Let’s Talk About Socialism

In a letter to the editor in today's paper, a writer states the following:

"Whenever right-wingers try to vilify Socialism, they always use Venezuela as their example.
But the truth of the matter is that most of the world's happiest and most prosperous nations are Socialist, a fact ignored by the right in their efforts to lie about what Socialism really is (it's not Communism).

Why do they never mention nations like Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, France, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, Australia, Italy, and the UK? They are all Democratic Socialist nations that are consistently ranked at the top of the list of the best countries to live in with the happiest and healthiest populations."

So what are your opinions on this writer's beliefs?

Hal

 

I think everyone should be responsible for constructing, and maintaining, their half of any road that borders on their property.

 

Ironically, just a few years ago, Venezuela was held up by the Left as a Socialist paradise, but it doesn't look so good now. As I understand it, most of the nations named in you post are not Socialist nations, although Sweden and Finland come closest. The smaller the population and the greater the resources, the more likely Socialism can be at least moderately successful. If you are just looking at "feel-good" parameters, those nations rank high, but if you are looking to advance mankind, they don't do so well. I read that Sweden had only 7 companies (I think) that have been founded in the last fifty years. Finland has a couple, but I can't think of a company in Iceland that has been founded in the last fifty years, as Iceland air is older than that and probably government subsidized. The U.S. has more innovation than that in a single large neighborhood. I think every Socialist system eventually fails when it runs out of money (other people's), but some take longer than others. Of course, Capitalist systems fail, too, but not with the regularity of Socialist.

 

Understand that I am not an advocate of Socialism!

I am just reporting what a reader wrote in the letters section of our daily newspaper.

Hal

 

Calling Canada a Democratic socialism and the other countries are going way out there. Because we have some socialist programs does not mean we are socialist if that was the criteria than the US would have to be included as it has postal service and food stamps and welfare. Most of these countries that have a working social programs they are paid from a capitalist system.

 

Would say that the UK is not a socialist country as such.

 

Or......Could the U.S.A ever embrace socialism?

By definition socialism is a “political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole”.

In Marxist theory it a “transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of Communism”.

In the first more common definition the idea is that the community which labors in a business owns the business and share the profits equally. All singular entrepreneurship’s are negated.
In some ways I can understand why some citizens try to grab that particular brass ring because let’s face it, it sounds good.
No more CEOs making millions of bucks whilst the worker grinds over the grill, flipping burgers and serving French fries for a mere pittance in comparison. Free health care, free dental, no reason to move upward because everyone shares in the profits equally...uh....let’s hold on for a moment and take that in.
What happens if a company is working in the red and there are no profits and money is being borrowed to sustain that business?
It’s already been proposed that all businesses will have to come up with a tremendous amount of money in the form of taxation to support the other socialist programs like free college, free health care for all, free this that and let’s not forget.....the other things that are promised.
So, after not showing a profit and having to pay taxes, workman’s comp, utilities and so forth to boot, what kind of paycheck will a worker even receive?

Yeah, I know I’m just quibbling but think of this if you will. According to some small research I have done, there are nearly 69 congresspeople in our government which affiliate themselves with a socialist or communist agenda. Bernie, Omar, and AOC are just the one’s we constantly hear about but here’s a list of folks who espouse socialism and communism who were incidentally voted into office in this fine Constitutional Republic.
https://www.trevorloudon.com/2019/0...ist-of-socialists-and-communists-in-congress/

Now, let’s talk about socialism and try to be honest. What is so good about it and why hasn’t any pure socialist or communistic government thus far been able to succeed?
Moreover, why are the young people of today so much in favor of socialism?

 

Because with some of YOUR money, they can buy more drugs and play video games instead of getting a job or two. They honestly think it's not fair that some have so much and they are still being expected to move out of their parent's house and pay their own way.

Israel started out with a strong socialistic approach with the kibbutz idea and co-op crop shares, etc., but people got tired of it. This is why Netanyahu, with a more capitalistic conservative party, ended up taking over. So, you are right. It was tried from the ground up in a new modern society and it failed.

 

From do a little reading, some in the U.S. point in the direction of China as a good example of a successful socialistic / communistic government.
After examining the direction that the Chinese government has been taking since the demise of Chairman Mao, it looks like it has been going in a more capitalistic trend.
1. People can own their own businesses now as well as their own homes and apartments. Of course, the caveat at hand is the fact the government still owns the land but still, the government freely gives out extended leases on the land that the business or home is sitting on.
2. The taxes on individual earning is no more than 20% with many allowable deductions.
3. The state has provided 3 major health insurance companies with more on the way and the focus in health care is to extend the life expectancy to 79 by the year of 2030.
4. Under Mao, even the type of clothing a person wore was strictly mandated but under the present leadership, just about anything goes unless of course, it makes a statement against the government.
5. And note, there are no free rides for college. If Wang wants to go to college, his family and extended family take in a collection in order to send the “deserving” lad off to get a higher education.
6. Free speech is encouraged except for speaking ill of the government.

Thus far in my reading, everything is going in a good capitalistic direction in China with the exception of the crime of speaking or doing anything anti-government (or anyone in the government).

So, my conclusion in all of this is that Socialism and Communism in China didn’t work and apparently, capitalism has and the citizens are happier for it.

 

Ya see, that’s the thing! We do have people out there who have lived in areas of the world where socialism has been the downfall of the entire country: Venezuela as an example.
The general media in the U.S is not allowing those people to speak but instead allowing those who preach socialism to have the stage time and time again.

So, what can be done? Our youth is being hammered into submission with promises of some sort of utopia based on higher wages without merit and free college and a whole list of whatever the politician wishes to promise. A young kid doesn’t want to listen to hardships anyway and will immediately lean toward the fastest and easiest promise of an assumed prosperity.

As a sort of reference point, one of the reasons the military loves younger people (other than health) is that they will conform to whatever they are being told. Their young brains are still growing and their life experiences are almost nil and the majority will do as they are commanded.
Now, back to politics, the youth of today are being brainwashed and the media is a major player in the whole scheme of things.

 

That should be on a billboard.

 

@Bess Barber
Benjamin Netanyahu is eminently qualified to lead a country having structure similar to ours. He graduated from High School in Philadelphia, PA, and obtained Bachelor of Science and Masters Degrees here, the latter at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. One of his professors there is quoted: "He did superbly. He was very bright. Organized. Strong. Powerful. He knew what he wanted to do and how to get it done."

He would have made a good president for us, IMO, but (sigh), he was born abroad. Frank

 

I not only think he grew up to be a superb leader, but as a young man, he was.......well.....hot.

 

@Bess Barber
Many folks disagree with the first part of your assessment, but mostly those are the people whose opinions I value in the very least.
Frank