Socialism isn't the middle ground; the central planners (or expert Czars or "intellectual commitees") are subject to the same selfishness that Capitalism (without the moral restraints alluded to by most, if not all, of our founders) and Communism are. Man left to his own devices usually is "self-centered" and not altruistic. Otherwise, the socialist enitities on the world would be the utopias that their supporters think they will become; history has taught use differently (look at the pitiful state of Greece and many of the western European "socialist democracies" that are disentigrating before our eyes). Though not faultless, capitalistic societies have produced the most wealth, for a wider and more diverse contigency, than any other economic models in history. Are all "capitalists" self-centered? If so, then why does the USA provide 73% of all worldwide charity (both religious and secular) in the world? One answer, they can! One can buy more Thanksgiving turkeys (for the homeless and poor) with $10,000.00 than you can with $10.00 (not to judge intention or heart attitude, just the practice ability). To sum up the system that can provide an individual the fruits of their labors:
To take from one because it is thought that his own industry and that of his father’s has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association—the guarantee to every one of a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it....Thomas Jefferson.Socialism takes from one to provide for another (who may not be legitimately deserving - just lazy or unmotivated) on the basis of decisions made by a few who make distinctions on who "they" think should be deserving instead of who "the individual" may deem deserving.Do yourself a favor and read Fredrick Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom" (or at least the abridged version). He lived through both the Communist and Socialist (including the abusive Nazi regimes as well as others), so I would surmise he knows more than you or I (plus he was a Nobel Laureate).