Socialism

Your thoughts on socialism?

The Republicans favor Corporate Socialism.

The Democrats favor Democratic Socialism.

That making stuff "free" is often expensive and inefficient.

Rogue Valley said:

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This clearly biased info graphic really clears up the definitions for me... thanks

I really don't think most Americans even know the definition of Socialism. They only know Rush, Sean and the like say it is bad.

Nothing proposed by either party comes close to actual socialism. It is just another buzz word to use in right wing propaganda. Mostly because Republicans want to protect the profit centers for health care and big pharma

so·cial·ism
/ˈsōSHəˌlizəm/
Learn to pronounce
noun
a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
synonyms: leftism, Fabianism, syndicalism, consumer socialism, utopian socialism, welfarism; More
policy or practice based on the political and economic theory of socialism.
synonyms: leftism, Fabianism, syndicalism, consumer socialism, utopian socialism, welfarism; More
(in Marxist theory) a transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of Communism.

Rogue Valley said:

The Republicans favor Corporate Socialism.

The Democrats favor Democratic Socialism.

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Note that the government services/infrastructure included under democratic socialism (in your spiffy 101 course syllabus) are mostly controlled and funded at the state/local government level. With the exception of "postal roads" none of those are powers granted to the federal government by the constitution.

American said:

Your thoughts on socialism?

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I think it's a little more complicated then good or bad.

americanwoman said:

I think it's a little more complicated then good or bad.

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No it isn't.

Socialism is wonderful.

The world DOES owe us a living. (After all, we did not ask to be born into this veil of tears.)

Every human being should be guaranteed decent housing, decent health care, and adequate food.

Sadly socialism/communism does NOT work. Russia, China, and even Sweden prove this conclusion.

Human beings are too selfish and evil for socialism to work.


So we are stuck with capitalism modified by aspects of socialism (e.g., old-age pensions for everyone).

As someone who will soon be gone, it is outrageous that the government does not pay for every senior who wants/needs to end his/her life in a "retirement home." Right now, many seniors (or their families) have to pay thousands for even mediocre care and housing.

TheParser said:

Socialism is wonderful.

The world DOES owe us a living. (After all, we did not ask to be born into this veil of tears.)

Everyone human being should be guaranteed decent housing, decent health care, and adequate food.

Sadly socialism/communism does NOT work. Russia, China, and even Sweden prove this conclusion.

Human beings are too selfish and evil for socialism to work.


So we are stuck with capitalism modified by aspects of socialism (e.g., old-age pensions for everyone).

As a someone who will soon be gone, it is outrageous that the government does not pay for every senior who wants/needs to end his/her life in a "retirement home." Right now, many seniors (or their families) have to pay thousands for even mediocre care and housing.

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Thank you, please vote accordingly.

Rogue Valley said:

The Republicans favor Corporate Socialism.

The Democrats favor Democratic Socialism.

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Corporate Socialism - Fascism (Mussolini)

American said:

No it isn't.

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Then why can't you define it?

On Mother's day we visited my in-laws.. My father in-law, a 75 YO rabid Republican, decided to spew what he heard on Fox about how bad socialism is.

The irony is he's on SS, and Medicare, and because he eats bacon almost daily and weighs 350 lbs., and has a whole bunch of medical problems. In other words if it wasn't for SS and Medicare he'd be living in a refrigerator box in the street.

The stupidity of not voting for their own interest, and hypocrisy of the modern right is mind boggling.

American said:

Your thoughts on socialism?

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This is another disingenuous thread on your part, and an intentionally misleading poll. Very few, if any, are calling for strict Socialism in this nation and very few, if any, are calling for strict Capitalism in this nation.

On an economic line between absolute planned economics on one end and absolute market economics on the other just about every modern western nation falls in the middle somewhere, even those nations FoxNews calls "socialist."

The irony is our own economic model, and government involvement in, includes elements of planned economics. Said another way, socialism.

Our entire healthcare system leans far more planned economics than market economics, similar story with just about every aspect of our national infrastructure, similar story with just about our entire financial system, similar story with any other industry with ties to the federal government, regulation, or legislation in order to survive as is including large chain retail.

We already privatize profit and socialize losses in just about every single sector of our market economy (meaning they are not quite market leaning now,) we already socialize just about all improvements in healthcare from every point in discovery to distribution of product, and we already socialize scientific advancements across the board.

Without elements of planned economics there would be no middle class at all, nor would we have a standard workweek, benefits of any kind would not exist, workforce protections would have never come to be, workforce safety protections would be "the worker's problem," the list goes on.

Pretend all you want that the Constitution is on your side and pure market economics is all that... and you would be wrong else all of these things I speak of would not exist.

We have socialism, elements of planned economics, here right now. The only question is how much and how often you want to play this foolish bumper sticker thinking game of absolutes and yearbook answers to what socialism really is.

American said:

No it isn't.

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Yes, it is. There are many beneficial social programs that I'm sure even you enjoy.

The word socialism reminds me of the labor movement and all of the benefits we have won through collective action in this country. I think that the United States has a longer history of socialism than a lot of righties want to admit and its actual effects have been pretty popular.

americanwoman said:

Yes, it is. There are many beneficial social programs that I'm sure even you enjoy.

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You are wrong. But there are many things I'm forced to pay for. But that's not exactly what we're talking about here. We're talking about the draconian govt efforts that Democrat presidential candidates are pushing, that would destroy our economy, and place our very personal existences under govt authority. These are far worse than anything that Democrats have pushed in that past.

American said:

You are wrong. But there are many things I'm forced to pay for. But that's not exactly what we're talking about here. We're talking about the draconian govt efforts that Democrat presidential candidates are pushing, that would destroy our economy, and place our very personal existences under govt authority. These are far worse than anything that Democrats have pushed in that past.

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Are we? I must have missed that in the poll and the OP.

MrPeanut said:

The word socialism reminds me of the labor movement and all of the benefits we have won through collective action in this country. I think that the United States has a longer history of socialism than a lot of righties want to admit and its actual effects have been pretty popular.

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Socialism plays on human nature where people give up their rights for the phony promise of safety and prosperity through punishing achievers.

SenorXm/Sirius said:

On Mother's day we visited my in-laws.. My father in-law, a 75 YO rabid Republican, decided to spew what he heard on Fox about how bad socialism is.

The irony is he's on SS, and Medicare, and because he eats bacon almost daily and weighs 350 lbs., and has a whole bunch of medical problems. In other words if it wasn't for SS and Medicare he'd be living in a refrigerator box in the street.

The stupidity of not voting for their own interest, and hypocrisy of the modern right is mind boggling.

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MrPeanut said:

The word socialism reminds me of the labor movement and all of the benefits we have won through collective action in this country. I think that the United States has a longer history of socialism than a lot of righties want to admit and its actual effects have been pretty popular.

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Yeap

Republican propaganda is very effective.

The very ones who do or would benefit most from the Democrat's policies are radically against them.

What can you say to someone who is so stupid that they vote against their best interest over and over again.

Right wing hate media feeds their hatred, bigotry and fear. They give them a common enemy to rail against. And those media pundits got very wealthy spouting all that bile.

American said:

Socialism plays on human nature where people give up their rights for the phony promise of safety and prosperity through punishing achievers.

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We are talking about two different things. When people under the age of 40 talk about socialism they generally mean unionization and public programs. It isn't much different from the trajectory we were on doing the FDR administration. We don't have Cold War brain so it isn't really used as a comparison to the Soviet Union or anything like that.

rickc said:

Yeap

Republican propaganda is very effective.

The very ones who do or would benefit most from the Democrat's policies are radically against them.

What can you say to someone who is so stupid that they vote against their best interest over and over again.

Right wing hate media feeds their hatred, bigotry and fear. They give them a common enemy to rail against. And those media pundits got very wealthy spouting all that bile.

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It doesn't take a dumb person to fall for propaganda. I think things would be very different if people stopped reading or watching the news when they started getting too emotional. All of the anger and fear that seeps through the screen is bad for everybody.

American said:

You are wrong. But there are many things I'm forced to pay for. But that's not exactly what we're talking about here. We're talking about the draconian govt efforts that Democrat presidential candidates are pushing, that would destroy our economy, and place our very personal existences under govt authority. These are far worse than anything that Democrats have pushed in that past.

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Sorry bud. You are.just buying into the republican propaganda

Look at.history don't listen to the rhetoric

See what happened to america's middle class after FDR and the new deal. Greatest economic expansion in our history. Standard of living for all Americans improving. Incomes for all classes rising together. Until Reagan and other republican administrations began to dismantle it. It is all there if you will just open your eyes and look instead of listening to the propaganda.ooo

Socialism isn't good or bad. It's a tool that governments can use. It can be used well and lead to good outcomes, or it can be used poorly and lead to bad outcomes. I favor slightly more socialist policies in the US than we currently have.

Can't vote in the poll because there's no option that reflects my views.

ttwtt78640 said:

That making stuff "free" is often expensive and inefficient.

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That's the belief of the conservative faith. It's just not always true.

Social Security operates on a 1% overhead rate -- less than any insurance company. Medicare effectively keeps cost down better than any health insurance company. Insurance companies pay their top executives many millions of dollars and have shareholders that demand dividends.