It's frustrating when you see the nation's health going down and can't get others to see it. Then I realized it's because it involves addiction. And suddenly I saw a parallel between socialism and fast food. So, here it is:

1) Since around the mid 1900s people have gradually developed a taste for both socialism and fast food.

2) Both feel good in the short run but have long term consequences.

3) Both can become an addiction but the users seldom see it as such. They just think it's good.

4) Now one addiction has led to more of the other. The health of our nation is deteriorating and more socialism is seen by many as the fix.

Note: If I have to explain #4, you're more addicted than I thought.

Originally Posted by Villages PL

It's frustrating when you see the nation's health going down and can't get others to see it. Then I realized its because it involves addiction. And suddenly I saw a parallel between socialism and fast food. So, here it is:

1) Since around the mid 1900s people have gradually developed a taste for both socialism and fast food.

2) Both feel good in the short run but have long term consequences.

3) Both can become an addiction but the users seldom see it as such. They just think it's good.

4) Now one addiction has led to more of the other. The health of our nation is deteriorating and more socialism is seen by many as the fix.

Note: If I have to explain #4, you're more addicted than I thought.

That's an interesting anaolgy except that you cannot really field a strong military without a strong central government. You also need one for uniform transportation like roads, canals, and railroads; homeland security; computer security; patent and copyright enforcement; immigration; epidemic control; food and medicine safety; banking, etc.

Space exploration is getting interesting though with private companies getting involved.

Think a more adequate analogy would between Jacksonian Democracy and that of Jefferson. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksonian_democracy

I just do not buy the "socialism" rant you see in much Republican writings.

I would be more worried about the repubs turning us into an Oligarchy.

Kinda like sex.

so for some of you more government (and more cost) is OK.....and the reason it is OK is what?

btk

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

That's an interesting anaolgy except that you cannot really field a strong military without a strong central government. You also need one for uniform transportation like roads, canals, and railroads; homeland security; computer security; patent and copyright enforcement; immigration; epidemic control; food and medicine safety; banking, etc.

All of the above are things that individuals can't do for themselves so I'm not suggesting that we do away with them. But there are many government programs for things that individuals can and should do for themselves. For example, Social Security (saving for retirement), Medicare, food stamps, farm subsidies and unemployment compensation.

And here's a big one: Each person should know how to take care of their health (eat a healthy diet and soforth) so they can lower their risk of becoming a burden on the rest of us. This one is a big one because health care costs could perhaps be lowered by about a trillion dollars per year. U.S. healthcare expenditures were 2.6 trillion in 2010.

When George W. Bush was President, there was a shortage of able bodied young-men wanting to join the military. 30% of those trying to join were rejected because of being overweight. Talk about the nation becoming weaker! So what did they have to do to come up with more recruits? They had to offer a $10,000 sign-up bonus. I think it's a good example of national health issues leading to economic issues. The country is going broke as people get fatter and sicker and no one is offering any solutions.

the apparent current mode of life for far too many is continue to get fatter and sicker and more dependent on government....hence a different type of slavery being implemented and accepted.....knowingly or not.....or don't care.....gimme my food stamps!!!!

btk

Originally Posted by waynet

I would be more worried about the repubs turning us into an Oligarchy.

Seriously??

If you understand the meaning of the word, it describes Obama-ism far more than Reagan-ism.

I know you don't see that and that's your problem, and your failing.

" But there are many government programs for things that individuals can and should do for themselves. For example, Social Security (saving for retirement), Medicare, food stamps, farm subsidies and unemployment compensation."
_________________-

This very well may true - however, what would you suggest happen to those who did not save enough on their own for retirement, health care, did not have enough money for food, or when laid off for a long period of time from work?

Do you personally believe those people and their families should be forced to live under a bridge in a refrigerator box, starve, and die? Or what would be your personal solution?

YOu still can't connect the dots between Obama and Socialism??? Order today the movie called AGENDA - Grinding America Down and guaranteed you WILL get it.

Originally Posted by hulababy

YOu still can't connect the dots between Obama and Socialism??? Order today the movie called AGENDA - Grinding America Down and guaranteed you WILL get it.

You did not answer the question in the above posting. You diverted.

Originally Posted by hulababy

YOu still can't connect the dots between Obama and Socialism??? Order today the movie called AGENDA - Grinding America Down and guaranteed you WILL get it.

Who created that movie? Fox Noise? Mr. Bouncy-Bouncy? Tea Party? Another 'reliable source'?

Originally Posted by buggyone

" But there are many government programs for things that individuals can and should do for themselves. For example, Social Security (saving for retirement), Medicare, food stamps, farm subsidies and unemployment compensation."
_________________-

This very well may true - however, what would you suggest happen to those who did not save enough on their own for retirement, health care, did not have enough money for food, or when laid off for a long period of time from work?

Do you personally believe those people and their families should be forced to live under a bridge in a refrigerator box, starve, and die? Or what would be your personal solution?

I just did a search to find out how long man has lived on earth. The answer was: 2 million years. How long have all of the above programs existed? I would guess about 60 or 70 years. How did we get along without them before?

Originally Posted by Villages PL

I just did a search to find out how long man has lived on earth. The answer was: 2 million years. How long have all of the above programs existed? I would guess about 60 or 70 years. How did we get along without them before?

Once again, a diversion non-answer.

In case you forgot the question, it is, "Do you personally believe those people and their families should be forced to live under a bridge in a refrigerator box, starve, and die? Or what would be your personal solution?

Richie come on...I'm pretty sure I understand the word much better than you just by your empty response.Oligarchy has nothing to do with Obama or Reagan If you can't see that that's your problem and it's you that is failing.
OLIGARCHY-a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people usually for corrupt and selfish reasons. Today in America we have a society in which money is incresingly concentrated in the hands of a few people and some large corporations. How anyone can seriously deny that our political system is being warped by the influence of big money is beyond me. And before you get into the class warfare stuff yes I do believe that there is class warfare and it is being waged by these super rich against me and the rest of the middle class.