Two Cows Metaphor: Economic and Political Systems

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms from the video notes about different economic and political systems and their cow-based metaphors.

Feudalism

An economic system where land is exchanged for tax or service; the lord takes dues from peasants (illustrated as taking some milk).

Fascism

A dictatorship where business is heavily regulated, aggressive nationalism is promoted, and opposition is suppressed (often with a secret police).

Pure Democracy

A system where the people directly decide policy; in the notes, neighbors vote on who gets the milk.

Representative Democracy

Citizens elect leaders to decide policy (a republic); similar to electing someone to tell you who gets the milk.

Dictatorship

Rule by one person or body without limitations.

Capitalism

An economic system with privately owned means of production; you might sell one cow and buy a bull to raise a herd.

Socialism

Economic/political system where the government controls all means of production; private property may exist, and the government may or may not be elected; in the notes, the government takes cows and you care for all cows, while the government provides milk.

Utopian socialism

A peaceful, voluntary move toward socialism where society is made equal by giving cows to the government; you keep your house (and unicorns are depicted as barfing rainbows).

Revolutionary socialism

A forceful move to socialism; cows are taken for government use; you are happy you lost your cows because you did not die, and you may keep your house until it evolves into communism.

Communism

Government owns all means of production and private property; the government decides who cares for the cows, takes all milk (and eggs), and owns your house, clothes, and dog.

Surrealism

you have two giraffes and the government requires harmonica lessons.