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.
- Economic Management: Fiscal and monetary policies to stabilize the economy.
The U.S. blends private enterprise with government oversight and social programs, evolving continuously as a mixed economy, not a recent shift.
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