Albert Einstein: Why Socialism?

[PaintMyHouse]

Talk radio economics - socialism bad, capitalism good.

No, that's just plain old, garden variety economics.

Case in point4

 

[Bush92]

Einstein. Yeah, the guy that helped build the atom bomb and did not have sense enough to get a haircut. Remember Einstein was a physicist living on taxpayer $$$ and tuition $$$. He was no political scientist and his early childhood instructors thought him to be retarded.

 

[RDD_1210]

I see lots of "socialism" on that list. Which country do you want to look at?

The less socialism they have, the better they do.

Heritage Index of Economic Freedom

rank country overall change

1 Hong Kong 90.1 +0.8
2 Singapore 89.4 +1.4
3 Australia 82.0 -0.6
4 Switzerland 81.6 +0.6
5 New Zealand 81.2 -0.2
6 Canada 80.2 +0.8
7 Chile 78.7 -0.3
8 Mauritius 76.5 -0.4
9 Ireland 76.2 +0.5
10 Denmark 76.1 0.0
11 Estonia 75.9 +0.6
12 United States 75.5 -0.5
13 Bahrain 75.1 -0.4
14 United Kingdom 74.9 +0.1
15 The Netherlands 74.2 +0.7
16 Luxembourg 74.2 0.0
17 Taiwan 73.9 +1.2
18 Germany 73.4 +0.6
19 Finland 73.4 -0.6
20 Sweden 73.1 +0.2
21 Lithuania 73.0 +0.9
22 Georgia 72.6 +0.4
23 Iceland 72.4 +0.3
24 Austria 72.4 +0.6
25 Japan 72.4 +0.6
26 Czech Republic 72.2 +1.3
27 Botswana 72.0 +1.4
28 United Arab Emirates 71.4 +0.3
29 Macau 71.3 -0.4
30 Qatar 71.2 -0.1
31 South Korea 71.2 +0.9
32 Norway 70.9 +0.4
33 Saint Lucia 70.7 +0.3

The higher the rank, the less socialism.

The higher the rank, the less the socialism? Really? LOL. Now you've painted yourself in to a fun corner. Can't wait to watch the contortionist act you use to try and get out of this one.

Ok. So Canada, Australia and Denmark are less Socialist than the U.S.?

Which policies would you adopt from those less socialist countries that in your opinion are better than our more socialist policies we have here.

This should be good for a laugh.

BriPat....where did you go?

You must have accidentally missed this post.

Here, I bumped it so you can pick up on our conversation that you mysteriously dropped out of.

 

[RDD_1210]

how am i dependant on the governmet dolt?

Your paycheck comes from the government. Your survival is based on the government giving you that regular check. You are dependent on government.

He works for the government an posts here during working hours and whining about big government ?That's stealing from the taxpayer

Some might call it mooching.

But thats ok. He's "different". He's not one of those government dependent moochers he hates so much, he's a special kind of government dependent moocher.

 

[bripat9643]

Talk radio economics - socialism bad, capitalism good.

No, that's just plain old, garden variety economics.

Case in point4

All you're doing is proving that you're a moron.

 

[blackhawk]

And yet the most successful and prosperous countries today all have many more elements of socialism than we do here in the U.S. Why is that?

What countries would those be?

I'll be happy to name some countries which you will nitpick and find something wrong with. Right? Is that the route you want to go?

Or I can let you tell me which countries you consider to be the most successful/prosperous right now and then we can go from there.

Your choice. (even though I know which option you'll be selecting already)

Right now the most successful and prosperous is probably China though I doubt you would want to follow their model given they accomplish this by also being one of the worlds biggest polluters. Which is really the reason you didn't want to name any because those socialist countries that do succeed to some degree do so by not following the green agenda the left loves so much.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Albert Einstein is the world-famous physicist. This article was originally published in the first issue of Monthly Review (May 1949). It was subsequently published in May 1998 to commemorate the first issue of MR‘s fiftieth year.
—The Editors

"Is it advisable for one who is not an expert on economic and social issues to express views on the subject of socialism? I believe for a number of reasons that it is."

Why Socialism?

"The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labor—not by force, but on the whole in faithful compliance with legally established rules. In this respect, it is important to realize that the means of production—that is to say, the entire productive capacity that is needed for producing consumer goods as well as additional capital goods—may legally be, and for the most part are, the private property of individuals."

That was an interesting essay. The part I don't get is why you skipped over the part where he warned about the inherent dangers of central planning. Is there a reason for that, other than you being a partisan hack?

Nevertheless, it is necessary to remember that a planned economy is not yet socialism. A planned economy as such may be accompanied by the complete enslavement of the individual. The achievement of socialism requires the solution of some extremely difficult socio-political problems: how is it possible, in view of the far-reaching centralization of political and economic power, to prevent bureaucracy from becoming all-powerful and overweening? How can the rights of the individual be protected and therewith a democratic counterweight to the power of bureaucracy be assured?

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Albert Einstein is the world-famous physicist. This article was originally published in the first issue of Monthly Review (May 1949). It was subsequently published in May 1998 to commemorate the first issue of MR‘s fiftieth year.
—The Editors

"Is it advisable for one who is not an expert on economic and social issues to express views on the subject of socialism? I believe for a number of reasons that it is."

Why Socialism?

"The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labor—not by force, but on the whole in faithful compliance with legally established rules. In this respect, it is important to realize that the means of production—that is to say, the entire productive capacity that is needed for producing consumer goods as well as additional capital goods—may legally be, and for the most part are, the private property of individuals."

YAWN
good one idiot; einstein probably couldnt tie his shoes; no common sense

more proof big-brained melon-head leftists use ignorant losers like you as useful dupes

A more perfect example of conservative anti-intellectualism couldn't be found. At least you have that, moron.

Funny how you are saying that when you ignore the part Einstein was right about in that essay.

 

[Londoner]

There has never been a purely free market economy. For instance, the US nanny state provides patent protection, military protection of overseas supply chains, legal protections and whole infrastructure of regulatory mechanisms that do things like protect Ely Lilly from foreign drug competition. From the Hoover Dam, which allows for thriving profit centers in the southwest, to the commercial technologies that come out of the defense and NASA sectors, to the massive subsidies and bailouts provided to the owners of capital, the state has always been a dynamic advocate of capital accumulation. Just research how much taxpayer money has flowed into just aerospace and energy.

Adam Smith and Karl Marx feared the creation of politically connected capitalist elite that formed monopolies over most large sector, using their financial leverage to buy politicians and destroy completion. They both referred to these capitalist as a rentier class. In the 80s the rentier class funded the Reagan Revolution, which used it's growing media power to convince low information voters that any challenge to their monopoly power was socialism.

It worked, and now the economy is being slowly destroyed by the most politically powerful rentier class in history.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Albert Einstein is the world-famous physicist. This article was originally published in the first issue of Monthly Review (May 1949). It was subsequently published in May 1998 to commemorate the first issue of MR‘s fiftieth year.
—The Editors

"Is it advisable for one who is not an expert on economic and social issues to express views on the subject of socialism? I believe for a number of reasons that it is."

Why Socialism?

"The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. We see before us a huge community of producers the members of which are unceasingly striving to deprive each other of the fruits of their collective labor—not by force, but on the whole in faithful compliance with legally established rules. In this respect, it is important to realize that the means of production—that is to say, the entire productive capacity that is needed for producing consumer goods as well as additional capital goods—may legally be, and for the most part are, the private property of individuals."

YAWN
good one idiot; einstein probably couldnt tie his shoes; no common sense

more proof big-brained melon-head leftists use ignorant losers like you as useful dupes

Do you think you're smarter than Albert Einstein was?

Do you?

Einstein was particularly concerned about the dangers of the bureaucracy in a centrally planned economy. He asked "The achievement of socialism requires the solution of some extremely difficult socio-political problems: how is it possible, in view of the far-reaching centralization of political and economic power, to prevent bureaucracy from becoming all-powerful and overweening? How can the rights of the individual be protected and therewith a democratic counterweight to the power of bureaucracy be assured?" These questions, unsurprisingly, are still unanswered, but you are willing to jump on the socialism bandwagon simply because you think that you are smarter than anyone who ever did it before, including Einstein.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

Had Einstein seem what Socialism did to Detroit he say, "Socialism? What the **** was I thinking???!"

You mean capitalism? I'm pretty sure that Detroit is located in the U.S. and the U.S. is a capitalistic society.

If he wanted to see modern day example of socialism, there are plenty of actual examples of socialism to point to. Successful ones even.

I am positive that what happened in Detroit is the result of union collusion with government. You might call that capitalism, but you would be wrong.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

No one here understands Capitalism. Don't even bother trying to explain Socialism. Capitalism comes before Socialism BTW.

The fact that you do not understand something is not proof that no one else does.

 

[Quantum Windbag]

I believe Einstein also said doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity that would seem to be a pretty accurate take on socialism given the number of countries who have tried it and failed with it.

And yet the most successful and prosperous countries today all have many more elements of socialism than we do here in the U.S. Why is that?

Most successful and prosperous compared to what?

 

[Quantum Windbag]

The U.S. didn't suffer through a recession?

I guess it was just that liberal media lying to us again.

Detroit has been decaying for years you laughable self-deceiving idiot

has nothing to do with the last recession that affected all of America

the best part is you're being serious! lol

For years you say?

So we had socialism happening in this country before Obama was president?

When did it start? During Bush? Reagan?

Let's see you back pedal now, turnip.

Barney Frank wasn't born until Obama was elected?

Let's see you backpedal now, genius.

 

[Bush92]

Socialism was begun in this nation as far back as 1912 with Debs and later in the 1920's-30 the Communist Party USA (taking its orders from Moscow and the COMITERN) began pushing for more socialism and took over labor unions and has taken over the Democratic Party.I suggest you look at LBJ and his Not-So-Great Society programs of the 1960's. Look at all the people on food stamps and welfare?

 

[Quantum Windbag]

the US is capitalist all over

it was left-wing politics that devastated Detroit leftard

At least we cleared up that silly assertion that Socialism somehow killed Detroit.

Corporations offshoring for cheap labor and little to no regulation killed Detroit. Other big cities have been hit hard also, but Detroit just didn't have the diversity of industries. It was mostly just auto industry.

If Socialism is so bad, then why are the European countries doing well? Even VW in germany is union. They move a factory here to a red state and even the workers there are anti union.

Yet, even as Detroit was dying, auto manufacturers from around the world were moving there production facilities into the US.

Interesting, isn't it?

 

[RDD_1210]

I believe Einstein also said doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity that would seem to be a pretty accurate take on socialism given the number of countries who have tried it and failed with it.

And yet the most successful and prosperous countries today all have many more elements of socialism than we do here in the U.S. Why is that?

Most successful and prosperous compared to what?

To each other.

 

[RDD_1210]

Detroit has been decaying for years you laughable self-deceiving idiot

has nothing to do with the last recession that affected all of America

the best part is you're being serious! lol

For years you say?

So we had socialism happening in this country before Obama was president?

When did it start? During Bush? Reagan?

Let's see you back pedal now, turnip.

Barney Frank wasn't born until Obama was elected?

Let's see you backpedal now, genius.

Barney Frank introduced Socialism in the U.S.?

 

[MikeK]

YAWN
good one idiot; einstein probably couldnt tie his shoes; no common sense

more proof big-brained melon-head leftists use ignorant losers like you as useful dupes

It doesn't take someone with Einstein's exceptional reasoning ability to understand how the excessive accumulation of a nation's wealth resource will inevitably upset its economic balance and result in all sorts of social and political problems. Yet there is no shortage of those who probably don't have a pot to piss in but who hasten to present empty, nonsensical arguments and hurl insults at those who criticize the effects of inequitable distribution of a nation's wealth.

The only possible reason for taking such an illogical position is the pathology of greed -- which affects even those who have little more than their gluttonous dreams of acquiring excess wealth.

my my; it must be terribly confusing to you to be confronted with the REALITY that under Progressive rule the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. the inequality gap is growing. no wonder the Left spends so much time pretending they arent in charge

Reaganomics is not Progressive. It is regressive.

You do know what Reaganomics is, don't you? If not, read some of Milton Friedman's ideas, the same ones he imparted to Pinochet and brought down the Chilean economy.

Then try reading some James Maynard Keynes and learn why so-called "trickle down" economics is and has been siphoning up America's wealth resource to One Percent of the population.

Do yourself a favor and stop believing what Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Beck, and the rest of the right-wing propagandists have been planting in your brain. Also, try to understand that Obama talks a good game but he is no Progressive where the economy is concerned. He is a tool of Wall Street and the banking industry. So don't think in partisan terms if you wish to learn the truth about what has happened to the American Middle Class since the 1980s.

 

[MikeK]

But I thought you said we had growing socialism here? How can the rich be getting richer if socialism is all about equal distribution? Odd.

because you idiots cant even get that right. we've been saying that all along. why are you mind-phucking yourself into trying to make it appear like an inconsistenciy on the part of the Right?

we/ve been telling you idiots forever your failures lead to more of what you portend to to be against

So we've had socialism for years here, but we're just not good at socialism. This is what we're going with?

It is a mistake to think in terms of "socialism" as a dominant political system in America. And it's a worse mistake to believe laissez-faire (unrestrained) capitalism is a good economic system for America.

The best system for America is what we had until "Reaganomics" was imposed on us. That was a capitalist system which was kept in control by certain socialist regulations. That well regulated system give rise to the American Middle Class and prevailed over the most prosperous and productive decades in our history -- from the 40s to the 80s. From there it declined. Reaganomics.

We do not want socialism or communism, so don't pay attention to that fanatical nonsense. What we want, and need, is a capitalist system with the same socialist regulations in place that protected us from the 40s to the 80s. Those regulations were removed by Reagan, Clinton, and Bush, and they must be replaced!