Capitalisn Vs. Socialism 101

CAPITALISM: I need new shoes for my plow mule. I go to the village blacksmith, and either pay him cash or barter some of my goods or services in exchange for the shoes. My mule gets reshoed and I can plow my field.


SOCIALISM: I need new shoes for the plow mule that the village allowed me to own. I cannot afford to buy new shoes for the mule since I am taxed at 90% of my income to pay for "free" services like shoeing the mule. I must apply to the Mayor for the shoes.

The Mayor's secretary takes all the forms I fill out, and tells me I will be contacted when the forms are approved. My field remains unplowed.

I get notified 2 weeks later that I can get the shoes. I go the village blacksmith. There is a huge waiting list for people who need the blacksmith's services. He tells me he'll call me when it's my turn. My fields remain unplowed.

3 weeks later, the blacksmith notifies me by pony express that I have an appointment. I take my mule to the blacksmith. He re-shoes the mule.

I take my mule back home, start plowing my fields 5 weeks late into the growing season, and one of the mule's new shows breaks in 2... it's poorly made. I go back to the blacksmith, who informs me I have to go to the Mayor and complain since he doesn't deal directly with the public. He's just a service contracted by the village.

I go to the Mayor and complain that my mule needs shoes. The Mayor's secretary gives me more forms to fill out. I tell her I can't wait and if the blacksmith can't fix the problem, I want to go to another blacksmith.

The Mayor's secretary informs me that this is the only village-approved blacksmith, and going to a non-approved blacksmith is illegal. I tell her without plowing my fields, my family is going to starve. She gives me a whole slew of new forms labeled "welfare".

I fill out all the forms. A week later, I have a writ that allows me to go to any other farm and help myself to their produce. I can also go the Village General Store and help myself to anything but whiskey or tobacco. This writ has no expiration.

Now my family is all fat, dumb, and happy, we have all we need, and I didn't work a day for it.

However, the rest of the village now hates me. I can't fathom why.