Thanksgiving: Socialist Holiday!!!!!

[JayHawk]

So how do you propose socialism take effect?

Seriously?

It violates basic human nature and will never happen.

The idea is somewhat childish and unrealistic if you experienced the real world. I have experienced first hand what very civilized people do when they want something bad enough and it is very animalistic

 

[Kulindahr]

Exactly Socialism and Religion Don't mix.

To the extent that they were socialist, it was because they were religious.
Besides which, the way you describe it, socialism is religion.

 

[Kulindahr]

(Because today's standard of living is disgusting. Most people don't know what a toilet or computer is.)

I can't find anything to support that. From what I could find, it's rare in China these days for a village to not have a PC, and in India the same is nearly true. Since in Europe and North America, most households have a computer, and some estimates from the industry conclude that 2/3 of the world's people have actual access to a computer, I have to say your claim about knowing what a computer is, is bogus. OTOH, the same sources say that only between 1/5 and 2/5 of the people actually have access to computers, so if by knowing what one is you mean having a clue what to do with one you're right.

As for toilets, if you mean the porcelain type familiar in North America, the situation is actually worse -- but only because the flushable sit-down version is not the only technology out there. Counting devices similar enough that users could figure them out without much trouble, just a bit over half the world have a home one -- I won't say in their home, because not the whole world runs that way. A major portion of what's left have to make do with communal toilets, from actual porcelain jobs with septic fields to composting outhouses. Only the rest could be accurately said to not know what a toilet is.

The last year I could find in which your claim could have been true on the face of it was 2001. But thanks to free enterprise, the situation is changing fast.

Who told you that Socialism consists of a distorted system of deciding who gets what? Socialism is the complete opposite... Capitalism is a controlling system which keeps 99% of the globe at the poverty level.

When capitalism degenerates into a condition where 99% of the people are in poverty, it has ceased to be capitalism. A healthy capitalist system wants less than ten percent of the people to be in poverty, for a simple reason: the poor are lousy customers.
It's foolish claims like this and stray remarks like the above that keep people from taking anything else you say seriously.

Just Curious of where you acquired your definition of Socialism... And if you are referring to Soviet State Capitalism, your definition is VERY simplistic.

I suspect most of us got our definitions from economics courses and textbooks, which is a good approach to most subjects.

 

[Kulindahr]

So how do you propose socialism take effect?

Seriously?

It violates basic human nature and will never happen.

The idea is somewhat childish and unrealistic if you experienced the real world. I have experienced first hand what very civilized people do when they want something bad enough and it is very animalistic

Civilization is but a thin veneer of habit over a pack-predator's instincts.

 

[EastMed]

Civilization is but a thin veneer of habit over a pack-predator's instincts.

So true. At the moment its bankers who are the predators!

 

[Kulindahr]

So true. At the moment its bankers who are the predators!

No, they're just the ones we most recently noticed.

 

[torontoboy92]

The idea is somewhat childish and unrealistic if you experienced the real world. I have experienced first hand what very civilized people do when they want something bad enough and it is very animalistic

The real world? So greed is intrinsic to human nature

Let's be clear. Greed is intrinsic to capitalism, but not to the human nature.

Communism doesn't work. It's also very oppressive, like forms of capitalism, and fascismo (fascism).

Social Democracy on the other hand ensures that everyone is equal, but the market is capitalistic, but kept in check by regulation to prevent the natural occurrence of greed.

Everyone is given the tools they need to succeed in life, and there are provisions in place to protect the vulnerable.

NOT to be confused with Democratic Socialism, which IS socialism. Social Democracy is Democracy, with essentially the necessary tools in place to ensure that every person has the ability to reach their full potential, and in economics for example, if you want to buy more milk than your neighbor it's fine, as long as you pay your taxes, so that one day, if the tables are turned, you can survive.

The best form, IMO is Social Democracy, A Market with medium regulation, and MAXIMUM civil liberties. Do anything you want in your life as long as you don't hurt others, and if you are succeeding, remember those who are not as lucky, and help them by paying taxes.

Oh, thats right though, I forgot, helping people is the ultimate evil to the Reich, I mean right.

Still, may I offer you a rose?

 

[Kulindahr]

The real world? So greed is intrinsic to human nature

Let's be clear. Greed is intrinsic to capitalism, but not to the human nature.

Kids are observably selfish at the age of three or four -- earlier, for the most part. It doesn't come from capitalism, it comes from being omnivorous mammals.

Social Democracy is Democracy, with essentially the necessary tools in place to ensure that every person has the ability to reach their full potential, and in economics for example, if you want to buy more milk than your neighbor it's fine, as long as you pay your taxes, so that one day, if the tables are turned, you can survive.

The best form, IMO is Social Democracy, A Market with medium regulation, and MAXIMUM civil liberties. Do anything you want in your life as long as you don't hurt others, and if you are succeeding, remember those who are not as lucky, and help them by paying taxes.

I wouldn't mind seeing some social democracy in the United States -- it would make an interesting alternative to the "big two" versions of authoritarianism that we have.

 

[JayHawk]

Kids are observably selfish at the age of three or four -- earlier, for the most part. It doesn't come from capitalism, it comes from being omnivorous mammals.

What he said....


'cept he is a helluva lot smarter than me in expressing himself in the written word. I might have simply ask if you have ever been around a toddler.... first it is Mom or Dad... next words usually include "MINE"