Whistling past the graveyard of socialism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got back from the the socialist ghetto called the United Kingdom. It was horrible, I tell you. I mean, except for the abundantly free press, affordable health care, and robust capital markets, thriving arts scene and low taxes the place was so damn oppressive of the people's freedoms.

Plus their food is really good -- very healthy and fresh. I have never had such delicious eggs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Keep your Soviet bloc style anecdotes. You are missing the mark.

- Regards, someone who grew up in a socialist European country and experienced it firsthand as well.

A perfect argument. Regards to you too.

Regarding "failed socialism" I have to very very strongly disagree. I lived in "socialist" parts of western Europe for 10 years, and when I was there I enjoyed:

Better infrastructure

Better public services

Better healthcare

Better schools

More affordable college

...and many more benefits

And it

Did NOT stifle innovation (many of the world's top tech companies are in so-called "socialist" europe)

Did NOT stifle entrepreneurism

Did NOT disincentivize hard work

Did NOT impose "rationing"

Did NOT suppress wages

Did NOT tax the rich to death (plenty of rich professionals living in luxury, plenty of multimillionaires and billionaires)

"Free stuff" and all the rest are the lame arguments of morons who have no clue what they are talking about.

Because there is no socialism per se in Western Europe There are social programs that are deemed "socialist" by Americans.

Socialist bloc absolutely:

Has extremely poor infrastructure and public services
Pre-historic healthcare, that is not really free. (You don't pay for the hospital stay, but you buy everything, and I mean everything (meds, gauze), with your cash.)
Schools are not better by any means. The only advantage is a centralized curriculum. This works for bright kids, not for anybody else. Or, and forget the SN kids, they're out of luck. Along with disabled people who are often prisoners in their apartments on the fifth floor with no working elevator
College was free, I give you that. However, that education is not recognized anywhere in the world. It works for local markets though.

I don't know what "many other benefits" you are talking about. Will be glad to discuss.

Socialism absolutely stifles innovation. Most companies are in Europe and offshore because of tax inversion.
Entrepreneurship is definitely not what it could be because of red tape and corruption.
You have no choice but to work your ass off, because otherwise you starve. No public services, remember?
Oh yes, rationing. BTDT. Stood in long lines for ration coupons as a teenager. Not fun.
Wages are generally low, unless you are properly connected and can steal.
Billionaires (mostly politicians) are not taxed, that it correct

I'm sorry to burst your bubble. But socialism does suck ass for Joe Schmoe. At least in a capitalist country, the capitalists pay you (in wages or welfare) to keep you from rioting or making things otherwise uncomfortable for the upper classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Keep your Soviet bloc style anecdotes. You are missing the mark.

- Regards, someone who grew up in a socialist European country and experienced it firsthand as well.

A perfect argument. Regards to you too.

Regarding "failed socialism" I have to very very strongly disagree. I lived in "socialist" parts of western Europe for 10 years, and when I was there I enjoyed:

Better infrastructure

Better public services

Better healthcare

Better schools

More affordable college

...and many more benefits

And it

Did NOT stifle innovation (many of the world's top tech companies are in so-called "socialist" europe)

Did NOT stifle entrepreneurism

Did NOT disincentivize hard work

Did NOT impose "rationing"

Did NOT suppress wages

Did NOT tax the rich to death (plenty of rich professionals living in luxury, plenty of multimillionaires and billionaires)

"Free stuff" and all the rest are the lame arguments of morons who have no clue what they are talking about.

Because there is no socialism per se in Western Europe There are social programs that are deemed "socialist" by Americans.

Socialist bloc absolutely:

Has extremely poor infrastructure and public services
Pre-historic healthcare, that is not really free. (You don't pay for the hospital stay, but you buy everything, and I mean everything (meds, gauze), with your cash.)
Schools are not better by any means. The only advantage is a centralized curriculum. This works for bright kids, not for anybody else. Or, and forget the SN kids, they're out of luck. Along with disabled people who are often prisoners in their apartments on the fifth floor with no working elevator
College was free, I give you that. However, that education is not recognized anywhere in the world. It works for local markets though.

I don't know what "many other benefits" you are talking about. Will be glad to discuss.

Socialism absolutely stifles innovation. Most companies are in Europe and offshore because of tax inversion.
Entrepreneurship is definitely not what it could be because of red tape and corruption.
You have no choice but to work your ass off, because otherwise you starve. No public services, remember?
Oh yes, rationing. BTDT. Stood in long lines for ration coupons as a teenager. Not fun.
Wages are generally low, unless you are properly connected and can steal.
Billionaires (mostly politicians) are not taxed, that it correct

I'm sorry to burst your bubble. But socialism does suck ass for Joe Schmoe. At least in a capitalist country, the capitalists pay you (in wages or welfare) to keep you from rioting or making things otherwise uncomfortable for the upper classes.

Ah, you are talking about SOVIET BLOC STALINISM. Well in that case you should be delighted to know that NOBODY is proposing that kind of Stalinist model, Bernie Sanders is not even remotely a Stalinist and in no way advocates any of the bullshit you are worried about, for that matter, no liberal is proposing anything remotely Stalinist.

[Anonymous]

^^It's not Stalinism, but whatever. Look at Latin America, for instance, if the Soviet bloc bothers you. Americans hear about free healthcare in Cuba or Venezuela and think it's awesome. Who was that douche bag in Congress (maybe not, can't remember) who wouldn't shut up about how their med schools are free? LOL Too bad very few Americans know what that free "healthcare" looks like IRL. I mean what's available to simple folk, not the rich and powerful or expats with $$$.

[Anonymous]

When socialists lose at the ballot box, they inevitably resort to violence to try to achieve the ends they seek.

Last night was more evidence of this fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When socialists lose at the ballot box, they inevitably resort to violence to try to achieve the ends they seek.

Last night was more evidence of this fact.

Is the Red Hat goon squad also socialist? They seemed to be busy #MAGA'ing on Day One.

https://twitter.com/i/moments/796417517157830656