[Bay Kid]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

hope this change quickly

It is changing quickly, too quickly. We are on the slippery hill with no return.

[banjobob]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

In the '60s they were one of the riches countries. What happened?

Statues were torn down.
Citizens turned against each other.
Street names were changed.
Flags were redesigned.
Police were murdered then disbanded.
Churches and businesses were destroyed.
Socialism.

Not a good direction for the USA.

Best cure look where all the problems are and who is in charge. nuff said.

[WesMan]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

In the '60s they were one of the riches countries. What happened?

Statues were torn down.
Citizens turned against each other.
Street names were changed.
Flags were redesigned.
Police were murdered then disbanded.
Churches and businesses were destroyed.
Socialism.

Not a good direction for the USA.

I have the same concerns, Thanks

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by John41

Young people’s attitudes are more favorable to socialism than in the past. This is due in part to education at all levels and a pablum curriculum that ensures everyone passes.

Yeah, this era of “everyone gets a trophy so no one’s feelings gets hurt” has brought this on.

[airdale2]

All pension funds will be merged into Social Security so that the government can redistribute it.

[Dahabs]

Originally Posted by TexaninVA

Six of one ... etc


...

Really? Suggest you review the following:

Capitalism

There are quite a few democratic socialist countries beginning with Scandinavian countries, France, India, etc. To compare them to Venezuela or any other dictatorship is completely off-base.

You also have a number of socialistic programs in the the USA such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, etc.

We all have a tendency to think of capitalism as the best economic system but if left unchecked it is no better than full blown socialism. In the end the best system is something between the two extremes.

[Dahabs]

Originally Posted by TexaninVA

Six of one ... etc


...

Originally Posted by David Fletcher

Americans oddly fear the thought of social reform. The question should not be focused on Socialism , Capitalism, Communism ir any other “ism”.

Our culture should be kinder to the marginalized more inclusive and we should not fear social programs that benefit the majority of our nation.

America is not the only smart nation in the world. It is the only industrialized nation without a universal health care system.

Is clean water, ample food and basic health care not a human right.

Far to easy to blame it all on an “ISM”.

Just saying.

Maybe we need to rethink the almighty for profit model.

Totally agree. At some point we need to decide what kind of society we want.


“The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”
— Mahatma Gandhi

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by David Fletcher

Americans oddly fear the thought of social reform. The question should not be focused on Socialism , Capitalism, Communism ir any other “ism”.

Our culture should be kinder to the marginalized more inclusive and we should not fear social programs that benefit the majority of our nation.

America is not the only smart nation in the world. It is the only industrialized nation without a universal health care system.

Is clean water, ample food and basic health care not a human right.

Far to easy to blame it all on an “ISM”.

Just saying.

Maybe we need to rethink the almighty for profit model.

I’ve traveled pretty much every where in the world and I’ll take capitalism any day of the week. I hear this all the time about the US being the only industrial nation in the world not offering universal health coverage. Take a look at our neighbors to the north. Need to see a specialist 18-20 weeks. So what do people with means do, they jump over the border. England same thing, need a hip replacement 6 months to a year. Many people buy private health insurance and guess what, they can pretty much see a specialist right away. Why do you need to change health care for everyone to help those without. Find a solution for those people. Which today I believe is Medicaid. The fact is a single payer system is nothing more than a fancy way of saying income redistribution.

[ProfessorDave]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

In the '60s they were one of the riches countries. What happened?

Statues were torn down.
Citizens turned against each other.
Street names were changed.
Flags were redesigned.
Police were murdered then disbanded.
Churches and businesses were destroyed.
Socialism.

Not a good direction for the USA.

If you are serious - about what happened in Venezuela - I'll share what happened there - and - some other countries including Greece. In the research viewing what is called the GINI index its correlation with societies - we do have reasons to worry.

You are right - Venezuela was the shining light of S. America. If you charted the GINI index - it became the widest in world of democratic countries. What's the GINI index? It's a mathematical formula that measures the difference between the wealthiest in a society versus the middle class. Throughout history - when that index becomes it's most extremes - society snaps. The middle class says "this isn't a fair game anymore." The result is socialism - and/or dictatorships.

Can you guess what country has a GINI index that has become the most extreme in the world - and especially in the past 4 years? USA. For example, if you went back 50 years in the United States, the difference in wealth between the top 1% and the middle class was 7 times. Now it is over 30 times.

Here's a question to ask. Let's say you LOVE the game MONOPOLY. And - they change one rule. If you win - you get to keep all the money you made going into the next game. You didn't win the first game. What's the chance you'll win the second game. And- five games later, do you still want to play.

Please understand - I'm an ADAM SMITH capitalist (the father of the philosophy). The system has been GREAT for me and my family. While I worked hard - I also know that luck did come into pay - much like most that did well financially. However, I worry for my grandchildren that the pain of what is becoming the majority of our society is going to snap - and - we'll become another Venezuela.

[Lindsyburnsy]

This is not socialism. Payouts to farmers who have nobody to buy their products because of self-induced tarrifs is socialism. Symbols of slavery and statues of confederate soldiers, who by the way lost, is a continuation of racism.
Citizens against one another is partisanship
Stoking hatred, fear and division from high office is what has lead to violence to and from law officers. Please check the actual news outlets (not opinion cable) and you will see that much of the destruction of churches and businesses was coordinated via FaceBook by white supremacists. Not wearing a mask is a partisan issue when we should be protecting one another. All of these things are not good and it is disheartening.

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

In the '60s they were one of the riches countries. What happened?

Statues were torn down.
Citizens turned against each other.
Street names were changed.
Flags were redesigned.
Police were murdered then disbanded.
Churches and businesses were destroyed.
Socialism.

Not a good direction for the USA.

[rlcooper70]

The farm subsidy went mostly to the big combines ... bit business ... not the little guy. Don't get confused.

[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by Dana1963

Venezuela is not Socialism it is a Dictatorship.

Don't confuse them with facts, they aren't used to them.

[KayKay100]

It should be:
A nation "a sleep" will beget a government of wolves.
K

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by jbrown132

I’ve traveled pretty much every where in the world and I’ll take capitalism any day of the week. I hear this all the time about the US being the only industrial nation in the world not offering universal health coverage. Take a look at our neighbors to the north. Need to see a specialist 18-20 weeks. So what do people with means do, they jump over the border. England same thing, need a hip replacement 6 months to a year. Many people buy private health insurance and guess what, they can pretty much see a specialist right away. Why do you need to change health care for everyone to help those without. Find a solution for those people. Which today I believe is Medicaid. The fact is a single payer system is nothing more than a fancy way of saying income redistribution.

How long in US. if you have no money, or medical insurance?

[Daddymac]

Originally Posted by Dana1963

Venezuela is not Socialism it is a Dictatorship.

Just the way Socialism Starts, Then leads to Dictatorship.