Socialist is a bad word?

I am posting this without permission from my dear friend Alister... the following is an email exhange we have had for the last couple of days, it has been edited in spots to remove irrelavant content. Feel free to comment, throw in your ideas, etc- I am interested to hear thoughts on where I am faulty, and where democracy fits in with what Jesus teaches. I will get his permission later on, and post any reply he might have. I don't think he reads my blog...

Alex:
>> Thinking of you and your various travails. Hoping your kids are> keeping their chins up.>Still poring through Derrida. Some of his ideas about language and> culture do indeed feel musical. His ideas about words being defined by> other words (and indeed words they are not) is such a musical idea. We> all admire the restraint of the great composers. How they say so much> while saying so little.> For some reason, British and American> philosophy professors tend to be analytical positivists and totally> preoccupied with the question, "How logical is my logic?"> I have been beginning to doubt the foundational tenets of analytical> philosophy. It can project a sort of sneering certainty about the> world that, well, makes me a bit suspicious.> Cisco and Shiva got their last proper walk probably for a couple of> days. Too bitterly cold for my little African friends!> Hope all is well. Haven't been able to spare a nanosecond to look at> those scores. Hope to get a chance later this week.> A
Jane:
>> Good Morning!> We are doing alright- accepting things as they come, which is sort of all> Pat and I can do. The kids are great & we are careful to keep Leah indoors> during this cold- it seems to bother her legs and we can see the stiffness> in her hips and legs.> Derrida is someone I have only read about- I have never studied any of his> writings, etc, but will welcome the chance once you are done. I always> like a good mind bend. I did give our socialism conversation much thought and have concluded that what I thought may not be so and maybe I am missing something. But that's another day- Tell the doggies aunt janie says hallo!
More later> J
Alex:
Right on.Socialism is the most ethical option. "From each according to their abilities. To each according to their needs." What could be more fair?Derrida in his refusal to privilege analytical truth above metaphysical truth (or any kind of truth) I feel provides a way for me to come to grips with religion and 'faith'.I have always been mystified by all of that, but a militant atheism merely says "no", without answering any questions.Someone did a lot of throwing up at my house yesterday, but everyone looks fine. Also mystifying.
Jane:
Seriously why do you make me think!!?!?
I hope the doggies are both ok, puke sucks.
Socialism has it's most basic roots in Christianity, and it is an ideal form of what Jesus preached on the sermon on the mount- Matthew 5-7 if you care to look here is a link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205-7;&version=31;
You can look up any translation, which I also like about this site.
Anyhoo, I agree totally in the ideal. The reality, however is of course convoluted and as disheveled as democracy is in America. I truly do believe that people do what they do out of a sincerity and genuine desire to do what is right, but at some point, they start to watch out for themselves first, on whatever scale. If it is a grand scale, you get Karl Marx making statements about socialism turning into communism and the horrors of Stalin and the USSR, on a smaller scale you have the french. In France there is a totally accepted and expected form of abuse to the socialist nature of government called Tuyau, literally pipe- they bypass government rules to get more for themselves than they have earned, or what they feel they are entitled to. This is why socialism doesn't work. An aspect of human nature is one of entitlement. Our current society doesn't help that aspect, either.
Ethically, I am with you- and I don't know the solution, which is why I tend to vote based on the value of life in a society. Pro life, no death penalty- there is no party to fully reflect what I believe. Republicans use their version of God to scare people and get what they want, which is war: no sanctity of life there, and Dems are not counting personal responsibility in the distribution of goods and services to be provided by the government. By the way I support planned parenthood and it's endeavor to promote education on sex and birth control- I disagree with their stance on abortion. When human life is valued above all else, things should be kept in equal measure. Those who are unable to help themselves should be helped by the government. The government should make provisions for those who try and fail, those who need due to illness, circumstances, etc. I vote based on hope, as do you. The reality is just not so. Our system is crumbling slowly right now, I hope it can be shored up long enough to keep my kids safe and secure. Because they are entitled!! Duh!
I also feel the need to philosophically reconcile my faith- I question God all the time, but I don't doubt in His creation, or His love for me and of humanity. And I think God wants this of me-
I am also able to reconcile Darwin and evolution with the question: Why not?!?!
have a nice Friday! J