Socialism isn't a Blanket Term for Things You Don't Like.
And how we must go back to listening and understanding nuance.
I have been making videos lately about extreme points of view, the limitations of the binary political spectrum and pointing out that no one is immune to propaganda, no matter which ‘side’ of the political spectrum they’re on.
In order to be properly informed and actually have a realistic viewpoint on the world (well, as much as possible in the world of ‘alternative facts’), you need to step outside your echo chamber and consume media and information from people who share different experiences and perspectives to you.
First, a caveat. Obviously, there are some absolute racist fuckwits, conspiracy theory convinced and other fringe ‘thinkers’ (I use the term loosely) out there who do not deserve a moment of your time. So no, I am not saying we should listen to people who have repeatedly shown us their abhorrent viewpoints. But the vast majority of people fall in the moderate category. Problems are complicated, people have complex points of view and understanding nuance and complexity is an incredibly important skill some of us are losing.
I stayed up to about 2am last night going down conspiracy theory rabbit holes and learning about how extremist beliefs develop - both right and left. Because yes, fellow ‘lefties’, we are just as likely as the ‘right’ to believe something if it reinforces what we already believe.
This can be confronting. You will find beliefs and subcultures out there that are a surprise. I had no idea how many people thought that viruses were made up, or that a lot of diseases are lab-engineered and here to control us (for what purpose no one will tell me though...).
A good example of this is the video I made on the Lone Star tick. It’s spreading across the Eastern side of the USA due to climate change and bringing with it a strange effect. In some people, its bite can cause a long-lasting allergic response called Alpha-Gal Syndrome which causes an allergy to products from mammals, like meat and milk. You can watch it below if you want more info. The comments started off with the usual ‘wow, that’s interesting’, but are now devolving into ‘the WEF did this!’ and ‘Bill Gates is behind it’. I have asked each one for their sources and bizarrely enough none of them responded. Now is that right-wing thinking or left?
Personally I don’t think it’s thinking at all, but I am trying to be more approachable and less snarky so I didn’t say that.
I don’t know if I have ever really considered myself a leftie. I believe in equal rights, universal healthcare, science, labour rights, better taxation systems (Aotearoa should have capital gains tax for example - hardly revolutionary) and so on. War does not solve problems and I find bombing children unbelievably abhorrent. I find our political leaders lack of action to stop and prevent genocides, famine and conflicts baffling and their inability to hold businesses who have a lot to do with those things despicable. But those are hardly extreme beliefs surely. Isn’t that called being a human?
I do have pretty strong beliefs on organised religion but I’m not opening that can of worms.
I am an environmentalist, but I believe that we can achieve a healthy environment and look after everyone with better business. I get abuse for that belief from some more hard core ‘lefties’ who believe capitalism is the root of all evil.
I believe that people should start businesses operating on ethical foundations, (like at the bare fucking minimum, paying a living wage throughout their supply chain), that people who are instrumental in building that business should be offered shares in and perhaps most importantly - the drive for profitability should not be at the expense of people or planet.
This is where it gets a bit murky for some people because capitalism’s sole purpose is to maximise shareholder return - according to the technical definition. But um, we invented capitalism and every other system. We can make it what we want.
I get abuse from people from the other ‘side’ who say that because I believe things like team members should have shares in the startups they help build, that I’m a socialist. I am begging you to look up the definitions of things before you use them. You look stupid.
Case in point: This headline.
None of Mamdani’s policys are communist, but ok? This quote came from a hedge fund manager. Surprised? Yeah, me either.
Socialism isn’t a blanket term for stuff you don’t like. Calling people who believe that we should treat people and planet with respect ‘Marxist’ makes you look stupid. Marxism is ultimately about how capitalism is inherently unfair to the workers. Which it is, if you can be open-minded about it - it’s complicated. The value of labour is a hard thing to truly reflect.
Marxism isn’t communism either. It’s a theory. Communism is the perceived utopia that we’d end up at after revolution (which is naive, because have you met people?).
We’re getting off topic.
I think the structure that benefits all would be a hodge-podge mix. Ethical capitalism. Capitalism with strong environmental and ethical guardrails. With incentives for productivity, but regulations because a lot of people out there are a bit shit. But not too many of either, because it needs to be workable. We don’t bail out banks who take advantage of our most vulnerable, or companies that make a stupid amount of profit.
If taxpayer money is used to prop up a company and that company then goes on to make a lot of money - why doesn’t that go back to the taxpayer? People who are against taxing businesses make absolutely no sense to me. There is endless proof that ‘trickle down economics’ doesn’t work. Cutting corporate tax rates does not lead to an increase in wages or employment. You just get higher paid CEOs, richer shareholders (not always a bad thing in itself), greater inequality and worse outcomes for the planet.
I did well financially because of the success of my ethical enterprise (Ethique). I am incredibly lucky and privileged to be in this position. And one of my proudest achievements is that through a more democratic approach to investment (equity crowdfunding) that my 350 ish shareholders got a great return. The earliest got a 4800% return and I heard from many of them that it enabled them to retire, to pay off their mortgage and so on. The success of that company proved to me that it is possible to operate ethically and sustainably - including financially. It’s a choice executives and founders make not to do so.
Somewhat related: the NBR chased me (and others in my circle) around for a few weeks trying to get an interview for their new ‘Women’s Rich List’ - something I have less than no interest in being a part of. I am all for celebrating success, but I really don’t think a ‘Rich List’ is the way to go about it. We already idolise billionaires despite evidence of the rampant harm they cause.
There are a lot of people who have strong ethical beliefs to the extent that they will not consider nuance or complexity (again, on both ‘sides’). And when you are so dogmatic and refuse to meet others where they are or have robust discussions based on fact, not emotion, you will change nothing. In fact you may well do more harm than good.
So please, for the sake of our collective future, try and understand nuance, complexity, look for evidence, look for mutual understanding, and debate facts instead of throwing insults (do not look to some of our politicians to demonstrate this).
Why am I even talking about politics and government? I’m a scientist and an entrepreneur, not a political journalist.
Because everything is political. And the rage and malice floating around from every part of the political field is ridiculous. It’s no surprise when we have our political leaders calling people ‘woke snowflakes’, or ‘bedwetters’, but historically name calling and belittling hasn’t ever solved any problems.
Also, because one of the things my Masters (and the odd paper in Philosophy) is reinforcing, is critical thinking and nuance. When I was 19, everything was black and white. Solutions were easy! I knew everything! Why didn’t everyone do what I said? But then I entered the real world and realised how convoluted so many things are. Maybe not ideologically, but practically. And you will not change anything unless you consider the practical implications.
I am the first person to raise my hand and say I have been guilty of many of what I have talked about in this article. I have believed things that weren’t true because they seemed to fit my beliefs. I have not considered outside opinions and I have thought solutions were a lot simpler than they are. But I am trying to do better every day. But you can hold me to account when I fuck it up.
Anyway, that’s my rambling philosophical summary for the week.
Should you believe any of this?
No of course not. I am not an expert and success in business sure as shit doesn’t make me qualified to advise on policy or lead a country (sorry billionaires, but a country is not a business).
But should it provoke thought that you then jump off and read more, consider and develop your own opinions? Yes!
Now go do that.
And a note on how to discuss things with people who have an extremist ideology - ask them questions. You won’t be able to use facts and logic to change their minds (because that’s not how they got there in the first place), but asking questions might spark something in the back of their mind - and who knows what they might lead to.
Don’t take my word for it:
Trickle down economics:
https://academic.oup.com/ser/article/20/2/539/6500315
https://wir2022.wid.world/
(A useful breakdown of the above: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-bad-is-inequality-trickle-down-economics-thomas-piketty-economists-2021-12).
Some useful graphs: https://www.faireconomy.org/trickle_down_economics_four_reasons
Another breakdown: https://www.lse.ac.uk/research/research-for-the-world/economics/tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy-only-benefit-the-rich-debunking-trickle-down-economics