concerns of the leisure-class. An insistence was developing to redress grievances of the working-class and to consider the needs of the poor that the new capitalist society had not provided enough work for. That insistence on social reforms, deprivation caused by social stratification, and concerns for those who were denied opportunities to work became known as Socialism.
The rapid spread of socialism was known as the Progressive Era, which is commonly considered to be a time from the late 1890s through World War I. Socialism during the Progressive Era was rapidly embraced by countless people. Millions of immigrants were arriving in the United States only to be faced with very few employment opportunities while being relegated to crowded, dilapidated housing in urban slums. African Americans too, saw recently won rights erode as Southerners imposed segregation throughout the South. Women were still denied the right to vote and to control wealth of any sizable amount. And, those American that did work found industrialists reducing wages and raising prices. Socialism became a central philosophy for many people who recognized that abuse of the public trust by corporations and politicians was systemic.
Nineteenth century Americans considered employment to be a shameful state of existence. Employment is a form of renting oneself out as temporary slave labor. And as a slave, the employee cannot independently provide for his family, but must rely on the generosity of the master – his employer.
Most employers, like slave owners, are not generous; they do not provide adequate incomes to care for one's self, one's family, or one's future. Employees produce profits; but employers skim the profits away from employees, leaving most employees impoverished.
It would be foolish of a farmer to toil for a year to raise crops only to give the produce away while watching his family starve, but that is how employment works. Employees produce vast amounts of wealth while working for substandard wages. In effect, employees give away to the employer all that they produced instead of retaining that wealth to provide for their own families.
Most employers, like slave owners, are not generous; they do not provide adequate incomes to care for one's self, one's family, or one's future. Employees produce profits; but employers skim the profits away from employees, leaving most employees impoverished.
It would be foolish of a farmer to toil for a year to raise crops only to give the produce away while watching his family starve, but that is how employment works. Employees produce vast amounts of wealth while working for substandard wages. In effect, employees give away to the employer all that they produced instead of retaining that wealth to provide for their own families.
Frederick Jackson Turner: Capitalism as the cause of psychological disorders
The Rise of Socialist Politics
The Erosion of Socialism
The future belongs to you
American Equality is premised upon all citizens being Yeoman Farmers; the Industrial Revolution destroyed that standard. Today, equality is a social myth, which is to say - Equality is an assumed reality that has no basis in facts.
A Spinster: With very little personal time, she had very few prospects for marriage.
The Industrial Revolution took people off of the farm and placed them in unnatural work environments where they had few social opportunities (similar to today's sweatshops).
The Industrial Revolution took people off of the farm and placed them in unnatural work environments where they had few social opportunities (similar to today's sweatshops).
Frederick Jackson Turner:
What will happen to Americans now that there is no frontier which to escape?
What will happen to Americans now that there is no frontier which to escape?
State Hospital Corridor
Robert Dale Owen:
A leading Socialist in the Democratic Party during the mid-19th century.
A leading Socialist in the Democratic Party during the mid-19th century.
Eugene V. Debs:
A leading Socialist during the early 20th century.
A leading Socialist during the early 20th century.
Theodore Roosevelt:
Used the term "Progessive" in advocating socialist principles.
Used the term "Progessive" in advocating socialist principles.
Franklin D. Roosevelt:
His New Deal renewed and greatly expanded upon the socialist ideals expressed by cousin Teddy's Square Deal.
His New Deal renewed and greatly expanded upon the socialist ideals expressed by cousin Teddy's Square Deal.
Eugene McCarthy:
America's modern fixation with capitalism is based upon McCarthy's Red Scare.
America's modern fixation with capitalism is based upon McCarthy's Red Scare.
