Jesus instructed his disciples to practice "socialism" amongst themselves. Each was contribute his wealth to the community and all would be provided for. This is why Convents and Monasteries incorporate the same principles into their communities.
This is a far cry from demanding that all citizens give their wealth to the state, in exchange for a guarantee of a lifetime income and a social safety net.
Denmark, Sweden and Norway are very successful with their combinations of socialism and capitalism.
They are not socialism. Not even remotely socialism. I don't think you know much about socialism, if you think any of those countries are socialist. They are not.
Have you been there? Do you know people who live there, like I do? Not socialist at all.
Yes, I have been to Scandinavia many, many times.. We spent a week or two there every 18 months.. Usually ignorant hardliners scream about their socialism, but in fact they are capitalists with socialism. .. They are also a homogenous society and very successful with excellent schools and healthcare.
Then why did the Prime Minister of Denmark, come to the US, and proclaim boldly that they were not socialist?
Because they are not. Having excellent schools, doesn't make you socialists. A homogeneous society, has nothing to do with socialism. In fact, having a homogeneous society, I would suggest is the opposite of socialism at this point.
Most socialists support a multicultural society. Most of the Nordic countries are the opposite of multi-cultural.
And as far as having quality health care, we had people sent back to the US, because the doctors said openly that they will get better care in the US.
Now that obviously isn't to say that health care in Denmark is bad. It isn't bad, but it's also horribly expensive.
You live poorer in Denmark, than you do in the US, by a wide margin.
The average software engineer in Denmark, $50k to $60k. In the US, that same software engineer will earn $90k to $100k.
Wages are significantly higher in the US, than in Scandinavia. Promise you. I know people in the US right now, that got a huge pay increase for moving to the US. And they will tell you, as they have me, that the reason they don't move back to home, is because it would mean a massive pay cut.
Not only a pay cut, but taxes there, even on the poorest people, are more than double the taxes here in the US. 40% lower tax rate, and that doesn't include that 25% sales tax that you pay on every single thing you buy, unless you buy specific items the government really hammers on, like cars. Denmark specifically had a 100% tax on cars.
You want to know why more Scandinavians ride bikes? Because they can't afford a car. It's not because they are green, it's because they can't afford to have a car.
And then you look at the price of fuel. Right now in Scandinavia, they are paying over $6.50. Denmark is up at $6.85 a gallon. Again, that's because of taxes.
Look at electricity prices. Denmark is paying 40¢ a kWh, while here in Ohio it's about 10¢ a kWh.
And then look at housing. The average size house is barely 1,200 sq ft. In the US, it's 2,500 sq ft.
The average cost in nordic countries is $700 sq ft, while in the US, we pay on average $350 per sq ft.
So you live in a much smaller place, that costs nearly double the price, while paying 4 times the cost in electricity, and at least 3 to 4 times the cost for fuel, double the cost on cars, paying more than double the taxes, and all while earning less money.
But.... Health care isn't bad.
And by the way, did you know that none of the Nordic countries have welfare? None of them do. There is no welfare. They unemployment compensation. We have that too, and we have welfare.
If you would claim Denmark is socialist because they have unemployment compensation, then what would you call the US, that has both unemployment comp, and welfare, and food stamps, and section 8 housing, and heating assistance, and Women Infant Children support (WIC), and we have Medicaid, and we have free public clinics, and we have pell grants for education, and we have Obama phones, and the list goes on and on and on. And that's just the Federal Level. States have their own welfare programs too, and some cities have their own welfare programs.
So with all due respect.... if Denmark is socialist because they have unemployment compensation, and don't have welfare..... what does that make the US? A stalin like Communist system?