Several years after living in America, I reflect on my youth in Burma, where I learned socialist ideals, Socialists are criticizing capitalism’s selfishness. In Myanmar, we valued social equity and collective support, but I found socialism’s vision often failed in practice. Surprisingly, I discovered that many of these ideals thrive in the U.S. Here’s what I’ve learned: The United States has never been purely capitalist or "laissez-faire." From its founding, the U.S. Constitution enabled a mixed economy by empowering the government to regulate commerce, issue currency, and promote general welfare. Over time, especially during the Progressive Era and the New Deal post-Great Depression, government involvement grew through: Regulation : Breaking monopolies, protecting workers, consumers, and the environment. Social Safety Nets : Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and unemployment benefits. Public Goods : Education, infrastructure, defense, and postal services. Econ...
Notes and Thoughts of Ko Agga @ Aung Myo Lwin