Starbursts and Socialism Blog Post #4

In class we experimented with starbursts to recreate what it was like to live in societies under Capitalist, Socialist and Communist control. To recreate Socialism almost every student started out with three starbursts,very few received ten. We then played games of rock-paper-scissors. If you lost you gave up a starburst, and if you one your opponent gave one up.You had a choice of whether or not you wanted to play. Then to demonstrate Socialism the teacher collected the candy and equally redistributed it, giving each student three. Finally, to demonstrate Communism when the students were asked if they wanted to continue playing rock-paper-scissors majority of the class refused. This showed how without a “government” the class came to a decision on their own on whether or not to continue playing for starbursts.

Smith’s theory of the invisible hand was created around the idea that there is no need for government control. Supply and demand will regulate business on its own by businesses offering competitive prices. The prices are lower in order to be competitive so the poor are able to afford it and the business people are still making money. Karl Marx’s theory of Communism begins with capitalism. Capitalism includes private ownership of industry with equality, freedom of competition, which results in unequal economic classes, a struggle between classes and eventually a worker’s revolt. The freedom of competition means that people born into poorer families have the same chance to succeed as the people born into wealthy families. Marx believed that Communism would lead to Socialism. Socialism is based around government ownership of industry, where the goal is to bring about equality, and to bring about a classless society. The classless society means that nobody would need to worry about being poor. Marx believed that Socialism would lead to Communism. The goal of Communism is to achieve a classless society with no government needed,

I think that the best theory is the Invisible Hand Theory. Rachel Bevere mentioned that she didn't think the poor should be left to starve and I agree with her. Since the prices are being lowered in order to stay competitive the poorer people could afford it. One flaw in this theory is that it takes a long time for the business and demand to regulate.