Albert Einstein: Why NOT Socialism?

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein is widely considered one of the greatest minds of the 20th Century. His views and opinions reached far beyond the realm of theoretical physics, for which he is most famous. Among statements made by Einstein that are most often quoted are on his views of Socialism and Communism.

In 1949, Einstein penned a letter to the Monthly Review for its first issue, titled, "Why Socialism?" In it, he outlined the problems of "Capitalism as it exists today." He concluded that the only solution to the "evil" of Capitalism is the establishment of a Socialist economy. Here is a quote from that letter:

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child. The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own innate abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society."

Here is where today's leftists stop quoting. There is more to the letter, the next paragraph of which is, in my opinion, the most important statement Einstein made in it.

"Nevertheless, it is necessary to remember that a planned economy is not yet socialism. A planned economy as such may be accompanied by the complete enslavement of the individual. The achievement of socialism requires the solution of some extremely difficult socio-political problems: how is it possible, in view of the far-reaching centralization of political and economic power, to prevent bureaucracy from becoming all-powerful and overweening? How can the rights of the individual be protected and therewith a democratic counterweight to the power of bureaucracy be assured?"

How, indeed? In Einstein's magnificent brain, he realized that there were problems, perhaps insurmountable problems, with Socialism. His concerns have proven well-founded in civilization after civilization. You won't hear this paragraph quoted by Liberals, Progressives, or the left-leaning media personalities. This, in actuality, is Einstein's conclusion to the entire matter, which is a warning.

In summation to his entire letter, according to Einstein, Capitalism is the evil that destroys individualism and causes poverty, joblessness, fear, and inequality. He believed Socialism was the solution to the problems of society. Then he concludes the letter with a warning and a question. In my words, this letter poses a dilemma - a paradox which is not solved by Einstein. If man is "enslaved" by Capitalism, is the answer to enslave him by a Socialist government? I don't think so.