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Aint nothin more expensive than free.
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.
How did they get away with Social Security and Medicare?
This clearly biased info graphic really clears up the definitions for me... thanks
Lots of industries could benefit from more cooperative practices. Especially creative endeavors.
The Republicans favor Corporate Socialism.
The Democrats favor Democratic Socialism.
The same way they 'got away with' PPACA - someone on the SCOTUS decided that if congress does something funded by taxation then it must be OK to become a new federal power.
But you can’t forget about competition too. That’s very important for innovation
Your thoughts on socialism?
That making stuff "free" is often expensive and inefficient.
What is PPACA?
Your poll is based on your understanding of socio-economic theory. It would appear that your understanding is binary and thus extremely limited.
We've had this discussion before. To which type of socialism do you refer? As an example the US military is a form of socialism.
Almost as expensive as bailing out bank losses.
Likely more so if it is not just a once in a while thing.
He's 150 lbs overweight. He's had 2 heart bypasses, 1 hip replacement and goes to the doctor's about once a month because he has a bleeding ulcer.
He's health problems, which mostly is caused by his bacon and cheeseburger diet, has cost MILLIONS in health care/medicare cost..
He's taken MUCH more than's he's put in. He's taking YOUR money..
Your thoughts on socialism?
Many call it ObamaCare but it is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The US military is a necessary evil, not a glorious example of profit and success. Only for profit industry by man works.
The unchecked excesses of the right lead you to Hitler. the unchecked excesses of the left lead you to Stalin and Mao. So, in essence, unchecked excesses of either lead to the same place. Disaster and mass suffering.
But, none the less, you would agree that the US military is a form of socialism.
Its not a dichotomy. It neither inherently bad nor inherently good. Capitalism is also neither inherently bad nor inherently good. No economy is pure one or the other, but usually blends of both.
What we do know, however, the countries have a tad more socialism in the mix have happier and healthier citizens than the US. Since economy and a government are ultimately accountable to the people, it seems the US should tweak the formula a bit.
Likewise the left overuses the "you do not know what socialism means" buzz crap all the time. ANd most of the time even they have no clue what they are talking. For example when they try to lie and say that social infrastructure is socialism. Or they try to say that jesus was a socialist. And its the same type of propaganda that the right peddles; just lies to sway you into switching ideological beliefs. More of a bait switch I suppose.
Lets take your logic at face value. SO what you are asserting is that if something isnt for profit its socialism (going by your first sentence, if I were to take it the way that you wrote it). SO clubs, churches, non-profit organizations, political parties, etc are all socialism. So the heritage Foundation, NRA, the boy/girl scouts, the Republican party, Democrat party etc are socialism. Or if you only want to talk about government, then the those nutty rightwingers asserting that Nazi Germany was actually socialism is correct according to your cherry picked definition of socialism. I say cherry picked since socialism is a lot more than what you are claiming (no matter the flavor).Wait a second, nearly ALL public infrastructure and public goods ARE indeed socialism to the extent that they are funded by taxes and not expected to survive on a purely profit trajectory. Do public schools or highways make a profit?
And if these public goods are not socialism, explain why privatization schemes even exist at all, such as when foreign investors purchase a large chunk of American highway and transform it into a toll road?
No, it is not PURE socialism however it is a FORM of socialism in that it operates according to the principles of a public good or public service and not as a profit generator or rent-seeking apparatus for investors and shareholders.
Take off the binary blinders, or at least lower them for a moment. We have TRIED the opposite in some instances and watched it fail spectacularly, like when private fire departments allowed sections of New York City to burn for hours as they engaged in brawls for the benefit of spectators, because the building wasn't one of their clients.
Lets take your logic at face value. SO what you are asserting is that if something isnt for profit its socialism (going by your first sentence, if I were to take it the way that you wrote it).
No, it is not PURE socialism however it is a FORM of socialism in that it operates according to the principles of a public good or public service
As it turns out the government (and private business, citizens in general) profit from infrastructure.