Socialism is great?

[Manan]

Socialism is great, until we run out of OTHER people's money. Ya know, the "theory" of socialism is great, it just doesn't work in reality, and that is where most of us live.

I get tired of the "recipient" class always demanding more from my family to support their family.

Just soo tired of all their whining.

 

[vz. 61]

Socialism is EVIL no matter how you look at it.

 

[OldWolf49]

Real true socialism does work, greed gets in the way.

 

[rjstew317]

Real true socialism does work, greed gets in the way.

where? the only place it has ever worked is on paper

 

[96firephoenix]

Socialism is EVIL no matter how you look at it.

False. socialism is actually a very good theory. Socialism (as a theory) involves all the people in the system working together towards the common good. Socialist countries give equal treatment to all citizens, regardless of income, race, gender or creed, in medicine, education and culture. socialism is also what the Apostles used to set up the early Christian communities mentioned in Acts. so unless you're saying that the apostles and Jesus are evil, know what you're talking about and come back when you know what you're talking about.

Socialism is great. the practice of it is flawed, because it A) is run by people who are influenced by greed and B) gives too much power to the government.

good theory. bad practice.

where? the only place it has ever worked is on paper

Ever read the book "the Acts of the Apostles" in the bible? worked well for them, cuz they were governed by a common goal that was stronger than their own greed.

 

[Fletch]

I'm in favor of vountary socialism, which is what I see when I read Acts.

 

[BumpShadow]

You want to see socialism at work? Join the military, it is run very much on a socialism model. I agree with 96, humans are too imperfect to work it right. Capitalism is the best of a bad situation.

 

[grimor]

where? the only place it has ever worked is on paper

Star Trek....

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

Every form of government will become subject to greed and corruption.

The question is not "which form of government will avoid greed and corruption"... it is "which form of government will be most resistant to greed and corruption"... I believe our government has been superior to socialism in that regard... but take for example the second amendment and look how that has been trampled in only two hundred years.

Those that believe socialism is innately "evil" parralell those who believe America is "evil"... In both instances you have egocentrism so thick - people refuse to view things for what they are.

If a country's means of production is owned privately - it is not a socialist country. If a politician is an advocate of private business ownership - they are not a socialist. The label socialist is currently being applied like the term witch used to...

 

[Hornett]

You cannot name a country where socialism was tried and actually increased the standard of living for the people. It has failed every time it has been tried. The whole "It just didn't get implemented right" theory is why we can't get rid of it and it keeps going on and on like the energizer bunny.

 

[rjstew317]

Ever read the book "the Acts of the Apostles" in the bible? worked well for them, cuz they were governed by a common goal that was stronger than their own greed.

admittedly i have not read acts, but i was referring to a socialism working in terms of a larger society.

 

[Fletch]

If a country's means of production is owned privately - it is not a socialist country. If a politician is an advocate of private business ownership - they are not a socialist. The label socialist is currently being applied like the term witch used to...

I think this is oversimplified. What we have in this country is German-style socialism, where the means of production is largely owned privately, but government props up favored businesses and industries with subsidies and forced purchases via taxation.

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

You cannot name a country where socialism was tried and actually increased the standard of living for the people. It has failed every time it has been tried. The whole "It just didn't get implemented right" theory is why we can't get rid of it and it keeps going on and on like the energizer bunny.

Again, the question is "which people"....

Many people in China are living very well at the moment... some are not...

China has a socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics...

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

I think this is oversimplified. What we have in this country is German-style socialism, where the means of production is largely owned privately, but government props up favored businesses and industries with subsidies and forced purchases via taxation.

The means of production and allocation of resources are commonly owned in a true socialistic system.

Our government gave incentives to certain war time businesses during the wars... is that socialism?

 

[dross]

Socialism works in very small groups, for very short periods of time, with people who are very much alike and agree on most things, and who have some sort of strong tradition and culture working for them. Hunter-gatherer societies, small groups of herdsmen bound by the same religion, newly founded evangelical societies, hippie compounds.

Eventually someone comes along, or is born, who becomes the fly in the ointment. Then you either change your society or more likely you put the counterevolutionary/reactionist/blasphemer against a wall and end the problem.

After all, you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

You cannot name a country where socialism was tried and actually increased the standard of living for the people.

I accept your challenge and raise you . . . the Republic of Mauritius.

The Mauritius miracle: What can the United States learn from this tiny island nation? - By Joseph E. Stiglitz - Slate Magazine

 

[Fletch]

The means of production and allocation of resources are commonly owned in a true socialistic system.

Our government gave incentives to certain war time businesses during the wars... is that socialism?

Yes. It is, as Mises put it, socialism on the German model. What you're talking about is what he called socialism on the Soviet model. Both have the same problems, one simply hides it better and can be sustained longer, but not indefinitely, as our present economic situation illustrates.

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

Yes. It is, as Mises put it, socialism on the German model. What you're talking about is what he called socialism on the Soviet model. Both have the same problems, one simply hides it better and can be sustained longer, but not indefinitely, as our present economic situation illustrates.

So.. you are saying socialism contributed to the post war economic boom?

Would that make an answer to the question... USA?

 

[Fletch]

I accept your challenge and raise you . . . the Republic of Mauritius.

The Mauritius miracle: What can the United States learn from this tiny island nation? - By Joseph E. Stiglitz - Slate Magazine

Enough fluff. What Slate won't tell you is that Mauritius got where it is with a solid pro-market and free trade set of policies:

Mauritius: A Glimmer of African Freedom - Sterling T. Terrell - Mises Daily

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

Enough fluff. What Slate won't tell you is that Mauritius got where it is with a solid pro-market and free trade set of policies:

Mauritius: A Glimmer of African Freedom - Sterling T. Terrell - Mises Daily

But so did China, and to an extend Germany, and the US during the wars...

And weren't those all models of "socialism" ?

That is really the point I have been trying to make between the lines... When people want something to be socialism, because of the broad generalizations... they label it so...

When they want something to be because of capitalism... with broad strokes they label it such.

Neither system is concretely in large countries.

Socialism is not our biggest threat - fractional reserve banking is.