Socialist Alternative

by Nick Shillingford
River Falls, WI

I always knew that corporations’ only goal was to make money. Unfortunately, I failed to fully understand our current system. I hoped that working people could gain more control with a few adjustments to the voting system, or more laws to limit the power of corporate lobbies on our government.

The devastation of Hurricane Katrina is what really opened my eyes to the shortcomings of capitalism. In the richest country in the world, families are being ripped apart and being sent to live in temporary housing all across the United States. How is this possible? The truth is: capitalism is unable to effectively deal with situations like Hurricane Katrina.

What I also hadn’t fully understood was how crucial it is for big business and the millionaire politicians to keep their workers powerless. Who would want to work a low-wage job 50 hours a week unless they were forced to by their conditions? Nobody would!

Capitalism will inevitably lead to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. That is why I joined an organization that is prepared to fight the injustice of this system and replace it with true socialism and economic democracy.