Customer Reviews

Socialism for Skeptics (Red Banner Reader, 2)

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This so called book was a joke. Instead of academic argument in defense of socialism, all I found in this book was grand claims without any support or argument. It would seem like there was nothing but propaganda written, it focused so much on "human nature," but did not present any counter arguments. The writing was designed in such a way that any fair competition or defense of capitalism became impossible. Any reality about economy, politics or society was colored by romantic ideals, and I cannot stress on the fact that absolutely no argument or proof was presented in this book. I am an ardent capitalist, but I wanted to read and explore socialism openly and scholarly; instead I got this book, I am perhaps more in favor of capitalism now than I was before reading this traumatic piece of literature. Please do not purchase this writing.

I don't know who would be convinced by any of her arguments unless you're already a socialist. Much of the book is your usual ranting against the evil "mega-capitalists" and their "capitalist hell." When she actually tries to prove a point she leaves many holes in her arguments.

For example, she claims that prices are not determined by trade, but instead are based on a commodity's inherent "real value." This inherent real value "comes from the labor invested in it." This is the classic labor theory of value (which contradicts itself). Consider what this theory implies if two identical and equally useful products are produced (product A and product B). However, product A was created by ten of hours of "labor" while product B was created by only five hours of "labor." According to this theory, product A has TWICE the "real value" of product B!

There is more to the labor theory of value, but she fails to go any further into it which of course will not help her convince any "skeptics" like me.

If she is actually going to convince a skeptic, she should be a bit less hostile to opposing opinions and more thourough with her arguments. A more appropriate title for her book would be Socialism for Socialists.

This book is really well written intruduction to the world of Socialism, i gave it to all my Capitalizt friends... now it's just wait and see