Would you be better off under Socialism, if so how?

[DBA]

You nailed it perfectly. It's always one or the other. Nuance isnt in their vocabulary. One thing you forgot though....well maybe you covered it with how they cant deal with complexity. You can give them a problem to solve like illegal immigration and they will magically solve this extremely complex issue in one or two sentences MAX. And they are actually convinced they solved the entire issue. It's hilarious!

I'm sorry but it is Democrats that are incapable of multi-step thinking. Knee jerk actions like what happened in Afghanistan are the norm for short-sighted Democrats.

 

[DBA]

Funny. We're already living under socialism. Ain't it great?!

75 Ways Socialism Has Improved America​

No, that would be Venezuela and it isn't great. The US is predominately Capitalistic which is why we have been so prosperous. This will end in short-order if the left gets their way.

 

[DBA]

What the Democrats want to do is move us to the left on the spectrum, not all the way to actual socialism.

It is a very slippery slope and the far-left Democrats, controlled by our enemies, have ice skates on.

Their goal would be something like Canada, Australia, Germany, France.

Has the US been the most prosperous country in the world? Is/was it the most powerful? Do you know why that is? I will give you a hint, it is because we didn't follow the lead of those behind us. To use a sports analogy, were/are the Superbowl champs but have decided to emulate those that didn't even make the playoffs. In reality, they should be emulating us, not the other way around.

 

[Mac1958]

For the most part I am in agreement with your post here. I think it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on healthcare, as well as taxation....But, thanks for giving a thoughtful response.

Your questions were calm, reasonable and thoughtful. Posts I've made in the past:

Healthcare:

We have SIX (6) different health care delivery/payment systems in this country.

1. Medicare
2. Medicaid
3. VA
4. Group Health
5. ACA/Individual Health
6. Indigent Care

This is not a word I use often, but THAT is fucking STUPID.

The Medicare/Medicare Supplement/Medicare Advantage system is already in place. It combines both a public foundation and significant private competition.

Further, it would take a massive monkey off the backs of American business and streamline the extremely inefficient preventive/diagnostic system, catching and addressing many smaller health issues before they become big health issues.

Taxation:

First of all, individual taxation and corporate taxation are two different things. Yes, I would definitely increase individual taxation, and I would do it by adding four new margins on the top end. However, I think that corporate taxes need to remain low (although there should be regulations, and there's that word, that motivate business investment rather than stock buybacks and other short term, non-productive corporate financial actions). This is a topic on which we could go pretty freaking deep, it's my profession, and I'm happy to get into it as much as you want.

Of course it's possible to over-tax. The key is finding the proper equilibrium between the revenue generated by taxation and avoiding too much drag on the positive dynamics of an economy. We are clearly not there, and the GOP is entirely complicit in that, since Trump just exploded the deficit. Low taxes and high spending - not a great idea. The Laffer Curve says that lower taxes will stimulate enough economic activity to more than make up for the drop in tax revenue, and we have seen it clearly not work. In real time. It couldn't be more clear, if we're being honest.

 

[Rigby5]

Yes I have. I'm against socialism, the public ownership and control of all production, distribution and property.

Will I need to say it a third time for it to finally and mercifully seep into your skull?

That is not socialism.
Communism is the public ownership and control of all production/distribution.
No one has ever suggested there be no private property, ever.
Socialism is mostly just restriction of the means of production/distribution, in order to prevent crimes like slavery, extortion, child labor, monopolies, etc.

 

[Mac1958]

That is not socialism.
Communism is the public ownership and control of all production/distribution.
No one has ever suggested there be no private property, ever.
Socialism is mostly just restriction of the means of production/distribution, in order to prevent crimes like slavery, extortion, child labor, monopolies, etc.

That's the first time I've ever seen that definition. So it appears that working from the same definition is a good first step when discussing this topic.

 

[DBA]

The Laffer Curve says that lower taxes will stimulate enough economic activity to more than make up for the drop in tax revenue, and we have seen it clearly not work.

This is false. It most certainly has worked. Do some research on the Kennedy and Reagan tax cuts with regards to revenue.

Inflation-adjusted revenue growth dramatically improved. Over the four years prior to 1983, federal income tax revenue declined at an average rate of 2.8 percent per year, and total government income tax revenue declined at an annual rate of 2.6 percent. Between 1983 and 1986, federal income tax revenue increased by 2.7 percent annually, and total government income tax revenue increased by 3.5 percent annually.

The most controversial portion of Reagan's tax revolution was reducing the highest marginal income tax rate from 70 percent (when he took office in 1981) to 28 percent in 1988. However, Internal Revenue Service data reveal that tax collections from the wealthy, as measured by personal income taxes paid by top percentile earners, increased between 1980 and 1988--despite significantly lower tax rates

 

[harmonica]

That is a misunderstanding of history.
First of all, it is wrong to believe Blacks were not the earliest civilizations that has technology, written language, etc.
If you look up the Kushites, Nubians, etc., you find they likely were the origins of the ancient Egyptian cultures.
It is quite possible most pharaohs were Black.
Second is that technology is relative, and if you live in a tropical paradise, you will not bother with technology.
Technology is desperation when you are starving or being killed by something or somebody.
Third is that Europe was living in mud huts thousands of year after the Mideast and Africa has very advanced civilizations.
Forth is that history simply deliberately ignores Black culture, such as the advanced Black civilizations in Timbuktu.

black Africa is a tropical paradise!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you DEFINITELY failed geography

 

[harmonica]

That is a misunderstanding of history.
First of all, it is wrong to believe Blacks were not the earliest civilizations that has technology, written language, etc.
If you look up the Kushites, Nubians, etc., you find they likely were the origins of the ancient Egyptian cultures.
It is quite possible most pharaohs were Black.
Second is that technology is relative, and if you live in a tropical paradise, you will not bother with technology.
Technology is desperation when you are starving or being killed by something or s

...

omebody.
Third is that Europe was living in mud huts thousands of year after the Mideast and Africa has very advanced civilizations.
Forth is that history simply deliberately ignores Black culture, such as the advanced Black civilizations in Timbuktu.

'''''quite POSSIBLE''''''!!!!???????!!!! HAHAHAHAH
you have proved that you are babbling idiot!!!!
...blacks were made slaves because they were not as advanced
plain and simple: black Africa was FAR behind the whites in technology/education/etc --UNDENIABLE

 

[CrusaderFrank]

public sector utility is just state capitalism, which retains the same employer-employee relationship from the private sector.

The appropriate path to socialism is shown here, which only involves the government in giving workers the opportunity to own the place they work at, perhaps with a loan if needed.

Free markets gives the workers an opportunity to buy out the company as well.

 

[j-mac]

Your questions were calm, reasonable and thoughtful. Posts I've made in the past:

Healthcare:


Taxation:

On healthcare, as far as my limited understanding goes, I think it is far past due to reel in the pharma, and diagnostics that can cos seniors thousands they don’t have.

On taxation, any bills that force Congress to limit their spending for either side are doa. It’s sick.

Sorry for my elementary answers, but it’s been a long 14 hr day, and I have to sleep fast to be on time in the morning….

 

[Captain Caveman]

I'm curious as to the thought process involved in embracing Socialism so I ask, Would you be better off under Socialism, if so how?

I promise I won't flame