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.