The Government "isms" You have two cows…

What is Government A political and economic system that decides issues of laws, taxes, and economics as well as addresses issues of governance.

Government You have two cows. The type of government will determine your ownership of the cows your ability to profit from your cows and the ways to use any and all cow products.

What is Democracy? a system of government in which people vote in elections to choose who will make decisions about the economic and political systems in place.

Democracy You have two cows. You vote for the people to run the country whose plan about the cows you like best. If those in charge make laws about your cows you don’t like, you can vote against them in the next election.

What is Capitalism? Capitalism is a political and economic system in which most resources are privately or corporately owned and controlled. example: United States

CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

What is a Monarchy Undivided rule by a single person, generally passed down from generation to generation.

Monarchy You have two cows. A monarch COULD decide to take your cows for personal use and force you to pay for the milk. Whatever the monarch decides, goes.

What is Marxism An ideology that called for a classless society (under dictator rule until fully developed) that shares wealth and resources

Marxism You have two cows, they are seized by a dictator and you are assigned to care for them until the dictator decides to turn ownership over to the society as a whole. The milk belongs to the dictator and is divided as he sees fit until a classless society is achieved; at which point everything is collectively owned and distributed equally.

What is Socialism? Socialism is a political and economic system in which government may be democratic but favors public ownership of resources. examples: Canada, Great Britain, France, Italy (All of western Europe)

Pure Socialism You have two cows Pure Socialism You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else’s cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need. Socialism sounds great! So the questions becomes why does it have such a negative connotation?

Bureaucratic Socialism You have two cows Bureaucratic Socialism You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else’s cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you should need. This side is meant to illustrate how Socialism is flawed by government decision making and the emphasis is on the last line drawing attention to government regulations that dictate need. This is why Socialism has such a negative connotation. This also helps students understand why Obamacare was attacked as an attempt at socialism.

What is Communism? Communism is a political and economic system derived from Marxism in which government (a single authoritarian party) controls all of the resources. examples: China, N. Korea, Cuba (Cold War->Soviet Union) Ideas of Karl Marx put into place in the real world…it doesn’t work because the reality of human nature is not accounted for in Marx’s theory.

PURE COMMUNISM You have two cows PURE COMMUNISM You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.

Russian Communism Josef Stalin becomes a totalitarian dictator under the promise of Communism (Marxism). He never attempts to relinquish power as Marx outlined.

RUSSIAN COMMUNISM You have two cows RUSSIAN COMMUNISM You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government seizes all the milk. You wait in line for hours to get it. It is expensive.

What is Totalitarianism The government attempts to establish complete control over all aspects of public and private life using force and military action.

TOTALITARIANISM You have two cows TOTALITARIANISM You have two cows. The government takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned.