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The “Evil” of Communism in America. McCarthyism and the Media During the 1940’s and 1950’s. Defining our Terms . Economic Monetary Systems ($MONEY$) Socialism Capitalism Governmental Systems (LAW) Dictatorship Monarchy Democracy Republic Combination of Monetary & Governmental
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The “Evil” of Communism in America McCarthyism and the Media During the 1940’s and 1950’s
Defining our Terms • Economic Monetary Systems ($MONEY$) • Socialism • Capitalism • Governmental Systems (LAW) • Dictatorship • Monarchy • Democracy • Republic • Combination of Monetary & Governmental • Communism
$ocialism • $$Socialism$$ is an economic system and theory that advocates public ownership of business • $$Socialism$$ is the deliberate social control of money • Seniority and experience based • No Private ownership of business
$$Socialism$$ Examples: • ME! (Did you pay me $2 to teach you today?) • Firefighters (Do you have to pay them before they begin to put out your housefire?) • Police, Public Sanitation workers, National Parks officers • Military • Roads, bridges, sidewalks, national parks…
$$ Capitalism$$ • Capitalism is an economic theory and system that advocates private ownership of business • Motivates hard work through competition • Performance based analysis • Business FOR PROFIT
Examples of $$ Capitalism $$ • Microsoft • Google • Vons, StaterBros, Ralphs, Target • Southern California Edison (Electric co.) • Time Warner Cable • USC, Biola, Harvard, Stanford, UCLA… • …do you have to PAY to go there or get services or product there?
Governmental Systems • Dictatorship • A government that has the power to govern without the consent of the governed. (An Autocracy: one person with unlimited power) • Monarchy • Traditionally, an Autocracy whose leader is chosen by heredity (family succession). Spectrum of control.
Governmental Systems cont… • Democracy • Rule of the Majority • Every member of the society votes on legislation • Sociopolitical system—no implied economic system • Republic • Representative rule • Members of society elect representatives to rule on legislation and “speak for them” in the govt. • Sociopolitical system—no implied economic system
Combination System: • Communism—One Party System • Aims for a classless and stateless society with common ownership of property and business • Is $$ Socialist $$ AND a modified Dictatorship • Begins with a dictatorship of the proletariat (“common man”), with the assumption that they will step down—creating total social equality—once the system is in place
Why does Communism sound appealing to some? • Consider what makes us “different.” • What elements of our lives separate us from each other? • If you were to compare yourself to me, to your classmates, to people you see on TV, how are you different? • Is your life better than or worse than Bill Gates? Me? A homeless man in Alabama?
Why is it frightening? • Historical Abuse • 1945—Distrust of the Soviet Union after WWII (Stalin) • 1945 China falls to Mao Tse-Tung • Abuse of the system and the citizens of communist societies, coupled with corruption • American Communist party was responsible for acts of espionage, and advocated an overthrow of the US govt.
McCarthy was a Junior (new) senator from Wisconsin who served on the House UnAmerican Committee, and ran hearings to determine the “loyalty” of accused US citizens Senator Joe McCarthy
McCarthyism • McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of treason, disloyalty, or subversion without substantiation of evidence. (All PATHOS and no LOGOS) • Exceptional negative connotation • During the McCarthy era, thousands of Americans were accused of being Communists or Communist sympathizers.
The Hollywood Ten • The Black List • Actors, Directors, and Screenwriters were “black listed”—excluded from work based upon rumor of their association with the Communist Party • SAG barred people from participating in films until they had “cleared themselves” in front of congress • Many were barred and blacklisted for refusing to cooperate with the House UnAmerican Committees (HUAC) questions.
Good Night, and Good Luck • 2005 film depicting the conflict between Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy • Murrow was a broadcast anchor with CBS news • Set in 1953 • Co written and directed by George Clooney