Quizzes & Puzzles1 min ago
Socialism, Can It Ever Work?
55 Answers
Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary why do so many, often appearing intelligent, people still believe that socialism can work? Perhaps those that do can explain the mechanisms by which they think it could. Thanks.
Answers
Socialism in a nut shell and why it never works: They say, let’s pass a law to cut the prices of basics so people can be better off.I f they do it too many businesses stop providing the goods and supermarket shelves empty. They say, let’s tax the rich more to give money to the poor. If they do that too much the rich take their money and their businesses, their jobs...
14:02 Mon 12th Nov 2018
Voting is very entrenched in a lot of places, I used to say that a goat with a red ribbon round it's neck would get elected in my part of the NW. My parents always voted Labour yet my mother, who was the more politically astute, detested most of what they stood for! They, my parents, were working class in that they always worked, they heartily detested those who made no effort to work and were glad to live off others. I once told my mother that she had more in common with Mrs T than anyone else, she was furious but it was true.
// A lot depends on what you mean by working. After all, (state) pensions are a fairly socialist principle, as are the NHS, sickness benefits, etc etc. Certainly no purely capitalist system would conceive of a state-provided health service, free for all at the point of use//
Capitalism has nothing to do with a welfare state. It's a mechanism for producing wealth. Western style socialism in its normal and recent political expressions is about useful ("just") [re-]distribution of capitalism's economic benefits to its client class.
Capitalism has nothing to do with a welfare state. It's a mechanism for producing wealth. Western style socialism in its normal and recent political expressions is about useful ("just") [re-]distribution of capitalism's economic benefits to its client class.
Since the NHS basically loses money, pretty sure it ain't making any wealth: ergo, I *still* doubt a purely capitalist model would come up with it.
I'm not wanting to live in a socialist utopia either, but there's no harm in acknowledging that socialist ideals, when taken in moderation, benefit society rather than hinder it.
I'm not wanting to live in a socialist utopia either, but there's no harm in acknowledging that socialist ideals, when taken in moderation, benefit society rather than hinder it.
Moving away from Glasgow (I won't say it :0) Hugo Chavez, whom Corbyn hailed as an "inspiration to us all". Venezuela with its abundant resources was potentially the richest country in South America, it had, when he came to power, 48% of its households living in poverty and now the figure is 82%. and its infant mortality rate has increased by 30%.
Some "inspiration"!
Some "inspiration"!
The wealth of the nation, what it generates in taxes, duties and investments, is different to personal wealth.
I tend to agree with Jim’s second (and probably first) paragraph @ 9.12.
Socialist ideals are great in moderation. Help for the most vulnerable, equal care for all etc but it has to build into that resilience.
We are, or at least becoming, a nation with our hand out waiting to be handed everything on a plate. Most vulnerable has morphed into a Goliath and is everything to everyone, people want a lifestyle that is equal to hardworking people without the effort of working. That needs to change.
I tend to agree with Jim’s second (and probably first) paragraph @ 9.12.
Socialist ideals are great in moderation. Help for the most vulnerable, equal care for all etc but it has to build into that resilience.
We are, or at least becoming, a nation with our hand out waiting to be handed everything on a plate. Most vulnerable has morphed into a Goliath and is everything to everyone, people want a lifestyle that is equal to hardworking people without the effort of working. That needs to change.
Jim, the NHS wasn’t a socialist ideal. It began with a report, authored by a Liberal economist, on reforms to social care which was subsequently adopted by the Conservative party and incorporated as a plan for free health care for all into its 1945 manifesto. The myth that it was a Labour ideal is reminiscent of the myth that Mrs Thatcher closed all the mines, when in fact Labour closed far more. Another unsavoury truth but the truth nonetheless.
bainbrig, //Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary why do so many, often appearing intelligent, people still believe that socialism can work? Perhaps those that do can explain the mechanisms by which they think it could. //
^That's the question and to people like you who bang on about the wonders of socialism, it's a fair one. I can only assume that, metaphorically speaking, you're not prepared to put your money where your mouth is.
^That's the question and to people like you who bang on about the wonders of socialism, it's a fair one. I can only assume that, metaphorically speaking, you're not prepared to put your money where your mouth is.
Question Author
Capitalism is alive and well at the lower reaches of our society.
"Work pays and gets you out of poverty." Low wages, zero hours contracts, food banks, benefits frozen or suspended, kids going to bed hungry.
But Socialism is alive and well. The greedy banks runout of money, and the whole nation make tremendous sacrifices to fund them back into business, with obscene salaries a and bonuses. NOBODY WENT TO PRISON!
"Fred The Shred Godwin," kept his cash and his freedom, and only lost his Knighthood. A great Socialist. The many helping the few, (bankers.) 20:45 Tue 13th Nov 2018
Capitalism is alive and well at the lower reaches of our society.
"Work pays and gets you out of poverty." Low wages, zero hours contracts, food banks, benefits frozen or suspended, kids going to bed hungry.
But Socialism is alive and well. The greedy banks runout of money, and the whole nation make tremendous sacrifices to fund them back into business, with obscene salaries a and bonuses. NOBODY WENT TO PRISON!
"Fred The Shred Godwin," kept his cash and his freedom, and only lost his Knighthood. A great Socialist. The many helping the few, (bankers.) 20:45 Tue 13th Nov 2018
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