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As an economic system it sucks. Socialism never made a country rich. I am a dyed in the wool capitalist. I love being the master of my own ship. But, in areas where success of the individual take second place to the success of society, socialism works quite well.
Your fire department is a perfect example. The means of production are owned by the state. Everybody pays in, and everybody is covered even if you don’t pay in. That’s socialism personified. It works well with healthcare too.
Can you imagine a capitalistic fire department who will watch your house burn because you’re late on your payment?
You must be missing something. Many of our fire departments are volunteer and work quite well. They do not require any of that so called evil capitalistic money to put our fires out.
Government bankrupts most everything it touches. I agree there are a few things that Government must do such as military, police, etc.
You’re talking about the fire department payroll, and I’m talking about how the fire department is funded. Clearly, nobody in your volunteer fire department bought the truck or bought the building that houses the truck. Those were paid for with taxes and they’re owned by the taxpayer.
This is simple. WHO owns your volunteer fire department??? EVERYBODY. Will they put out your fire even if you didn’t donate? Yes. Will they bill you if they do? No.
The difference between a Government filled with corrupt self serving politicians running our lives, versus the people running their own fire departments etc., is a huge difference when it comes to what we know as socialism.
I understand what you are saying, but you are equating socialism to neighbors helping out each other in a voluntary way. No one is forcing me to give money to our voluntary Fire department, and i would have no problem with a private sector fire department that did charge some money for it's service.
I would gladly pay the fire department for saving my house.
I would gladly pay the fire department for saving my house.
Hello again, From:
I suggest that you're NOT as heartless as you portend.. Your statement above is in support of privatization. I get it.. I'm a capitalist.. I LOVE private business.. However, if you expand upon your point, it would mean you'd be CONTENT to stand by and WATCH somebody's house burn down because they didn't pay their bill.. It would be OK with you if people DROWNED because they didn't PAY..
Now, truly, my friend, I don't believe you're that heartless.
There are SOME areas in life where the needs of society take precedence over the need to profit.. Fortunately, the services of your fire department and mine, volunteer or not, are available to EVERYBODY whether they PAID or not..
I never said that they should not put out a house fire even if the people could not pay. Doctors save peoples lives all the time when they can not pay.
I always get a good laugh at people on the Left judging so called heartless Conservatives while the Left supports No Restriction abortions.
You do understand hypocrisy? I DO believe you are that heartless because you prove it every time you vote for the Democrat Party.
It's probably the most fair system created so far. Instead of the individualistic mindset of capitalism, socialism is much more profitable for the country as a whole, not just a select few.
There has never been a "perfect" political or economic system. Capitalism is FAR from perfect, democracy is not "perfect". A combination of democracy and socialism, to my mind, is the most "FAIR" system I can think of. Any system that isn't properly regulated by the majority of the people WILL run amok, as capitalism is today, and WILL become unfair and unbalanced. Deregulation, or the allowed ignoring OF regulations, caused the disaster of the 2006 era. It will happen again, or worse, we will become an oligarchy as a handful of billionaires as Russia is NOW! (Just what Putin and Trump want!)
In the late 1800's capitalism "ran amok" and the country was run by, not a President, but by 4 billionaires. Railroads, mining, steel, shipping ran the country and we ended up with food lines and "employment by corner pickup. Those that would work for enough to buy some food worked, others rioted to save their dignity (and the country)! The "appointed President" died suddenly and the Vice President (put there by the rich to keep him under control), became President. Teddy Roosevelt cut down the oligarchy and turned the country around to MAKE it the richest country! We are backing down the same road pre-TR! Under the subtly guiding hand of Putin and the arrogance of Trump! Richest country in the world?? In ten years, if we don't again shut down the oligarchs, we will not be! Not even close!
Of course, the whole country was being run by Republicans and the oligarchs wanted to keep it that way! T.R. was a Republican that had some power and following. He wasn't afraid of the oligarchs and didn't like what they were doing so THEY had him on THEIR ticket as Vice President where they thought they could control him! Alas, their puppet President died and HE took over! (lucky for America!) We need MORE Republicans like HIM!
Capitalists had TOTAL control and were the cause of the "rationing" because the billionaires were paying rock bottom wages and keeping all the rest for themselves! Many of the YUGE homes they built are about 20 minutes away from my house … museums, now. Nobody can afford to pay the taxes …. at least until the NEW oligarchs ("capitalists" that control the government), write new tax breaks for themselves!
Neither. I don't like communistic socialism. Communists get control of the vote (like the Republican Party did over the last few years), and only the votes they LIKE have a chance. Like Herr Gropenfuhrer's buddy, Putin. HE gets over 70% of the vote ;-) …. He'd better, or people will "disappear"! I worked in Venezuela several times, have a lot of friends there. I hate to see America going the way their country did! THEIR vote means nothing, hasn't for several years.
The COMMUNIST reds (of the red states), seem to LOVE the thought of becoming an oligarchy ... billionaires controlling the government! If they GET control, do you think they'll want to take a chance at LOSING control because there are so many citizens with guns running around? And a military with many thinking THEY and their families are being short changed and almost all of the money is going to the "chosen ones"?? Do you think the majority of people in Russia think they are? That's why communism has never worked! The PEOPLE don't like it! Only the oligarchs that share their money with the government, who share their POWER with the "good guys with the money"! If this keeps up, kiss your guns goodbye!
The big glaring problem with your limited linear mind is that if you scrapped all the billionaires from America, the mega rich foreigners would become our masters by buying off our government officials much more easily. Oh look, they're all real Fascists and totalitarians.
Hmm....a few hundred billionaires that can influence government or one small group running your version of how government should be. Oh that makes sense. Get rid of the 1% and replace them with an omnipotent .0000001%. You're a genius...
Obama did such a great job in 8 years that the Progressives went down in flames as of 2016. Now Old Crazy AL when it comes to billionaires are you talking about the likes of Tom Steyer ? He is a Progressive Billionaire you Stupid Idiot !
It's how you'll end up with the Antichrist. Think about it. How does some leader get the power over food and rations? Socialism. You have the mark, you get your food ration. Just as the Bible foretold. It's coming. Get ready.