The alienation of THE INDIVIDUAL is one of the tragedies of capitalism .

No insult intended. Thank you for your intelligent and articulate reply . Most informed socialists take the long view of history and the evolution of human civilization. " Socialism " is not a mechanical blueprint for a social order designed by Karl Marx, Plato, Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, Mao , Castro or some obtuse Central Committee in Venezuela.

ANY " blueprint " for socialism is based on the inner contradictions of capitalism well documented since the 1848 " Communist Manifesto ".

Your view of socialism reminds me of the one nightly damned on " Red Eye " radio. I listen to these two guys Eric and Gary - not just insomnia - but because they are honest , decent , and intelligent , offering " critical support " of Donald Trump.

To be sure I don't think like these " liberal " Democrats that Trump is the root of all evil . For this democratic socialist President Trump is just a very representative plutocrat - certainly not Hitler.
The social order of humanity was never a " machine " which social engineers hoped would " work " . Modern " socialism is ridiculed as a metaphorical " perpetual motion machine ".

A functional " socialism " can only be based on the collective experience of ALL humanity.
I don't see how even American capitalism is prepared for future catastrophes for which the late Isaac Asimov said we have a CHOICE.

Think about another Great Plague like that of the 14th century. Rather than being a HELPING HAND a " libertarian " government might tell THE INDIVIDUAL to save himself.

The alienation of THE INDIVIDUAL is one of the tragedies of capitalism .

Fate of the SWP