A desire for social connection is fundamentally hardwired into our psychology, and so being deprived of it has devastating mental and physical consequences. Yet we live in a society which has become ever more fragmented and atomised.
Owen JonesRead
Socialism is the democratisation of every level of society, or it is nothing. It is based on an understanding that the concentration of wealth and power leaves democracy hollowed out, and that simply trooping to a polling station every few years is an insufficient counterweight to the behemoths of global capital.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Socialism aims to democratize society at all levels to combat wealth and power concentration.
Owen Jones emphasizes that true socialism seeks to involve and empower citizens in every aspect of society, not just during elections. He argues that merely voting every few years is inadequate to challenge the overwhelming influence of concentrated wealth and power, suggesting that a more comprehensive democratization is necessary to maintain genuine democracy.
Themes
SocialismDemocracyWealthPowerGlobal Capital
In practice
Example use cases
During a political rally, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of ongoing citizen engagement in democracy.
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