So, what's wrong with socialism?

[Greenday]

In socialism, you can make more than your neighbor. And the government provides you benefits.

In communism, you make the same as your neighbor regardless of work.

[drunkenwildmage]

Ok..I'm going to take my shot at this..


The US is a country that is made of up individualists.

Also, in the US, alot of people believe on the concept government should be limited just to essential functions that are defined by the US Constitution, State Constitutions and City Charters.

So as a result, the view of what is considered a social program (aka Socialism) is not only considered a volition of constitutions and/or Charters, but it's also considered an attack on individual freedom. This is because of the belief that government is, "by force, taking my money, and spending iton Social programs, when I should be able to control how I spend/give out my money".

Also as a sidebar to that, You also get involved issues with what areas Local, State and Federal government should be covering.. and that is a mess in itself.

[radiocerk]

The primary funding for politicians in the US are major corporations. So the politicians make things as comfortable for them, and as unregulated as possible. The US government actually fights against socialism in other countries when it can get away with it. Chile in the 1970's as a good example.

I am an American who believes in some of the principles of socialism. I support universal health care, social security, and the belief that in a country that grows so much food that large-scale farmers are paid to leave fields unplanted, that there is no excuse for tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people to go to bed hungry at night.

[Gravekeeper]

I'm going with the "The average American has absolutely no idea what Socalism really is" vote. >.>

[Rageaholic]

I am an American who believes in some of the principles of socialism. I support universal health care, social security, and the belief that in a country that grows so much food that large-scale farmers are paid to leave fields unplanted, that there is no excuse for tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people to go to bed hungry at night.

Same here. It should be obvious that you can have things like universial healthcare, some business regulation, and other support programs without losing all your rights. It's not like corporations can't take away your rights.

The way I see it, there needs to be a balance. Government should not be dictating personal choices (like the time travel fiction being banned in China), but they should not just stand there when 1-2% has a large chunk of the wealth while millions of others are on the streets.

[insertNameHere]

Same here. It should be obvious that you can have things like universial healthcare, some business regulation, and other support programs without losing all your rights. It's not like corporations can't take away your rights.

The way I see it, there needs to be a balance. Government should not be dictating personal choices (like the time travel fiction being banned in China), but they should not just stand there when 1-2% has a large chunk of the wealth while millions of others are on the streets.

You also ignore the fact that, using creative tax laws, the people will all the wealth don't really have to pay that much in taxes compared to the rest of the population who COMBINED makes less than them

[Rageaholic]

Yeah the rich getting the tax breaks is mind boggling. They make more than enough to live a luxurious life, and THEY get the tax breaks? If anyone should get a break, it's the middle or working class.

[Gravekeeper]

Yeah the rich getting the tax breaks is mind boggling. They make more than enough to live a luxurious life, and THEY get the tax breaks? If anyone should get a break, it's the middle or working class.

This is what I find so incredibly surreal about watching America from the outside. Its so amazingly obvious that those at the top are constantly fucking over those at the bottom for their own personal interests. But the bottom always seems like its actively got its fingers in its ears going "La la la la" and insisting this is really about some stupid wedge issue like abortion or homosexuals or omfg socialism or brown people taking jerbs.

Its not. Its about distracting you while they fuck you over. >.>

[Rapscallion]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8474611.stmhas some ideas about that.

Rapscallion

[Andara Bledin]

This is what I find so incredibly surreal about watching America from the outside.

[snippage]

Its about distracting you while they fuck you over. >.>

Try watching it happen from the inside. There are literally people here who refuse to hear anything negative about whichever their pet party happens to be, despite mountains of evidence proving that they're getting the shaft sans lube or even a midnight snack.

^-.-^

[Hyena Dandy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8474611.stmhas some ideas about that.

Rapscallion

404...

Good point. :P

[Rapscallion]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8474611.stm

Bugger - missed the space.

Rapscallion

[Greenday]

From that article: "There is nothing voters hate more than having things explained to them as though they were idiots."

I think we've found the problem. People get insulted because they are too stupid to realize they ARE that dumb.

Just on another point: "Obama's administration made a tremendous mistake by not immediately branding the economic collapse that we had just had as the Republicans' Depression, caused by the Bush administration's ideology of unregulated greed. The result is that now people blame him." - The people blaming Obama would have blamed him anyway even though we all know the extreme majority of that debt came in the eight years before him.

[Rapscallion]

I think we've found the problem. People get insulted because they are too stupid to realize they ARE that dumb.

I think that somewhat supports what I said in my post in the respect thread. Some people just won't admit they're wrong in the face of overwhelming evidence.

Rapscallion