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Heck, why don't we just live in a Utopian society.
Probably that's what the "second coming" is all about?
I mean you wouldn't think that Christ the Savior would come to announce the US as his "ultimate project" - the kind of state he'd love to live in, the answer to all the hopes and aspirations of the humankind?)))
Heck, why don't we just live in a Utopian society.
Isn't that the primary goal of all mankind? For all of us to live in peace and harmony, only having to work if we so desire? Is there any reason to think that this sort of society isn't at least theoretically possible?
Anyhow, I'd like to repost what I wrote in another thread, about some of the wondrous things that "socialism" has done for the USA, and to illustrate that socialism, at least in some form, is necessary for a prosperous and content society.
I'd like to point out that some of the greatest achievements here in the US have come from "socialistic" programs. Let me rattle off a few: The massive TVA system, which provides flood control, vast recreational areas, and most importantly, cheap, carbon-free electric power that has powered the economy of the local area for over seven decades now. Not a dime of private money was spent on this project, either. The G.I. Bill. This single program did more to boost the middle class than anything accomplished before or since. Millions of veterans were able to come back home and lead productive, prosperous lives (which has been passed on to the next generation), all due to a massive "redistribution" of wealth used to pay for their education. The Interstate Highway System. Quite possibly the largest "socialist" project undertaken in the history of mankind. Awesomely-built highways linking every state in the Union, the vast majority of them totally free to use by the public. I can't imagine what this country would be like if we didn't have that. The Apollo missions. Some might have called it a waste of good money, but isn't this something to be proud of - putting a man on another world? Oh yeah, the microcomputer was developed just for that mission, the tech of which led to the great computer revolution of the 80's and 90's. Just imagine what the world would be like if we were just now getting hooked up to the Internet on our 386-processor machines, here in the year 2011...LOL. It'd be true if we hadn't had the space program of the 60's and 70's.
And now on the great grandaddy of all social programs, Social Security. I find it highly ironic that our *most popular* government program has the word "Social" in it. Yes, it's the most socialistic program anyone could ever dream of, moving incredible amounts of wealth from the "producers" to the retired, i.e., "non-producers". And yet, 75 years after its creation, support for this program is very, very high, and woe to any politician that dares to tamper with it. Same thing with Medicare, which has been in place for over 45 years, this too is an extremely popular program, no matter that the very idea of this type of program runs counter to American's anti-socialistic beliefs. Oh yeah, lets not forget the public school system - that's about as Marxist as it ever gets, as every child has an absolute *right* to a full education, all 13 years of it. Just imagine the horrors of an uneducated population if we didn't have public schooling, putting education out of rich for the majority of families. The food stamp program, 41 million users strong, is a front-line defense against the greatest horror of all, starvation, due to not having a job or the means to support one's self. I dare anyone to propose taking food from the mouths of children just to save a few bucks on your taxes, with a straight face.
This is why I think the Republican party is on its way out, with the Democrats about to enter a period of supreme ascendency, as the American people NEED socialism in order to carry on a decent, civil society. I'm sorry many of my fellow Americans don't feel this way, but let's see what they think when you try and take away their benefits...lol.
Like it or not, socialism in its myriad of forms, is here and it is here to stay.
Isn't that the primary goal of all mankind? For all of us to live in peace and harmony, only having to work if we so desire? Is there any reason to think that this sort of society isn't at least theoretically possible?
Anyhow, I'd like to repost what I wrote in another thread, about some of the wondrous things that "socialism" has done for the USA, and to illustrate that socialism, at least in some form, is necessary for a prosperous and content society.
I'd like to point out that some of the greatest achievements here in the US have come from "socialistic" programs. Let me rattle off a few: The massive TVA system, which provides flood control, vast recreational areas, and most importantly, cheap, carbon-free electric power that has powered the economy of the local area for over seven decades now. Not a dime of private money was spent on this project, either. The G.I. Bill. This single program did more to boost the middle class than anything accomplished before or since. Millions of veterans were able to come back home and lead productive, prosperous lives (which has been passed on to the next generation), all due to a massive "redistribution" of wealth used to pay for their education. The Interstate Highway System. Quite possibly the largest "socialist" project undertaken in the history of mankind. Awesomely-built highways linking every state in the Union, the vast majority of them totally free to use by the public. I can't imagine what this country would be like if we didn't have that. The Apollo missions. Some might have called it a waste of good money, but isn't this something to be proud of - putting a man on another world? Oh yeah, the microcomputer was developed just for that mission, the tech of which led to the great computer revolution of the 80's and 90's. Just imagine what the world would be like if we were just now getting hooked up to the Internet on our 386-processor machines, here in the year 2011...LOL. It'd be true if we hadn't had the space program of the 60's and 70's.
And now on the great grandaddy of all social programs, Social Security. I find it highly ironic that our *most popular* government program has the word "Social" in it. Yes, it's the most socialistic program anyone could ever dream of, moving incredible amounts of wealth from the "producers" to the retired, i.e., "non-producers". And yet, 75 years after its creation, support for this program is very, very high, and woe to any politician that dares to tamper with it. Same thing with Medicare, which has been in place for over 45 years, this too is an extremely popular program, no matter that the very idea of this type of program runs counter to American's anti-socialistic beliefs. Oh yeah, lets not forget the public school system - that's about as Marxist as it ever gets, as every child has an absolute *right* to a full education, all 13 years of it. Just imagine the horrors of an uneducated population if we didn't have public schooling, putting education out of rich for the majority of families. The food stamp program, 41 million users strong, is a front-line defense against the greatest horror of all, starvation, due to not having a job or the means to support one's self. I dare anyone to propose taking food from the mouths of children just to save a few bucks on your taxes, with a straight face.
This is why I think the Republican party is on its way out, with the Democrats about to enter a period of supreme ascendency, as the American people NEED socialism in order to carry on a decent, civil society. I'm sorry many of my fellow Americans don't feel this way, but let's see what they think when you try and take away their benefits...lol.
Like it or not, socialism in its myriad of forms, is here and it is here to stay.
Because spending other people's money is always like free money, and we can just print more. And you don't have to work, and then we can get Greece to bail us out . That's a bright future.
Because spending other people's money is always like free money, and we can just print more. And you don't have to work, and then we can get Greece to bail us out . That's a bright future.
I notice that you mention nothing about the programs mentioned in the post that you are responding to, but rather make a generic bumper sticker style comment. The post is extremely valid, and the programs listed are not new nor are considered controversial, but rather are norms and mainstays in our American society. Cut out any one of the programs mentioned, such as free public schools, medicare, veteran funding, etc., (by the way, veterans actually do have universal health care it is just not called that and it is paid for by taxpayers) and you might save a few dollars per household in taxes but it would have serious repercussions. To try to say it wouldn't for the simple purpose of blind argument for a political stance is irresponsible.
I notice that you mention nothing about the programs mentioned in the post that you are responding to, but rather make a generic bumper sticker style comment. The post is extremely valid, and the programs listed are not new nor are considered controversial, but rather are norms and mainstays in our American society. Cut out any one of the programs mentioned, such as free public schools, medicare, veteran funding, etc., (by the way, veterans actually do have universal health care it is just not called that and it is paid for by taxpayers) and you might save a few dollars per household in taxes but it would have serious repercussions. To try to say it wouldn't for the simple purpose of blind argument for a political stance is irresponsible.
Sure, governent does some things well, but too much stifles productivity. When productivity suffers, not allowing it to flourish, those much loved entitlements will suffer loss. It isn't sustainable. This is what is happening in the Euro countries, and has forced a shift toward the private sector.
Sure, governent does some things well, but too much stifles productivity. When productivity suffers, not allowing it to flourish, those much loved entitlements will suffer loss. It isn't sustainable. This is what is happening in the Euro countries, and has forced a shift toward the private sector.
Sounds great for campaign slogans, but the programs mentioned are not what you are referring to, and are paid for through dedicated tax funds and have been for decades regardless of capitalist interests vs. social programs. The two can simultaneously exist without having any real impact on the other. Most of the debate going on today is fueled by political rhetoric, not facts. We have always had a combination of socialism and capitalism, and that is not going to change because to do so would not be the America that we all know and love. For instance, I am proud to live in a country where children who come from low-income families can have low-cost medical care, and have reduced cost school lunches. To me, that means we value our most fragile citizens. To me, it would be un-American to not do this. You can't just jump to the other extreme because of war debt and other mismanaged programs and say forget humanity, forget empathy, etc. The good and needs that are met through the programs mentioned in the above post far outweigh the impact of an extra penny or two of sales tax.
I am not a fan of socialism, but I do believe that everyone should access to affordable education and healhcare. I don't have a solution either, but ideally both should be privatized and be regulated (I do feel that our government has a duty to make sure a school is effective.)
Sounds great for campaign slogans, but the programs mentioned are not what you are referring to, and are paid for through dedicated tax funds and have been for decades regardless of capitalist interests vs. social programs. The two can simultaneously exist without having any real impact on the other. Most of the debate going on today is fueled by political rhetoric, not facts. We have always had a combination of socialism and capitalism, and that is not going to change because to do so would not be the America that we all know and love. For instance, I am proud to live in a country where children who come from low-income families can have low-cost medical care, and have reduced cost school lunches. To me, that means we value our most fragile citizens. To me, it would be un-American to not do this. You can't just jump to the other extreme because of war debt and other mismanaged programs and say forget humanity, forget empathy, etc. The good and needs that are met through the programs mentioned in the above post far outweigh the impact of an extra penny or two of sales tax.
I don't know about any campaign slogans. I'm just noting such countries that had embraced socialism are trying to move back toward capitalism. Just too many failed experiments. Why not free housing and transportation for all. I mean that is a necessity for working, and free child care. Single parent need that so they can work. I am sure that could be covered by another percentage points in taxes. Our currency will eventually be monopoly money. It is going toward that Utopian society.
Isn't that the primary goal of all mankind? For all of us to live in peace and harmony, only having to work if we so desire? Is there any reason to think that this sort of society isn't at least theoretically possible?
Anyhow, I'd like to repost what I wrote in another thread, about some of the wondrous things that "socialism" has done for the USA, and to illustrate that socialism, at least in some form, is necessary for a prosperous and content society.
I'd like to point out that some of the greatest achievements here in the US have come from "socialistic" programs. Let me rattle off a few: The massive TVA system, which provides flood control, vast recreational areas, and most importantly, cheap, carbon-free electric power that has powered the economy of the local area for over seven decades now. Not a dime of private money was spent on this project, either. The G.I. Bill. This single program did more to boost the middle class than anything accomplished before or since. Millions of veterans were able to come back home and lead productive, prosperous lives (which has been passed on to the next generation), all due to a massive "redistribution" of wealth used to pay for their education. The Interstate Highway System. Quite possibly the largest "socialist" project undertaken in the history of mankind. Awesomely-built highways linking every state in the Union, the vast majority of them totally free to use by the public. I can't imagine what this country would be like if we didn't have that. The Apollo missions. Some might have called it a waste of good money, but isn't this something to be proud of - putting a man on another world? Oh yeah, the microcomputer was developed just for that mission, the tech of which led to the great computer revolution of the 80's and 90's. Just imagine what the world would be like if we were just now getting hooked up to the Internet on our 386-processor machines, here in the year 2011...LOL. It'd be true if we hadn't had the space program of the 60's and 70's.
And now on the great grandaddy of all social programs, Social Security. I find it highly ironic that our *most popular* government program has the word "Social" in it. Yes, it's the most socialistic program anyone could ever dream of, moving incredible amounts of wealth from the "producers" to the retired, i.e., "non-producers". And yet, 75 years after its creation, support for this program is very, very high, and woe to any politician that dares to tamper with it. Same thing with Medicare, which has been in place for over 45 years, this too is an extremely popular program, no matter that the very idea of this type of program runs counter to American's anti-socialistic beliefs. Oh yeah, lets not forget the public school system - that's about as Marxist as it ever gets, as every child has an absolute *right* to a full education, all 13 years of it. Just imagine the horrors of an uneducated population if we didn't have public schooling, putting education out of rich for the majority of families. The food stamp program, 41 million users strong, is a front-line defense against the greatest horror of all, starvation, due to not having a job or the means to support one's self. I dare anyone to propose taking food from the mouths of children just to save a few bucks on your taxes, with a straight face.
This is why I think the Republican party is on its way out, with the Democrats about to enter a period of supreme ascendency, as the American people NEED socialism in order to carry on a decent, civil society. I'm sorry many of my fellow Americans don't feel this way, but let's see what they think when you try and take away their benefits...lol.
Like it or not, socialism in its myriad of forms, is here and it is here to stay.
I don't know why you misrepresent the items above as "socialism." Socialism is well defined by political scentists as government ownership of the means of production. That is very different from social programs funded by the government. Investing in infrastructure such as dams or roadways is clearly a use of public funds that enjoys wide public support. It is easy to see that these investments enable commerce, improve safety, and improve access to natural resources.
But unlike socialism, these programs don't eliminate capitalism nor competition. These programs don't really attempt to "equalize" people. They also don't eliminate the need to earn a living and don't intrude into personal lives.
Social security is by no means a successful program. Many people like it, but that doesn't mean it is successful.
As for the demise of the Republicans, do you really think they are on their way out? What happened in the last election? Do you think the American public wants a government run by people like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi? I don't think so. I think most Americans are disgusted by both parties. I certainly am.
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The Apollo missions. Some might have called it a waste of good money, but isn't this something to be proud of - putting a man on another world? Oh yeah, the microcomputer was developed just for that mission, the tech of which led to the great computer revolution of the 80's and 90's. Just imagine what the world would be like if we were just now getting hooked up to the Internet on our 386-processor machines, here in the year 2011...LOL. It'd be true if we hadn't had the space program of the 60's and 70's. 
