Socialism

[Isbjørn]

I reckon this is the correct place for a thread like this. So, socialism: what's your view on it? Are you for it? Against it? Neutral? Why?

I've been involved with a socialist youth party for a while now, but I'm still very much a newcomer to politics in general, so by creating this thread I hope to spark some general discussion and gain some knowledge.

Ey, mods, can you please add a poll? I messed up whilst trying to do it myself. Question: "do you like socialism" or something of the like.

[James]

I'm a socialist. I'm a member of the socialist party in Scotland.

[Chula Vista]

I want to see health care and oil 100% socialized in the USA. We socialized our mail system. We should socialize those other two.

[Goofle]

Originally Posted by Briks

Ey, mods, can you please add a poll? I messed up whilst trying to do it myself. Question: "do you like socialism" or something of the like.

It's your thread. Give me a little more to work with. Can add a varying degree of options if you would like?

[Isbjørn]

Originally Posted by Goofle

It's your thread. Give me a little more to work with. Can add a varying degree of options if you would like?

Aight, something like this (multi-choice):

Do you like socialism?

• Yes (please explain)
• No (please explain)
• I'm confused (ask your questions in a reply)

[Xurtio]

I like elements of socialism and I like elements of capitalism. Both systems can be exploited and corrupted. With socialism, it's been fast, hard and apparent. The competitive nature of capitalism
has made totalitarian pursuits nearly impossible in the US, but policy by policy we have gradually become militarized police state, momey has saturated politics, and cronyism has become the norm.

Maybe all systems are ****ed and the key is to keep changing systems before its weaknesses are exploited.

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Xurtio

I like elements of socialism and I like elements of capitalism. Both systems can be exploited and corrupted. With socialism, it's been fast, hard and apparent. The competitive nature of capitalism
has made totalitarian pursuits nearly impossible in the US, but policy by policy we have gradually become militarized police state, momey has saturated politics, and cronyism has become the norm.

Maybe all systems are ****ed and the key is to keep changing systems before its weaknesses are exploited.

Whatever keeps my TV going and my computer playing porn is alright with me. The human race is perfectly willing to live under **** systems so long as they're kept happy and fed, so as long as our current, corrupt system can do that, I'm content.

[Chula Vista]

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Whatever keeps my TV going and my computer playing porn is alright with me. The human race is perfectly willing to live under **** systems so long as they're kept happy and fed, so as long as our current, corrupt system can do that, I'm content.

Burn baby, burn.

[Wpnfire]

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Whatever keeps my TV going and my computer playing porn is alright with me. The human race is perfectly willing to live under **** systems so long as they're kept happy and fed, so as long as our current, corrupt system can do that, I'm content.

These are my thoughts as well, to the letter.

[Guybrush]

I'm a social democrat leaning to the left here in Norway, which probably means I'd seem like a complete communist to the average US citizen.

I think capitalism is very useful in some instances and not so much in others. An example I can mention where I think it's not is private schools. I think if you live in a democracy, that essentially means the people rule the country - of course through voting, but it also should mean that normal people can become politicians. When people rule the nation, it is important that these people are well educated so that they can make the best possible decisions (generally, the best possible decisions are those that promote the best quality of life for its citizens in the long run). From there, it seems to make sense to have the best possible public schools and no private schools. The reason being, if private schools offer better education at a higher cost, it becomes a privilege for those with money and their children will on average be better off and will send their children to private schools. There's a feedback loop. Meanwhile, you will also get the less fortunate who will not afford private school and will send their kids to public schools that are now considered second rate - and those kids will eventually, on average, produce their own children who go to public schools (another feedback loop). More competition for people to get into private schools might mean tuition fees increase, making it more impossible to get into for the less fortunate and what you essentially end up with is a system which helps create a society of class difference. Class difference means a society of winners and losers, but generally a lot more losers than winners as money rise to the top. These losers are now people who on average are less educated, but they still make up the bulk of the country's voters. So the bulk of society's voters have become the least educated. So, believing in democracy and believing in systems that cause and perpetuate class differences at the same time seems contrary to me.

This is just a general jist. Most of the private schools here don't offer a better education so much as a different one, typically mixing some kind of religious indoctrination into the curriculum. I wish they'd all get shut down.