2Dragons Loc: The Back of Beyond

Socialism is the camel of communism getting its nose under the tent.

Bill 45

God bless America and the devil take it. Government is made by humans ,not by God.

Kraken Loc: Barry's Bay

trump IS taking it.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Whenever I see comments like this, I wonder if people really understand what socialism is as a method of governance. Contrary to the media's portrayal, the hallmark of socialism is the government ownership of production, exchange and distribution methods. Translation is the collective populace (ie government) controls all aspects of the economic processes. The government is not just a redistribution mechanism in socialism.

What is really advocated by today's so-called "progressives" is simple stealing of the money from individuals who have it to give to whoever they deem needing it. These days those 'needing' it seem to be the ones who are most vocal regardless of their percentage of the population. Today's generation (and many from previous generations) doesn't understand that the solutions to the financial inequity they perceive is actually caused by the exact thing they think will fix everything. Handouts without a return to production factors and "rights" to whatever they want.

Outside of charity which is biblically mandated for those unable to work, I agree with the biblical concept of "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat" 2 Thes 3:10 . Independent of the religious aspects - doen't it just make sense ? That does NOT mean we get to decide who has value - we ALL have value. Only means that nobody besides those who CAN'T work are entitled to eat without making a tangible contribution to society. If they have no way of doing any work but desire to, they are entitled to our support. Even a small gesture of contributing to the greater good of the community is considered work as long as the desire is to serve the community to the utmost of their ability in doing what the community needs. Also, most importantly, the community decides what they need not the individual called upon to work.

Can somebody help me off my soapbox ????

Bill 45

What are the following items: "Republic" "Democracy" "Anarchy" "Socialism" " Communism". Lets see if we get real answers or mindless trash talk. Someone wrote "Government is to serve the Nation not the individual" What is a Nation, a Government ? What are the Bill of Rights all about? Add to that 13th - 14th-15th Amendments.

Bill 45

You writing about economic, not the relation between people and government.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

That's what Socialism IS ! Socialism is not a general philosophy of life - its an economic system. The media doesn't want you to think that way since they have a narrative all ready for you on the topic. Redefining something to fit your narrative does not change what it really is.

Ask anybody who lived in a socialistic nation and they can tell you exactly why it collapsed and the collapse will be related to the control of production and distribution. Yet the media promotes its own version and people flock to it because it makes them "equal" to those who strived their entire lives to put their families where they are. Are there abuses - certainly. Are there corrections needed to fix how opportunities are made available - certainly (unless you are a Biden or a Trump - then you might not agree)

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

IDguy Loc: Idaho

There is plenty of research in human behavior that clearly shows why Socialism doesn’t ever work. Because when humans are given free stuff they don’t work. When no one works the free stuff goes away.

Marx and Engel were clueless as to human behavior.

I don’t have a theory as to why Socialist and Communist States routinely start as (e.g. Cuba) or become corrupt dictatorships with a small percent at the top garnering all the goodies and the rest of society sinking into poverty. Marx and Engels utopias didn’t forsee that either.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Bill 45

I having hard time understanding what you have wrote. Socialism has been and still is being use as a front for a dictatorship. Communism is out and out dictatorship. Read Lenin, you will see now he use Communism philosophy to justify a dictatorship. He also wrote that Socialism is part of Communism, which it is not. Real Socialism has and is working in small nations. Question is would Socialism work in a large nation like the Untied States. I don't have an answer for that.

Bill 45

Marx and Engel whole philosophy was outdated at the time it was writing. Their philosophy was base on information that was 20 to 30 years old and was outdated. Yes, both were clueless as to human behavior.

Starshot

Socialism as it's normally defined doesn't work in general, that's true.
Yet we don't have to fall into the limited thinking mode of either/or, black or white, etc.
As Bernie Sanders keeps re-iterating; calling it 'Democratic Socialism'..not Communism..
big difference!
And with his view of it, he's taking the best of Democracy and Socialist ideas to make a more
equitable and workable system that can serve everyone's best interest.
Of course some will dis-agree (the wealthy) that it doesn't serve their interest. Greed and the inability to see the 'bigger picture' is not something we should have to compromise for in this case!

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Nonsense. He’s promising free stuff on the backs of those that make our country great.

Besides he has zero qualifications to run large organizations. As with all Senators. Maybe Biden’s son would do better...if he can stay out of jail.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Or at least shortly after. They were before the Industrial Revolution.