Has socialism ever been successful? Examples, please? (support, work, tax)

[FKD19124]

so adding more and more government in our lives is beneficial.

Originally Posted by MTAtech

We have grand experience through history of no government at all. When deficiencies have been discovered, such as companies selling tainted foods, these problems weren't fixed with little government. We demanded that the government regulate areas where the free market failed. The same is true for all areas where the government is now involved (financial regulation, labor, seniors living in destitution, etc.) -- they represent responses to free market failures.

Now, conservatives choose to forget the times when we did have little government in our lives, which weren't as rosy as they'd like to believe. Instead, prior to labor laws, we had massive exploitation of workers; prior to environmental laws, we had massive exploitation of the environment and natural resources; prior to regulation of food and drugs, we had exploitation of consumers who were subjected to dangerous foods and drugs. Notice the pattern?

[BruSan]

Originally Posted by FKD19124

so adding more and more government in our lives is beneficial.

It's undoubtedly prevented many of you from dying needless or careless deaths at the hands of manufacturing industry not shiving-a-git about you.

Might even have been you personally saved from the forklift dropping a pallet on your head because the operator HAD to receive adequate training before he climbed on and started using the thing.

[Kirdik]

Originally Posted by BruSan

It's undoubtedly prevented many of you from dying needless or careless deaths at the hands of manufacturing industry not shiving-a-git about you.

Might even have been you personally saved from the forklift dropping a pallet on your head because the operator HAD to receive adequate training before he climbed on and started using the thing.

Do you need examples where government involvement has killed people or damaged the environment?

[Camlon]

Originally Posted by Kool Krab

Those damn "socialists" sure are unhappy!

1. Switzerland

2. Iceland

3. Denmark

4. Norway

5. Canada

...

15. United States

Switzerland is a low tax, low regulation country that beats the US in both Fraser and Heritage freedom ranking. Compared to the Switzerland, US is socialist. Denmark, Iceland and Canada also rank high, and Norway got oil.

The most left wing countries in Europe are often not the ones you expect (although you would be right about Sweden) . The most socialist country in europe is France and they are at place 29.

[Orlandochuck1]

Originally Posted by Kool Krab

Those damn "socialists" sure are unhappy!

World Happiness Report (SDSN, a Global Initiative for the United Nations 2015):

1. Switzerland

2. Iceland

3. Denmark

4. Norway

5. Canada

...

15. United States

They would be plenty unhappy should they need to defend themselves. None of them have a strong military. They sort of rely on the US.
If we became socialistic, they would be on their own.

[BruSan]

Originally Posted by Kirdik

Do you need examples where government involvement has killed people or damaged the environment?

Of course not! Every single war ever fought would be proof enough of that conundrum.

BUT leave things in the hands of the people themselves will reduce very happenstance to the lowest common denominator; that of the stupid!

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by Kool Krab

According to the 2015 Cato Human Freedom Index that assesses economic, civil and personal freedom, the United States is the 20th most free country in the world. It is outranked by several nations that Americans consider to be more "socialist".

Americans? No, Bernie.

Incorporating a greater share of socialism into the U.S. system will not bring about communism. However, Americans have been indoctrinated with that belief for decades. Culturally, Americans are conditioned to mindlessly defend crony capitalism.

Not true at all. Most Americans hate crony capitalism. Obama is the poster child for crony capitalism.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by Kool Krab

Those damn "socialists" sure are unhappy!

World Happiness Report (SDSN, a Global Initiative for the United Nations 2015):

1. Switzerland

2. Iceland

3. Denmark

4. Norway

5. Canada

...

15. United States

And yet none of the countries you list are socialist.

Try Cuba, Valenzuela, North Korea.

[Kool Krab]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

Not true at all. Most Americans hate crony capitalism. Obama is the poster child for crony capitalism.

Well, it's rather obvious that most would oppose crony capitalism in theory. It sounds bad.

However, many simultaneously dismiss so-called "socialist" programs such as universal healthcare. To these people, it's merely evil, money-stealing "free stuff", as though private health insurance companies haven't exploited people at all.

What has inflicted more harm on citizens? The governments of other developed nations that have established successful universal healthcare systems, or the relationship between the U.S. Federal Government and private health insurance companies? One might not explicitly defend crony capitalism in words, but they are unknowingly and indirectly defending it when they overlook the cons of their own system whilst inaccurately characterizing others with soundbites that they learned from the mainstream media.

I know that many will disagree with me, but that's what I was getting at earlier.

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

And yet none of the countries you list are socialist.

Try Cuba, Valenzuela, North Korea.

Indeed. That is why I surrounded the word socialist with quotation marks; it was an attempt at a little irony.

Those listed nations, alongside others, have located a healthy balance between capitalism and socialism. The U.S. has not quite done that successfully, but many legitimately believe that the U.S. will become Cuba if it chooses to do so in the future.

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by box_of_zip_disks

The US military is the most socialist organization in the country, so ask yourself if you wish more things were run in a similar fashion.

Yes, actually.