Thread by @Archimedes2020

Given the discussion at CPAC and the attacks against the Dem candidates and Congress I think its important that everyone know the definition of economic systems vs Government systems.

Though of course there is some overlap in the systems and some Government systems lend themselves more naturally to some economic systems they are different.

In simple terms, an economic system involves how production, resource allocation and goods and services are distributed. The main types are Capitalism, Socialism and Communism.

Capitalism is the free market, where private citizens own most or all of the production and decide how to use them

Socialism is an economic system where the government owns some means of production and to variable degrees controls distribution of products and wages (we have this, get over it GOP. Social security, Medicaid, fire depts, snow plows )

Communism is an economic system where the central government controls ALL economic decisions including income and wages. Communisms is NOT the same as Socialism though the GOP uses these terms interchangeably to scare us.

Now for GOVERNMENT systems. These are different that economic systems and there is a lot of nuance involved in classification. But in sort this has to do with are the means by which policies are made or enforced as well as the means of determining policy.

There are two main categories-Authoritarian and Democratic. GOP also wants you be believe that any authoritarian is the same as communism or socialism. It isn't.

Authoritarian includes
Dictatorship-gov control by one person or small group-often take over by force;

Oligarchy-power given to a few in a certain class.

Absolute Monarchy-power is inherited and monarch has unlimited power.

Totalitarian-strong central rule that controls all aspects of an individual's live through repression

Theocracy-country is ruled by specific religion or religious leader

We don't want ANY of these! No one wants ANY of these.

Democratic Governments have many forms

Direct Democracy-citizens vote directly on issues. A Representative Democracy is where citizens vote for a group of people to govern on their behalf

Republic-power in hands of group of citizens who have right to vote and reps chosen either directly or indirectly by them

Constitutional Monarchy-hereditary ruler limited by law

Like I said there are lots of ways to parse all of these but the take home is you could theoretically have a Communist Democracy, or a Capitalist Theocracy it has to do with how people choose their government and how the government controls or doesn't control the economy

So-when people talk about socialism...we already have it. The Government already is involved in distribution of goods and services to help everyone have a chance at Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

What we have though is Democratic Socialism. We, the people, choose who represents us and how WE want them to intervene in the economy.

Republican voter suppression, Republican interference in suppressing rights of people, like POC, women, LGBTQ put us closer to authoritarian forms of gov-taking the power to elect our government away from WE THE PEOPLE and put it in the hands of only a few elite

We have allowed the 1% to tell us that money (the product of our economic system) gives more power to the rich to influence our Government system, our ability to elect our officials. Our ability to choose how our taxes are spent, to even the playing field for everyone

Though the Founders thought only certain people should vote...we have progressed. We believe all people should have a say in who governs us. We have added amendments to our Constitution to EXPAND voting rights, but the GOP keeps trying to suppress them.

Money should not be the sole source of political power. Humanity should be. Yes, the more power we give government there is the chance we will sink into authoritarianism. That is why we must be vigilant.

That is why we MUST not let the MAGA trick us into thinking economics and government are the same thing. We must keep the reigns of government in the hands of WE THE PEOPLE not THEM THE RICH.