In recent centuries, with the advent of capitalism and urbanization, the spark of the Enlightenment has reshaped the world as we know it. Great things were promised from this revolution, but as time and experience have shown, this is not the case. Most human beings alive today live in poverty and misery with little hope of escaping from it; however, there is a small minority who live in extravagance and abundance and whose main objective is to keep this situation persistent. The most significant problem/illness in our lives today is poverty and social democracy can cure it. Capitalism in its design needs poverty or at least excels when poverty is rampant. Liberalism's focus on individuality does not do enough to protect the poor and resolve inequality. Conservatism unabashedly worships poverty and accepts inequality as natural. Socialism is a great concept but it is completely unrealistic and could only be achieved through a revolution which in today's society is highly unlikely. This article will begin by analyzing the ideologies and shortcomings related to social inequality and poverty. Starting with liberalism, although many of the core liberal ideas have been accepted by all ideologies today, liberalism only does so much to end poverty, most people don't get a fair shake, as this article will show. Next this article will discuss conservatism's total disregard for social policy and its anti-social policies. Third, socialism and its current unrealistic goals will be discussed. Finally, social democracy and its pro-social attitudes within the capitalist economy will be analysed. Liberalism is the dominant ideology of industrialized countries, as far as all other ideologies have accepted...... middle of paper ... ...has realistic goals that can be achieved through reform. Through slow transformation we can curb the evils of capitalism and help achieve a more equal society. Works Cited Hayes, M. (1994). The new right in Britain: an introduction to theory and practice. Colorado: Pluto Press.Heywood, A. (2003). Political ideologies: an introduction. 3rd ed. Houndmills, Palgrave Macmillan.Johnston, L. (2001). Ideology. Peterborough: Broadview. McNally, D. (2006). Another world is possible: globalization and anti-capitalism. Winnipeg, Canada: Arbeiter Ring Publishing.Miliband, R. (1994). Socialism for a skeptical age. London: Verso.Mullaly, B. (1997). Structural social work: ideology, theory and practice. 2nd edition. Toronto: Oxford University Press. Patriquin, L. (2004). Inventing Tax Rage: Misinformation in the National Post. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Fernwood Publishing.