Socialism Or Communism?

The 20th century saw two superpowers with radically different ideals. These two countries were founded on economic opposites and their founders couldn’t have been more different. To this day both sides have ardent supporters that insist that their system is the way to go. These two topics are very important today because of the most recent presidential election. Socialism and socialistic values are increasing in America, so it is important to understand the system we have now and the one proposed by socialists.
The two ideologies clash in, “Is capitalism really better than socialism or communism?” Derrick Wilburn’s 2015 article published on stridentconservative.com, and Jesse Myerson’s 2014 article published in Salon, “Why you’re wrong about
The first is “Only communist economies rely on state violence.” The point here being made is that when necessary capitalist economies will use violence to enforce their laws. The second myth is “Capitalist economies are based on free exchange.” His argument is that most people are stuck in the “free market” and don’t have access to the resources they need to flourish. The third myth is “Communism killed 110 million people.” Myerson argues that most people killed were communists and later claims that tens of millions died from starvation. The fourth myth is “Capitalist governments don’t commit human rights atrocities.” This meaning, the United States has committed so many atrocities through slavery, indigenous extermination, war, genocide, and massacre that these are signs of capitalism's failures. The fifth myth that Myerson proposes is “21st Century American communism would resemble 20th century Soviet and Chinese horrors.” Myerson believes that communism, like democracy and libertarianism, is a utopia. The sixth myth is “Communism fosters uniformity.” His argument here is that communism would create the total opposite of uniformity, diversity among the people and their occupations. Myerson’s seventh and final myth is “Capitalism fosters individuality.” He argues that capitalism drives people apart through work and competition. Myerson makes broad claims throughout his article often using the same
Myerson argues that even capitalists use “state violence” to enforce the laws. Wilburn argues that some government is required to keep the companies in line and to keep the citizens safe, but otherwise government should stay out of the economy. Overall, I believe that Wilburn has a more efficient argument for the capitalist economic system than Myerson’s argument for communism.
Each point is littered with biased perspectives and misinformation. His article is filled with justifications for communism and that the evidence we have available should send a clear message that communism will never work. I believe that despite the shortness of Wilburn’s article and some weak examples, he still has a solid argument and a factual one at that. I think this is a solid representation of the willingness of Marxists and socialists to ignore facts. It is exactly as Thomas Sowell said,
Finally, I believe that Wilburn’s article was much more effective because of his realism. I believe that Myerson is intentionally intellectually dishonest. Throughout his article, he doesn’t speak of communism in practice, he talks about it in theory. I believe that Myerson loses the other readers and I when he tries to demonize capitalism and at the same time justify, excuse, and forget the atrocities of communism. As Thomas Sowell said, “Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore