Tim Raynor (Why are Americans so scared of the word socialist?, Oct. 17) undermines his argument when he provides a definition of socialism but uses inaccurate examples. He cites as socialism our public services such as police, military, fire department and post office, but these are services a capitalist society willingly affords itself for the common good as set forth in our Constitution (see Article 1, Section 8). This is not socialism.

When a government owns/controls the means of production and redistributes wealth (socialism), then capitalism, or private ownership/investment in the means of production/distribution of economic goods … in a free market (Merriam-Webster dictionary) will perish. Without capitalism, the drive to create economic activity will wither away. The profit incentive creates wealth which, fortuitously, generates more taxable income for those essential public services Mr. Raynor mentions.

Mr. Raynor suggests America was founded on the principle of sharing the wealth. Not so. America was founded on individual liberty and limited government. Indeed, this founding includes providing for the common good through a system of taxation, but this is not socialism, nor is his example of career-enhancing teamwork a form of socialism.

Yes, there is much to fear in the term socialism when government owns/controls the means and distribution of wealth. Our Declaration of Independence states that government derives … their just powers from the consent of the governed …. When this consent is quelled, tyranny prevails. Mr. Raynor must surely see this logic.

Gail Ervin

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