Antonyms clearly, right? I mean the Cold War was fought precisely because capitalism stood right across the battlefield from communism. How on earth could they be the same or even similar? Wars, even fools would agree, are not fought by folks who stand on the same side of the fence.
But recent events, including my sister's stint in Nordic land have confused me a little. We have had conversations about Finland, a prime example of the resounding success of capitalism, which is also an extremely egalitarian society. On one hand, private enterprise is the norm in this tiny country and on the other, state welfare is each citizen's birthright. State welfare includes everything from free education through subsidized transport and meals to an allowance for just being alive (the last is not a joke).
And this makes me think of communism, the red dream of a society where each person gives according to her/his capacity and receives according to her/his need. Where one is not penalized for being old or infirm but instead receives care. And where the strong are expected to work and effectively cover the gap. Finland, where efficient private industry coexists with state sponsored old-age care, seems to be a perfect example of the red dream. But Finland is unabashedly capitalist and nothing else.
Or is it that the end goal of the ideal forms of capitalism and communism are exactly the same? A society that holds social justice as its guiding light but expects honest hard work from its people? Is it that only the steps to achieve this goal are different? And could it have been that the economists and world leaders got it all wrong?
That the ultimate result of capitalism is what Marx always dreamed of. Maybe the Cold War was avoidable, after all.
But recent events, including my sister's stint in Nordic land have confused me a little. We have had conversations about Finland, a prime example of the resounding success of capitalism, which is also an extremely egalitarian society. On one hand, private enterprise is the norm in this tiny country and on the other, state welfare is each citizen's birthright. State welfare includes everything from free education through subsidized transport and meals to an allowance for just being alive (the last is not a joke).
And this makes me think of communism, the red dream of a society where each person gives according to her/his capacity and receives according to her/his need. Where one is not penalized for being old or infirm but instead receives care. And where the strong are expected to work and effectively cover the gap. Finland, where efficient private industry coexists with state sponsored old-age care, seems to be a perfect example of the red dream. But Finland is unabashedly capitalist and nothing else.
Or is it that the end goal of the ideal forms of capitalism and communism are exactly the same? A society that holds social justice as its guiding light but expects honest hard work from its people? Is it that only the steps to achieve this goal are different? And could it have been that the economists and world leaders got it all wrong?
That the ultimate result of capitalism is what Marx always dreamed of. Maybe the Cold War was avoidable, after all.
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