Socialism as an economic system, its interpretation or just a word has become a derisive construct for many in our society. But, I must tell you I really like the social security check I get each month, so I beg you of working age, please keep contributing to the social security system so it can continue to pay me. Seriously, it’s possibly the greatest “legal” Ponzi scheme our government has ever invented.

For many in our society and even in our very own meat and poultry industry, socialism, or at least in its most unpopular definition, is a term akin to treason. We’re an independent and proud group of food producers who toil in an underappreciated industry, and anything that may infect us with unearned and unwanted support is to be rejected out of hand. Correct?

But, wait a minute; are the government payments to the smaller meat companies meant to “help” them become more competitive both unearned and unwanted? Maybe unearned but not unwanted. In fact, they may be needed by some to counteract the gluttonous meat and poultry conglomerates who could easily quash the undercapitalized few who toil just as hard to produce a safe and nutritious meat or poultry product. So, millions of dollars are being dispatched to fund greater efficiency. In my view, this is a form of “creeping socialism.” And, oh by the way, where is this money coming from?

I define “creeping” socialism as a form of clandestine communism that, unbeknownst to its zealots, surreptitiously feeds (converts) those unsuspecting who, before they know it, are dependent upon it and can’t break free of its seductive habit-forming clutches. This is similar to the frog who likes the feeling of being in a kettle of water but wonders why the water is getting warmer while the stove burner is slowly turned up to the boiling point. The frog is unaware of what’s really happening until it is too late and becomes inescapable.

Payments to the smaller meat processing companies under the guise of enabling greater competition I would characterize as a form of “creeping socialism.” Maybe some of this government largesse has been rejected or given back by some in our industry because they just don’t believe in allowing our government so deep into their business. But, I am willing to bet that these tranches of money are gladly accepted by most and used effectively or not, depending on the management skill of those in the smaller companies receiving the funds. And that singular fact may be creeping socialism’s downfall, at least in our industry.

One of the simplest definitions of socialism is the government control of private business. How do they get that control? With money. How do they get that money? From the taxpayer. Where does the money go? To the businesses that provide goods and services to the taxpayer. What would my college economics teacher say about that?

All I am really saying is pick your pleasure, but be careful what you pick. Socialism is seductive. A good example is my expectation of that social security check landing in my mailbox every month. But how far can it go before we have seductive socialism controlling our lives? That’s a question we must answer every time our government throws money at a perceived problem. Does socialism’s opposite, capitalism, need to be controlled? You bet, but in my opinion, even with controls capitalism is a far better economic system.

You have probably figured out by now that I am not a fan of our government injecting millions of dollars into our meat industry under the pretext of increasing competitiveness. I think it destroys or at least infects and eats away at the meat marketing system of its capitalistic competitive balances. In my view, we must let the market decide who succeeds and who doesn’t.

Am I against socialism? Are you kidding me? Just keep those social security checks coming my way.

Socialism

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