I write A LOT about socialism on this site because I find evidence that it brings a balance to economic systems. As I’ve just completed my second book and look towards marketing strategies and the best platforms on which to publish, I realized I need to set the record straight a bit and proclaim that I appreciate the capitalist element to our society as much as I am grateful for the socialist components.
I have defined both terms here after a bit of extensive research into various resources.
Capitalism is meant to encourage innovation, new ideas, a better product, a different slant on an old idea, and competition to refine goods. So it is with writing and publishing a book. I have to make sure my story is exciting enough to hold your interest as a reader, there are a thousand other people out there and they share my vision of selling books, I have to grab your attention in the crowd. I am self published as well, which means I have to oversee cover art and marketing blurbs. I have to study and read and research and read some more in order to know what works, what doesn’t, in effort to get my work noticed and increase sales. It’s work. It’s hard work. But I enjoy the challenge. I appreciate the intelligence and cultural knowledge required to put together something that stands out amongst my peers. I am thankful for the work required and the gift of discipline that comes with developing my own ‘product’. It ain’t easy, but damn it’s satisfying in a way that nothing else is.
I figured it was important to set the record straight. I appreciate capitalism and the way it molds our market by forcing us to create and invent and keeping prices at affordable levels so that the majority can participate in the demand side of the gig. (I’m not a proponent of the Koch brothers rendition of ‘free market’ ideology for the simple reason that it borders more on anarchy and holds no one accountable.) Socialism on the other hand goes a long way to undergird an economy and society as a whole by using tax dollars to provide social services that keep the whole machine running. The combination of isn’t a bad setup, it has proven successful for the most part by keeping economies balanced and certainly more stable, an overall better arrangement I think.
Thanks for reading,
Frankie