Poll: Is having a minimum safety net an aspect of socialism?

[Greatday]

It is not the governments place to provide a "safety net". Family, friends, church's and local charties are your safety net.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by TruthBeautyGoodness

Just curious about your thoughts on this subject. Thanks!

Yes, it is. There are no truly socialist governments today, but many, if not all have some elements of socialism.

I think most people support some elements of socialism. What many of us fight is the ever growing size and impact of socialist programs.

Here is what The Britannica says: It's a "System of social organization in which private property and the distribution of income are subject to social control; also, the political movements aimed at putting that system into practice."

So clearly, any government program that distributes income is a socialist program. Therefore, a minimum safety net is a socialist program.

[majoun]

Even Friedrich A. Hayek in his anti-socialist book The Road To Serfdom said that a basic social safety net was legitimate in a capitalist society, and Hayek even went as far to say that a government's decision on whether or not to have universal health care was legitimate and not the sort of planned economy socialism that in his opinion (which can be highly questioned) would lead inevitably to Nazism.

(There is much to dispute in Hayek's theory that Germany being Europe's most socialist nation made Hitler inevitable, btw ; I don't buy it myself)

[bigchuckie]

It's called human decency. I am a right wing nut job but compassionate to lend a hand in time of need. However who abuse the system should be kicked the hell off it and get a damn job