2) Why is socialism bad (and don't bring up strawmans that confute socialism with totalitarianism/communism)?
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"End when I find myn Hertland, efter Irfet end Woo,
In Dale af Paper, worin Ink Nymphen dans’n,
I’ll endly have somthing stour ta gib ta myn Fremdin.
O Vers’ af de Musen, dwan’t ferlet me noo!"
1. He's not a socialist. He might of approve of some socialist practices, but he is not a socialist.
2. The problem I have with socialism is that I think it's anathema to human nature. The idea of putting the needs of the many over those of the few goes against our desire to be better than everyone else. As such, in a socialist systrm it would only be a matter of time before the system gets corrupted and it reverts back to a rat race anyway
That aside, I don't have anything against socialism, personally. It's one of those "gee, that'd sure be nice to see" things.
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That is true. Rather he is a socialist or not doesn't matter to me. I would be happy with a effective socialist, as long as that means the economy is in good shape. Ideology aside, I need to pay the mortgage and put food on the table.
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It's interesting people think socialism is bad. It isn't that bad. Free education, for example, police, firemen, general emergency services, benefits for the disabled and such are all socialist policies.
I don't believe these are bad at all. (health care is an issue which Americans disagree on, but from the European perspective, since that's free, it's also socialist).
Par contrast, China claims it's a communist country, yet healthcare there isn't free.
"End when I find myn Hertland, efter Irfet end Woo,
In Dale af Paper, worin Ink Nymphen dans’n,
I’ll endly have somthing stour ta gib ta myn Fremdin.
O Vers’ af de Musen, dwan’t ferlet me noo!"
i think one source of confusion is that everyone seems to use their own definition of socialism.. especially here in america where the term has essentially been turned into sort of a taboo with which one can selectively demonize certain uses of government money, whilst supporting some of the more basic services you listed above. i personally like the idea of a government/society which collectively provides those services, including healthcare.
other people link socialism to the more fundamental idea of social ownership of the means of production, which is an experiment i'm not particularly confident in.
but i do think there is some practical value in trying to educate and uplift the masses through a proper infrastructure. i don't believe competition can be removed from the equation, but i do think you can improve competitiveness through direct investment.
Last edited by red g jacks on May 2nd, 2012 at 07:06 AM
The Occupy Movement is the Republican Party's dream come true. Every day it provides a new straw liberal to point the magnifying glass on, and it makes the Tea Party Movement look organized and sensible.
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"End when I find myn Hertland, efter Irfet end Woo,
In Dale af Paper, worin Ink Nymphen dans’n,
I’ll endly have somthing stour ta gib ta myn Fremdin.
O Vers’ af de Musen, dwan’t ferlet me noo!"
1. Obama is not a Socialist. He embraces the Corporatist policies of Lemon Socialism (the government financially prompting up industries and brands with no merit such as big banks) and the concept of wealthy people and artificial people privatizing profits while socializing losses. In other words, just another conservative douchebag proving that the Democrats haven't run a good viable candidate in a general election since 1972.
2. Socialism is bad because it is an inefficient extreme, just like free market capitalism. Socialism stifles innovation and can lead to disasters via central planning, not to mention a lack of consumer choice. However, two flavors of socialism-Democratic Socialism and Social Democracy (depending on the nation) are ideal forms of government as they provide the freedoms of liberalism with the protections of socialism. A free democratic society pays high taxes resulting in high purchasing power, high wages, universal services, the diminishing of importance, though not the elimination of class along with entrepreneurial opportunity for all along with greater self-determination as economic restrictions in education and health care are eliminated.
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That's being quietly eradicated in England right now, lots of seriously ill people are getting kicked off by the draconian Atos company (endorsed by the government).
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May 1st, 2012 03:40 AM
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