Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Carlton
You currently live under a mix of capitalism and socialism. Everything the federal government does and every dollar they spend is socialistic. From managing the wars to providing social security to assisting those that cannot work........it's all socialistic.
Are individual rights currently crushed? Do you still have more opportunity here than just about anywhere else on the planet? We never had a true democracy and we never will..........and there are sound reasons for this.
The pendulum swings toward and away from socialism depending on how the Administration behaves. What's very interesting is that, over the past eight years, you've enjoyed more socialism than at anytime in the history of the country. And, yet, you wail about not wanting "more socialism".
Do you honesty believe that the country was not more socialistic under GWB simply because he pawned the debt off on the next generation? I'm a bit baffled by your responses which resort to the basic instincts of "conservative"..........without any analysis of the facts. We could just read Matt's posts if we wanted that............
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I think we suffer from divergent definitions...
From Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: so·cial·ism
Pronunciation: \ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1837
1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done.
Main Entry: com·mu·nism
Pronunciation: \ˈkäm-yə-ˌni-zəm, -yü-\
Function: noun
Etymology: French communisme, from commun common
Date: 1840
1 a: a theory advocating elimination of private property b: a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed
2capitalized a: a doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics b: a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production c: a final stage of society in Marxist theory in which the state has withered away and economic goods are distributed equitably d: communist systems collectively
Main Entry: cap·i·tal·ism
Pronunciation: \ˈka-pə-tə-ˌliz-əm, ˈkap-tə-, British also kə-ˈpi-tə-\
Function: noun
Date: 1877
: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market
I think folks get confused by the term equality. Some think it is a state where in all have equally. Others think it is the state of having equal opportunity to provide for themselves. The spirit and context of the Constitution is that all have equal opportunity. Those who are enticed by a Socialist/Communist ideal, believe that egalitarianism (equal results) is possible while ignoring human nature.
I believe that communal living is possible. I believe it is preferrable. I believe that 'from each according to his means and to each according to his needs' is a noble and edified ideal....if, if, if, if compliance and participation is VOLUNTARY and not coerced.
Anyone who would impose Socialist ideals dismisses the value of one man's established worth and exaggerates the value that another man has established. As human nature would have it, the power that does this destroys the incentive to produce of both the provider and the recipient while authority himself gains power over the dependent, using him to control the provident. Ultimately, the system must collapse or evolve to Communism.