On Nov. 13, The Center for the Study of Government and the Individual (CSGI) and The Steamboat Institute, an educational organization working to promote freedom and liberty, hosted a debate between capitalist Yaron Brook and socialist Bhaskar Sunkara in Berger Hall.
Around 200 attendees, including out-of-state livestream watch parties, listened to speakers debate the idea that capitalism is better than socialism for human flourishing.
Brook, board chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and host of the “Yaron Brook Show,” agreed with the statement while Sunkara, editor of the “Jacobin” magazine and president of “The Nation” magazine, disagreed.
The event was moderated by Hadley Heath Manning, director of the Steamboat Institute’s Fellowship for Public Policy and American Exceptionalism.
This debate was part of a larger collection of campus debates hosted by the Steamboat Institute, known as their Campus Liberty Tour. The aim is to engage conservatives, liberals and centrists in discussions and to teach students how to think about political issues.
The Steamboat Institute was founded in 2008 and is based on five core principles: limited government, limited taxation and fiscal responsibility, free market capitalism, individual rights and responsibilities and strong national defense.
Steven Pittz, the executive director of CSGI and an associate professor of political science at UCCS, began the event by introducing the center.
Founded in 2000, CSGI is an educational organization that intends to explore the constitutional, economic, political and social foundations of a prosperous society and explore the proper relationship between government and individuals. CSGI focuses on promoting critical analysis of all positions in the American government.
The first program provided by CSGI, The Program for Preserving a Free and Prosperous Society, explores the pillars of civil society, limited government and markets. The second, The Program on Civic Discourse, promotes civil, critical discourse in the classroom and beyond. The final program, The Program on the American Constitution, seeks to educate individuals on the founding principles and texts of the constitution.
Audience members and livestream watchers were polled at the start of the debate on the resolution that capitalism is better than socialism for human flourishing. Prior to the debate, 59 percent agreed, 26 percent disagreed and 15 percent were undecided.
In his opening remarks, Brook defined his understanding of the terms of capitalism and socialism, as well as his position on government intervention in business. Brook said that capitalism without government interference would allow for more freedom of entrepreneurship.
Sunkara took the opposite position, stating that the government has a role in establishing an economic “floor” for citizens in the form of welfare and social rights. Sunkara advocated for market socialism, which combines social ownership of firms with a capitalist market system.
Both speakers were asked to respond to questions from the audience on the role of government and the market in healthcare/childcare, whether welfare programs disincentivize workers, whether unskilled workers have power under capitalism, what would need to be done to implement socialism, and whether socialism conforms to human nature.
“Freedom created the world in which we live, and freedom of the individual is what we should strive to bring back. That means we should strive to bring back capitalism to enhance the scope of this wonderful system,” Brook said during his closing remarks.
“What I believe […] is that we can regulate markets wisely, and that we could use the power of a democratic state to guarantee every person a real floor beneath their feet, and that in doing so, we can build a more dynamic and more democratic society,” Sunkara said in his closing remarks.
Following the debate’s conclusion, viewers were polled again on the resolution. Results showed that 61 percent agreed, 30 percent disagreed, and 9 percent were undecided.
The next event hosted by CSGI is scheduled for Dec. 4 and will discuss the financial future of the United States.
The debate is available to watch here.
Photo from The Gazette.