We should balance capitalism with socialism

I am involved in a lot of political discussions on Facebook. You need to have a thick skin with the amount of name-calling and insults. Also I notice that so many Americans have no idea what they’re talking about. They mean it seriously when they say that America is a republic, not a democracy.

Often it looks like we are still in the ’50s, when they talk about socialism, capitalism, communism, dictatorship, oligarchy and plutocracy.

I retired from teaching a long time ago, but maybe one more lesson would help a bit for better understanding.

I was born in and lived for more than fifty years in the kingdom of the Netherlands, which is a social democracy where the king is luckily not a dictator. Now I am a citizen and live in the Federal republic of the United States of America, where the president is luckily not (not yet, but we are getting close!) a dictator, or oligarch, or plutocrat or fascist.

When I moved here I was surprised how many good social laws and Institutions we already have here. We could use some more, but that is another story. Good politicians try to find a good balance between socialism and capitalism, because one does not work properly without the other.

But thank whatever God that both countries are still democratic. Although I think that America is now going in the wrong direction.

I am doubtful, but I hope this helps a bit for a better understanding.

Johannes Van Hijum

Marysville