What's the deal with Socialism?

[CFH]

CFH, I think you might be inclined to like someone like Zapata, whom was assassinated before he was corrupted by power.

As for the "level playing field", I suggest removing government intervention as much as possible and allowing people to earn for themselves with no boost from Uncle Sam. I would also suggest a simplified tax code for individuals and corporations to limit people gaming the system and to make it easier for individuals. I would also allow for foreign held funds of American corporations to be brought back to the United States without heavy taxation.

The bottom line, if the government is going to help the poor and the wealthy then no wonder the middle class is disappearing.

The problem with that perspective (IMO of course) is that people don't all start out on a level playing field.

There are social and structural inequalities built into our cultures and our systems of government which privilege certain groups of people.
A healthy white male from a middle class background has a much better chance of achieving 'success' (by which I mean financial security, good health, social inclusion, longevity, freedom from persecution, and so on) than does a woman, a visible minority, someone with mental health problems, an immigrant etc. This person has done nothing to earn this privilege, it is simply accorded to them from birth because of their ascribed social identity. I believe that the government should have a primary role in address this problem.

Your vision of a 'level playing field' in which nothing is done to address this fundamental difference results in the perpetuation of a system which is inherently biased and unequal. It preserves privilege and leads to continued marginalization and oppression.

I'm not saying we need to kill the property-owners and seize their land, but what I am saying is that we need a system that ensures that no one is left behind and that everyone, regardless of who they are or where they come from, has a chance to succeed.