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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".
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.
The sad part is, people don't even realize it.
...and that's from CATO, which is a conservative-leaning think tank.
History has shown that the masses of people do not do well under claw and tooth capitalism -- it's just dandy for the sliver at the top but not for those who must toil. We'd do well as a nation if we embraced a little more socialism, such as universal single-payer health care, mandatory sick and vacation time and more generous time off for mothers.
Let's rephrase the question. Has a nanny state ever been successful anywhere in the long term? Examples?
Is it it beneficial to let the government do everything for you because it thinks your too stupid to take care of yourself?
Let's rephrase the question. Has a nanny state ever been successful anywhere in the long term? Examples?
Is it it beneficial to let the government do everything for you because it thinks your too stupid to take care of yourself?
In other words, the OP's question, "has socialism ever been successful" hasn't achieved the desired conclusion that socialism is never successful, so a thumb must be pressed on the scale with an even more leading question.
To answer the new question, one must define "nanny state." Is having regulations that protect worker safety, hours before subject to overtime, and grievance rights the nanny state? Is having a social safety net, that keeps people from starving to death if they happen to lose their job or develop a disability that prevents them from working, the nanny state?
What we do know, is that many European nations that provide a far more comprehensive social safety net are very successful and have happier people than the U.S.
so you're saying it has been successful. just in places that don't allow diversity. the key to having it work appears to be making sure everyone looks the same.
so you're saying it has been successful. just in places that don't allow diversity. the key to having it work appears to be making sure everyone looks the same.
You are remembering a world 50 years ago. There are many immigrants living in those countries. Sweden is not longer entirely blond and blue-eyed.
In other words, the OP's question, "has socialism ever been successful" hasn't achieved the desired conclusion that socialism is never successful, so a thumb must be pressed on the scale with an even more leading question.
To answer the new question, one must define "nanny state." Is having regulations that protect worker safety, hours before subject to overtime, and grievance rights the nanny state? Is having a social safety net, that keeps people from starving to death if they happen to lose their job or develop a disability that prevents them from working, the nanny state?
What we do know, is that many European nations that provide a far more comprehensive social safety net are very successful and have happier people than the U.S.
Doyou feel that only the government knows best when it comes to fixing problem's? To we really need more government in our lives?
Doyou feel that only the government knows best when it comes to fixing problem's? To we really need more government in our lives?
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?
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