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Socialism
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You mean socialists, like commies, like a better, less extreme version of Stalin. I don't think you're wrong, I mean socialism is a nice concept. In practice it's not as ideal, but still, Brits and even Aussies are sort of...democratic socialists. Free health care, education, etc. Sharing. Jesus was a socialist.
The US in my very humble opinion is relatively selfish and should stop thinking about socialism as such a bad thing, and at least adopt some of the more commonly used policies. Read Animal Farm for a clever allegory about Socialism, George Orwell was a democratic socialist and was also very realistic. I'm going to admit that I get communism confused with socialism but it doesn't seem too fair that the best doctor in the country gets paid the same as a farmer. But if the government can control how people spend their money then it wouldn't be too appealing for countries which are in the first place dominantly capitalist. <- that 'sentence' should be taken down and shot. Also keep in mind that I'm this 14 year old ignorant who hasn't received any formal education on the topic of socialism except having parents from China and perusing George Orwell books.
Socialism is great. I think that Orwell's Animal Farm is a great testament to that. Unfortunately socialism does not take human greed into account. People will always want more power. They will take what is a perfect society & turn it into a dictatorship. They take from those who only wish to better themselves & keep the wealth, which is supposed to be spread around, for themselves. In short, socialism does not discourage greed. In fact, it encourages greed & opportunism.
Dictatorship. Yes. Because someone has to make the rules. A single party, I take it, means that there's no one to oppose them. Also this is what my dad told me about communism, that being if everyone gets the same amount, then there's no one who's going to try to achieve more, you wouldn't even have to work that hard. Not necessarily a good thing on the whole.
I'll have to disagree to an extent with you CWR--or more specifically, I guess, add to your post. Socialism also encourages laziness. It's not my job to take care of myself. Someone else will do it.
Just something for American's to think about. This years (2009) tax freedom day was August 11. Tax freedom day is the day that if everyone that worked (me, Nebulous, and everyone that holds a part time or full time job) gave their entire salary to the government from Jan 1 to August 11, that would pay for everything--roads, government salaries, food stamps, welfare, the war in Afganastan and anything else that you can think of that the government takes care of.
To me, that just seems wrong. I worked more than 7 months for the government. And the government thinks it needs to get bigger??? I'm sorry. Why should I bust my rear trying to get ahead if the government thinks I needs less than 5 months of my salary to live on? I won't post my salary here, but if you have a part time job at Wal-Mart or whatever. Take your monthly salary, and multiply it by 5. That's really what you are making.
Socialism just puts everyone's income in a big pot. Mine, Bill Gates, everyone.....and then gives them what is necessary for them to live on. Doesn't matter what you want--it's what the government thinks you need. It takes away the incentive to advance.
Just something for American's to think about. This years (2009) tax freedom day was August 11. Tax freedom day is the day that if everyone that worked (me, Nebulous, and everyone that holds a part time or full time job) gave their entire salary to the government from Jan 1 to August 11, that would pay for everything--roads, government salaries, food stamps, welfare, the war in Afganastan and anything else that you can think of that the government takes care of.
To me, that just seems wrong. I worked more than 7 months for the government. And the government thinks it needs to get bigger??? I'm sorry. Why should I bust my rear trying to get ahead if the government thinks I needs less than 5 months of my salary to live on? I won't post my salary here, but if you have a part time job at Wal-Mart or whatever. Take your monthly salary, and multiply it by 5. That's really what you are making.
Socialism just puts everyone's income in a big pot. Mine, Bill Gates, everyone.....and then gives them what is necessary for them to live on. Doesn't matter what you want--it's what the government thinks you need. It takes away the incentive to advance.
This is why i think Dictatorship is a more reliable form of government and before i get into that Princess the French are bureaucratic and they like it, simply because they have good luck with it.
The corruption of a countries government is solely based on the individual shared needs of the officials. America will be corrupt as long as it has a pure democratic based government system, simply because everybody has their own individual needs and given the illusion that you are above normal society people you can surpass the law. Just like Nixon said in his famous interview When the president does it, it's not illegal.
Dictatorship is control over a whole country by the means of one central mind or power. Thus there is less feelings and needs involved. Maybe a third world country can let a corrupt dictator take control and do what he pleases but this will never be the case with America. One central mind to decide the actions of a country seems a lot more optimistic than corrupted minds making decisions....for themselves
The corruption of a countries government is solely based on the individual shared needs of the officials. America will be corrupt as long as it has a pure democratic based government system, simply because everybody has their own individual needs and given the illusion that you are above normal society people you can surpass the law. Just like Nixon said in his famous interview When the president does it, it's not illegal.
Dictatorship is control over a whole country by the means of one central mind or power. Thus there is less feelings and needs involved. Maybe a third world country can let a corrupt dictator take control and do what he pleases but this will never be the case with America. One central mind to decide the actions of a country seems a lot more optimistic than corrupted minds making decisions....for themselves
Dictatorship? Not for me. I can't deal with someone else telling me what I can do and can't do.
One of my neighbors is a refugee from Cuba. He floated to this country on an innertube. He wasn't able to own anything over there. Everything belonged to Castro. He and his parents had a small cattle farm--not very large, but if they were hungry, they couldn't kill a cow and eat it. If one died--they had to pay for it. It has to be a terrible way to live.
I don't think it's any type of government that I would care to live under.
One of my neighbors is a refugee from Cuba. He floated to this country on an innertube. He wasn't able to own anything over there. Everything belonged to Castro. He and his parents had a small cattle farm--not very large, but if they were hungry, they couldn't kill a cow and eat it. If one died--they had to pay for it. It has to be a terrible way to live.
I don't think it's any type of government that I would care to live under.
Princess said:
Which is why i brought up the fact that it won't happen in America, because America is a first world country...It will never get to that, if you think logically.
In any form of government, if you are not an offical you do what others tell you to do. You can't kill a cow in America without paying taxes
Thanks, I am a babe, aren't I?Melody said:
Whatif said:Which is why i brought up the fact that it won't happen in America, because America is a first world country...It will never get to that, if you think logically.
In any form of government, if you are not an offical you do what others tell you to do. You can't kill a cow in America without paying taxes
I do things all the time--and know lots of people that do--without paying taxes. You might have a point, but change your analogy. I killed a cow 2 weeks ago, and if luck is with us, we'll kill a couple deer in the next few weeks...and we don't pay taxes on any of it. I pay no taxes on my garden produce, on my livestock, or wild game. There are lots of things that I am free to do in this country without paying taxes--because I am a landowner. In Cuba, you aren't allowed to own anything--it all belongs to Castro.
You make some very good point, Princess. Socialism encourages laziness, which will result in a less-efficient country overall. It's sad how many Americans are no longer proud to be an American. They think our capitalism is crap, they think how we treat other countries is crap. They're almost embarrassed to be an American and want to change the entire system to reflect that of other countries.
For those of you from other countries, I don't have anything against you, but my point is that America used to be a land of such pride, hope, and freedom. Something has happened that made that change. I think it might be the current economy, our health care system, etc. But as time went on, government got more and more involved and messed things up (the collapse of the Lehman Brothers, a government program, which arguably led to the current economic state). Yet some Americans want even more government involvement, or want to adopt an entirely new system.
For those of you from other countries, I don't have anything against you, but my point is that America used to be a land of such pride, hope, and freedom. Something has happened that made that change. I think it might be the current economy, our health care system, etc. But as time went on, government got more and more involved and messed things up (the collapse of the Lehman Brothers, a government program, which arguably led to the current economic state). Yet some Americans want even more government involvement, or want to adopt an entirely new system.
Communism is basically just a more extreme version of socialism. It goes a bit further. It's what gives it such a bad reputation. Socialism is a very ideal sort of society, but in practice doesn't work so well. Still, it's not an entirely unreasonable thing to do, looking at some of the good ideas that socialism presents. Sort of like, I can be spiritual without the religious formality.
Socialism works with capitalism, but also to lessen the negative effects of capitalism by having a bit more control. The government looks out for the people, so the greedy ones can't con them as easily, making sure they're doing things fairly. It may be a bit restricting to the economy, but the aim is that they do things for the common good. Problem is, someone has to decide what is best. It's not that everyone's equal, so there is some incentive to do well. I'm going to have to contradict myself; I am indeed confusing the two. Apparently socialism does require people to work and aspire to excel, whereas I think with communism you just get stuff from doing the bare minimum of work; no matter what you do it'll be the same, so why bother trying? Also with the added component of, err, execution and jail, in some cases.
A couple of posts later I will also know something new and different, and will have to contradict myself again.
I don't think I really know all the differences between socialism and communism, but I shall learn more.
That's the problem then - people. Don't really have much else to say but that. The world would work out pretty decent if people didn't suck so much. The government isn't perfect, it's made up of people, just like you. You've got some possible reasons there as to why people are ashamed to be American...it's deteriorated pretty far. The US did a lot of great things, but like any other country, also made many mistakes.
Socialism works with capitalism, but also to lessen the negative effects of capitalism by having a bit more control. The government looks out for the people, so the greedy ones can't con them as easily, making sure they're doing things fairly. It may be a bit restricting to the economy, but the aim is that they do things for the common good. Problem is, someone has to decide what is best. It's not that everyone's equal, so there is some incentive to do well. I'm going to have to contradict myself; I am indeed confusing the two. Apparently socialism does require people to work and aspire to excel, whereas I think with communism you just get stuff from doing the bare minimum of work; no matter what you do it'll be the same, so why bother trying? Also with the added component of, err, execution and jail, in some cases.
A couple of posts later I will also know something new and different, and will have to contradict myself again.
Jayglo said:
That's the problem then - people. Don't really have much else to say but that. The world would work out pretty decent if people didn't suck so much. The government isn't perfect, it's made up of people, just like you. You've got some possible reasons there as to why people are ashamed to be American...it's deteriorated pretty far. The US did a lot of great things, but like any other country, also made many mistakes.
They probably think that because they see America as nothing more then a dictatorship with the illusion of choice because the people who really runs the show are the people who you never vote for which is big business. They know that no matter who you vote for, they always win every time.
Then again, we as a whole in the US( I won't say for anyone else as I am an American and can only give a viewpoint of the country i live in) are so dependent on big business to do everything for us that without them we would be pretty much helpless as a whole.
I don't know what the best government is though as I never seen a good one as I think every single one is only as good as the people who make up the government in question.
Then again, we as a whole in the US( I won't say for anyone else as I am an American and can only give a viewpoint of the country i live in) are so dependent on big business to do everything for us that without them we would be pretty much helpless as a whole.
I don't know what the best government is though as I never seen a good one as I think every single one is only as good as the people who make up the government in question.
Bluezone777 said:
Totally true. Every form of government will have its flaws. There is the ideal form of every government, but there will always be corruption, greed, and the attempt to further one's individual political agendas rather than further the betterment of the country.
Not that well educated on this but anyway...
Marx's theory is that revolution would happen and that society would evolve from capitalism to socialism... with communism being the step before the transition to socialism.
I dislike communism... it provides no motivation... and look at Russia... Lenin and Stalin. Both socialists, both ruthless dictators. And also... the Nazi party were formally called ''National Socialists''. Socialism= Dictatorship which when you look back in history at, is appalling.
Marx's theory is that revolution would happen and that society would evolve from capitalism to socialism... with communism being the step before the transition to socialism.
I dislike communism... it provides no motivation... and look at Russia... Lenin and Stalin. Both socialists, both ruthless dictators. And also... the Nazi party were formally called ''National Socialists''. Socialism= Dictatorship which when you look back in history at, is appalling.
