Its not a question of either/ or
Historically, our country will swing to the left after an extended period of swinging to right. This period is a self correction of the right wing, deregulation policies of the last eight years. Deregulating the banks lead to a collapse of the housing market and a resulting world-wide recession. Change in oversight was long overdue
Healthcare has long been ignored and is urgently in need of fixing. That too will evolve over time.
The government does some things better than the private sector. Traditionally, our schools, police and fire protection, roads, infrastructure, ports, national security have all been provided by the government. Like it or not, this is socialism
The private sector has turned our healthcare system into a cash-cow. Prices have escallated to a level that can no longer be sustained. What is wrong with a little government competition? If the people don't like it, they can always go back to their private insurer
Rightwanger,
Granted the govt by virtue of its NATIONAL REACH has to do some things better than the private sector BECAUSE THE PRIVATE SECTOR, in those cases, is BY THE VERY NATURE OF THE FED GOVT ROLE, excluded from being able to coordinate the NATION'S NEEDS by the very fact that IT IS A PRIVATE SECTOR.
But........WHENEVER THE GOVT CAN BUTT-OUT, or putting it another way, THE PRIVATE SECTOR is physically able to COMPETE with the GOVT......in those cases THE OUTCOME IS ALWAYS BLATANTLY APPARENT !!!!
IN THOSE CASES THE FED GOVT IS A FXXKING DISASTER !!!!
We get the proverbial "$400 Govt hammers"
WHY ?????
Answer: BECAUSE OF,THE INHERENT FED GOVTAL STRUCTURE.
OF NECESSITY, WHEN THE "PRODUCT" IS HANDLED BY THE FED GOVT........MANY, MANY HANDS .....NECESSARY AND UNECESSARY.....INVARIABLY HAVE TO HANDLE THE PRODUCT. AND THAT INCREASES THE COSTS EXPONENTIALLY !!!
And that doesn't even consider the lack of MOTIVATION for efficiency because the employees DO NOT GO OUTA BUSINESS if they are lazy or screw-up !!!
GEDDIT ?!?!?
You say:
"Traditionally, our schools, police and fire protection, roads, infrastructure, ports, national security have all been provided by the government. Like it or not, this is socialism"
As pointed out above, in cases of an OVERLAP, the FED GOVT IS NEVER MORE EFFICIENT OR "does some things better than the private sector."
What you are confusing is that somethings, INHERENTLY, are the PROVINCE OF THE FED GOVT......AND THAT IS DEFINED BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS IN THE CONSTITUTION: Article 1, Section B. For example: maintaining the Army, National Security, etc.......AND LIKE IT OR NOT, THIS IS not SOCIALISM !!!!
THIS IS AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AS DEFINED BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Your final comment:"If the people don't like it, they can always go back to their private insurer".
That comment is the MOST EGREGIOUS PHONEY "POISON PILL" OF THE BOGUS LIBTARD's
OUTRAGEOUS LIE TO THE NAIVE AMERICAN PUBLIC......and ironically, because of your apparent IGNORANCE....blatantly displayed....probably to YOU as well.
The FACT is : If the people don't like it, they CANNOT always go back to their private insurer.
THAT BOGUS IDEA THAT ONE CAN REVERSE ONESELF OUT OF A SOCIALISM TRAP IS TOTAL BULLSHIT !!!!
Let me give you an example that even an IGNORANT STUPID FXXK LIKE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.
To make the concept CRYSTAL CLEAR let me use the EXTREME CASE of "SOCIALISM" which is COMMUNISM (the essential elements of which is ALSO present in the benign form of European-type Socialism).
The LYNCHPIN of the concept is the POWER of the Govt NOT WANTING TO LOSE ITS POWER.
And, ABSOLUTE POWER in the COMMUNIST SCENARIO cannot be OVERTURNED BECAUSE OF THE PSYCHO IN CHARGE.
POWER is the key concept in ALL the forms of SOCIALISM.
AND, THE CONTINUAL MAINTENANCE OF THAT POWER.
You, IGNORANT LIBTARDS seem to ignore the fact that once you have SOCIALISM......A TREMENDOUS BODY OF PEOPLE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN CONTINUING THEIR FINANCIAL EXISTENCE IN THE (FED) GOVT...... THEY BECOME AN INSURMOUNTABLE VOTING BLOCK THAT CAN'T BE EASILY OVERTURNED......AND ONCE INSTITUTED CONTINUES ALMOST AD INFINITUM !!!!
Why the Hell do you think the European and Canadian Socialized Medicine CONTINUES in spite of its GROTESQUE FAILURES as compared to the BEST MEDICAL PRACTICE OF THE WORLD. ie. The Medical System in America ?!?!?
Answer: The Socialized Medical System in these Socialized Countries is LOCKED IN by the VESTED INTERESTS of the HUGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES of their respective Socialized COUNTRIES.
The VERY EXISTENCE of these employees of the Socialized Govts is at stake !!!
HOW THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE IN NON-SOCIALIZED MEDICINE ?!?!?
Example: According to the British Parliamentary stats , 1.4 MILLION of Britain's comparatively small population ARE EMPLOYED BY THEIR NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE !!!
And, that doesn't even take into consideration of how many ADDITIONAL employees there are in their SOCIALIZED COUNTRY.
That 1.4 MILLION people is THIRD to the number in the CHINESE COMMIE ARMY, and SECOND just after the number of employees in INDIA's National RR workers.
Rightwanger, I don't know if you're as IGNORANT of the FACTUAL DATA involved as you seem to be. Or, if you actually KNOW these facts and are simply one of those MARXIST/COMMIE ideologues that are COMMITTED to the MARXIST/COMMIE Agenda because you HATE AMERICA like Obami-Salami and his HATE-FILLED MOMMY.
without anything of value to contribute in a discussion.
