Which of the following is true of a socialist system of government?

Question

A) In a socialist system the goal is to reduce economic class distinctions but not completely eliminate economic class distinctions.
B) In a socialist system people are paid based on their needs rather than their contribution to society.
C) Countries such as North Korea and Cuba are modern examples of socialist systems.
D) Socialist systems completely eliminate the ability of individuals to own private property.

Answer 1

The statements regarding a socialist system of government can vary widely in interpretation, but let's analyze them one by one:

A) True. In a socialist system, the goal is often to reduce economic class distinctions, but this does not necessarily mean that all economic class distinctions are completely eliminated. Some forms of socialism accept that there may still be some level of class distinctions while focusing on reducing inequality.

B) Partially true. In many socialist theories, the idea is that people should be compensated based on their needs rather than just their contribution, but this can vary. In practice, different countries implement this principle differently.

C) True. North Korea and Cuba are often cited as modern examples of countries that have socialist governments, although they implement socialism in distinct ways and may also incorporate authoritarian elements.

D) False. While some socialist systems advocate for reducing private property ownership or redistributing wealth, not all socialist systems completely eliminate private property. Many socialist systems allow for certain forms of private ownership alongside state ownership.

Based on this analysis, the most accurate answers would be A and C.