Opening Pandora's Box HERE-SOCIALISM, An IDEA For America?

1. 84

   gmwilliamsposted 5 years ago

   
   There are those who strongly, even vehemently argue that socialism will improve the socioeconomic condition in America.  They maintain that the PROBLEM in America stems from stark socioeconomic inequality.  They assert that if socialism is adopted, there would be more income equality.  Do you contend that socialism will create a better society for America?  Why?  Why not?

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      Credence2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      So what is Socialism? For the Rightwinger, if I suggest that corporates not be able to do ANYTHING they like, that is Socialism.
      
      It is the new thing, once you say it, Righties can be count on to salivate like Pavlov's dogs.
      
      I think think a certain amount of Socialism is already part and parcel of this economy. Social security, Medicare, etc. but the means of production is not owned the government, here. That is the classic definition. So, what is your typical rightwinger whining about?
      
      I believe everybodys definition is different and some time needs to be given as to what certain forum members consider "socialism".

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         gregasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Social Security and Medicare is something WE paid into and don't, or, shouldn't get unless we did pay into it. That isn't anything close to a socialistic government.

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            Kathryn L Hillposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Its Redistribution. And it is enforced by GOVERNMENT

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               Kathryn L Hillposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Its not like we can opt out of it ... unless we use cash only.

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               gregasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Actually when the government started distributing it to other people than the ones that actually paid into it it did become somewhat socialistic. Because that money was meant for retirement ONLY, not to help others. But socialism is NOT the way to go.

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                  gmwilliamsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  EXACTLY!

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            Credence2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Ok, Greg, what is your definition of a socialistic Government? When does taxation cease to be a necessary feature of modern government verses when does it become socialistic?
            
            I see money wasted on DoD outlays, doesn't have to be socialistic to be wasteful of the public monies. Isn't that your biggest beef with Socialism, waste and expense?

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               gregasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               The beef with socialism is that people that don't work get supported by people that do work.

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                  gmwilliamsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  Exactly.  America has become a socialistic state w/myriad social & welfare programs.  All such programs do is to tax the middle class into oblivion & cause poor people to be entitled & LAZY.  The American people are getting sick of this.

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            2. 95

               wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Socialism benefits an individual rather than a society or country.  Examples might be section 8 housing, food stamps, subsidized or free health care.  You're right that the definition has changed, though, away from the simplistic view that government owns everything (although increasingly we see that government owns all the wealth as it simply takes whatever it wants).
               
               On the other hand, roads benefit everyone - even the ones that don't travel a specific road.  A sewer plant benefits all in the area, and that theoretically are taxed to pay for it (that Kentuckians are paying for sewer plants in Vermont reverts to modern socialism). 
               
               Yes, I know that it can be twisted until every dollar benefits everyone (if we don't provide housing they will be homeless on the street and that's ugly, and if we don't pay for their higher education we won't get the benefit of their amazing discoveries in the field of literature).  Most people can tell the difference if they're honest about it, though.

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      crankaliciousposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      What is your definition of Socialism? You need to define the term first because right-wingers here the word Socialism and go crazy.
      
      If you don't believe in Socialism, do you believe we should privatize the police and fire departments, for instance? We collectively own both of those and have decided as a society that it's better for those two operations to be owned by us all instead of by a private entity. Do you disagree with that?

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   3. 88

      RJ Schwartzposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Socialism won't work with our current immigration system.  As we can already observe by the events unfolding in many democratic-socialist European nations, the newly arrived refugees and immigrants don't have a vested interest in advancing the overall positives of those nations.  They take without giving, thus leaving those who work hard getting the shaft.  In order for Socialism to work, everyone has to be on the same page with the same goals, etc.  In America, we can't even get 2 Parties to agree on things; how will we get everyone to do it?

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         It has a chance of working in small little countries where everyone can agree, right?

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 5 years ago

   It means high - higher - highest taxes.
   
   You LIKE HAVING LESS MONEY?
   YOU LIKE NOT KEEPING THE MONEY   Y O U   EARN ??????
   
   Its a simple question.
   
   Its yes or its no.
   
   
   I say no.

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      gmwilliamsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      +10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

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         gregasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         ???????

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            gmwilliamsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            That means I am in UTTER TOTAL AGREEMENT.

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               gregasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               With who????

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                  gmwilliamsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  With Kathryn.

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   IslandBitesposted 5 years ago

   What Would a Socialist America Look Like?
   We asked thinkers on the left—and a couple of outliers—to describe their vision for a re-imagined American economy.
   
   https://www.politico.com/magazine/story … ike-219626

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 5 years ago

   Something else too: If I have not enough money for myself, how can I help my neighbors or give to charity??????

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   Live to Learnposted 5 years ago

   I think, if we look at every society which has adopted a socialist style of government, we can see clear evidence that socialism is an evil to avoid. It collapses societies, plain and simple. Socialist programs within a capitalist system; when tempered with level headed fiscal responsibility to protect future generations, demand for personal accountability and a dogged desire to ensure boondoggle spending is not a part of said programs is commendable. Unfortunately history has proven that social programs administered by the government are riddled with fraud and do little to help those it labels in need of ever rising above that station which caused them to reach out for help.
   
   Social programs are, for the most part, carrots on a stick to garner votes. Tiny carrots being sold as jumbo. They leave people hungry for more. Their current incarnation does nothing more than create animosity because they never fully address the problems they were created to solve.

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      gregasposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Can anyone tell me why so many of our so-called teachers are cramming the idea of socialism down the throats of our young people?

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         Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         I don't know. Socialism, in theory, sounds pretty good. In practice, not so much. That's the thing. Academia is more about ideas, not actions. What ifs, not reality. If they were to temper their ideals with facts; I doubt the students would be interested. Everything owned by the state, all income derived being taken by the state, it flies so much in the face of the factors which drive production it is mind boggling any would believe it could result in anything other than enslavement. But, we are enslaved at the moment, we just have freedoms that are not afforded within socialism.
         
         I'm a firm believer that we must eventually look at the down sides of capitalism and address them. Our best bet would be to do that willingly and not allow a completely unsatisfactory solution to be forced upon us. I think, if pie in the sky ideals being spoon fed to kids later receives a strong infusion of economic reality; we may be closer to finding those solutions.

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            psycheskinnerposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            How is socialism academic when that is how a bunch of countries including Canada, most of Scandinavia, and arguably the USA are run?

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               Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               LOL. You can certainly redefine words in order to make that claim true but none of those are socialist systems.

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         crankaliciousposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Teachers are cramming Socialism down the throats of their students?
         
         Please provide some evidence for that statement.

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   psycheskinnerposted 5 years ago

   In mandating the collecting of money (tax) for policing, healthcare, military etc--um, America is already socialist.  It just happens, like many socialist countries, to also be democratic.

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      wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      There is the matter of degree to consider.  One might, for instance, compare the total receipts of the various government entities of a country to that countries GDP.  A higher percentage indicates a higher level of socialism, with government "owning" more of the wealth its people have created.
      
      I believe you will find the US on the far lower end of that comparison, although it is catching up with ever increasing amounts of personal entitlements to individuals.

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