Happy Days

HowStuffWorks "Socialism Today"

"Socialism Today
Socialism suffered major setbacks due to the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and other Eastern European states. And many other societies followed in Great Britain's footsteps and denationalized their industries. However, some socialist-inspired programs exist today. In fact, any program that calls for the redistribution of wealth can be considered socialist. For example, the tax that the United States imposes on citizens to support the welfare system, which provides aid to financially unstable citizens, can be considered a socialist program. Healthcare systems like Medicare and Medicaid fall in the same category.

Another example of a socialist program is Canada's healthcare system. Proponents of this system argue that it provides free healthcare to those who would otherwise be uninsured or underinsured. They also point to the rising cost of health care in places like the United States, which some believe is caused by profit-driven insurance companies, for-profit hospitals and pharmaceutical companies."


Programs that benefit everyone in order to make us a civilized society are not socialist in the generally accepted use of the word Socialism. The Police, etc are essential to ensure that the bad guys don't take over by use of force and make us all frightened to sleep at night. As mentioned above, programs that call for a redistribution of wealth are, by nature, socialist.

As Sanders stated, it is all about the degree of redistribution. You are taking your argument to the extreme side by including the police as a socialist system.

Lachean

Yes please.

Yep, waste of time and money.

The police, military and law courts are not socialism, but necessary for the protection of our rights which is the primary goal of a constitutional government.

Yes to all except public roads, those are maintained by property taxes. If they weren't I'd rather a toll than paying more into an inefficient beurocracy to do the same, or to have it subsidized by wealth taken by other means to hide the true cost of things.

You know, like we do with water. It appears dirt cheap so people waste it utterly oblivious of the state of the country's supply in 10 years.

I think pure capitalism is as dangerous as pure communism, but not anywhere near as immoral or unjust. No I do not think UHC makes us any more civilized, nor do I believe that forced charity can be called charity.

In our mixed economy, the amount of redistribution of wealth is just enough to keep the masses from robbing their envied betters. I am willing to live in a world that is much less safe because it is much more free. I want to be as free as possible, even if it means I have to carry a gun or that someone will suffer in need because I remain untaxed.

If the argument is that I must be extorted a little (income tax) in order to cover the well being of an otherwise would-be thief, I say **** you and him; Let him come for whats mine.

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At the root of every civilized achievement, such as science, technology, progress, freedom--at the root of every value we enjoy today, including the birth of this country--you will find the achievement of one man, who lived over two thousand years ago: Aristotle.

GottaHurt

Kernal Sanders = The Birdman, you know, Colonel Sanders, as in KFC, as in a play on words.

You get so caught up trying to prove me wrong, you miss the message, or the fun of it all, more often than not.

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Pain can be such a beautiful thing