I have been developing my ideas of how socialism and free enterprise need not be incompatible (socialist endeavours working in a free enterprise economy), and am refining my phrases to better explain the concepts. The best way I can explain it is, I believe in microsocialism, but not in macrosocialism (yes, I stole the phrase from the creationist "micro" vs. "macro" evolution).
Microsocialism is a community with socialist ideals that can work within a larger infrastructure. Its principles are seen within many private schools, coops, and shared use arrangements. It is an idea that is not only consistent with the bible, but the picture of a microsocialist society is actually presented within the book of Acts (where the believers held everything in common). Microsocialism is, in essence, being neighborly, and acting in good faith towards other members of a society, and it is, in essence, essential to the orderly function of society. We see microsocialism at work when we give to the Salvation Army, who in turn help those in need within their community. We see microsocialism at work when we take up a collection for an ill or injured coworker. We see microsocialism at work when an offering in church is taken for a member of the community. Microsocialism is almost an ingrained part of our being, and is how we managed to avoid being devoured by stronger, faster, and more efficient predators than ourselves over the years.
It is when we try to bring about macrosocialism that we have a problem. Macrosocialism makes every person, in essence, slaves to a state and cannot work unless a great deal of individual liberties are denied. Macrosocialism revolves around a large infrastructure, such as the federal government administering the resources of the larger community. We have seen macrosocialism's failure in the Soviet Union. We see macrosocialism's failure in China and North Korea, both of whom have abyssmal human rights records. We see macrosocialism's failure in our own failing social security system. Macrosocialism is chiefly subject to human greed. Microsocialism has the same limitations, but because the resource pool is smaller, the greed is more easily held in check (that and, possessing a smaller bureaucracy, incidents of misappropriation are more easily discovered and remedied).
Microsocialism possesses great potential, and an enterprise built around its principles can efficiently administer resources with a minimum of cost. I consider myself a firm microsocialist. Macrosocialism is too inefficient to effectively minister to the needs of an individual. It is a failure whose ends we must cease pursuing. But how can we reconcile both? I return again to my belief in a minarchist federal government, whose taxation and legislation is minimal enough to allow autonomy of smaller states and/or communities. Inner city America and rural America have different needs, and only a minarchist federal government can allow us to legislate and determine which needs best fit our own communities.
Respectfully submitted,
Gideon MacLeish