Would you rather live in a Socialist country or an Authoritarian country?

[Joe Capitalist]

so·cial·ism | ˈsōSHəˌlizəm |
noun
a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
• policy or practice based on the political and economic theory of socialism.
The term “socialism” has been used to describe positions as far apart as anarchism, Soviet state communism, and social democracy. The socialist parties that have arisen in most European countries from the late 19th century have generally tended toward social democracy.

au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism | ôˌTHäriˈterēənizəm |
noun
the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
• lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others.

[Sailor]

so·cial·ism | ˈsōSHəˌlizəm |
noun
a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
• policy or practice based on the political and economic theory of socialism.
The term “socialism” has been used to describe positions as far apart as anarchism, Soviet state communism, and social democracy. The socialist parties that have arisen in most European countries from the late 19th century have generally tended toward social democracy.

au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism | ôˌTHäriˈterēənizəm |
noun
the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
• lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others.

What was your highest educational achievement? Do not lie now.

[Joe Capitalist]

Yesterday, 02:50 PM
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[Doc Dutch]

so·cial·ism | ˈsōSHəˌlizəm |
noun
a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
• policy or practice based on the political and economic theory of socialism.
The term “socialism” has been used to describe positions as far apart as anarchism, Soviet state communism, and social democracy. The socialist parties that have arisen in most European countries from the late 19th century have generally tended toward social democracy.

au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism | ôˌTHäriˈterēənizəm |
noun
the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
• lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others.

Trick question since both become authoritarian asshole countries. There are no Socialist countries which are free.

[Joe Capitalist]

Trick question since both become authoritarian asshole countries. There are no Socialist countries which are free.

Good point but what about the Scandinavian countries? Don't they have a form of Socialism? I'm not condoning Socialism at all. Just getting a comparison between the two.

[Doc Dutch]

Good point but what about the Scandinavian countries? Don't they have a form of Socialism? I'm not condoning Socialism at all. Just getting a comparison between the two.

The US has a "form of Socialism", but, like the Euros, the US isn't a "Socialist country" since none exist except in China....and even they need capitalism to fuel their economy.

[Stone]

Hell just froze over!!!!! I just hit the like button for two of Dutches posts in a row! You know whats funny about that though? I have a long consistent track record of agreeing with and even " liking" posts made by those who are generally at war with me provided the post in question is sound and logical. THAT....would be called being honest and reasonable. Now the board D's with FEW exceptions? Naw,....they dont do that. They cant. They just cant allow themselves to agree with a conservative in public on an issue even when they actually DO. How childish and stupid.

[Doc Dutch]

Hell just froze over!!!!! I just hit the like button for two of Dutches posts in a row! You know whats funny about that though? I have a long consistent track record of agreeing with and even " liking" posts made by those who are generally at war with me provided the post in question is sound and logical. THAT....would be called being honest and reasonable. Now the board D's with FEW exceptions? Naw,....they dont do that. They cant. They just cant allow themselves to agree with a conservative in public on an issue even when they actually DO. How childish and stupid.

Political extremists, regardless of flavor, rarely, if ever, agree with the opposition.

[Frank Apisa]

so·cial·ism | ˈsōSHəˌlizəm |
noun
a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
• policy or practice based on the political and economic theory of socialism.
The term “socialism” has been used to describe positions as far apart as anarchism, Soviet state communism, and social democracy. The socialist parties that have arisen in most European countries from the late 19th century have generally tended toward social democracy.

au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism | ôˌTHäriˈterēənizəm |
noun
the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
• lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others.

Reframing the question, my answer would be:

I would sure as hell rather be thought of as a socialist than as an unfettered capitalist as currently practiced in the United States.

Capitalism is a fine economic policy...but it can sorely be abused to the point where much of the population are, de facto, living in an authoritarian society.

Right now the United States would greatly benefit from borrowing some of the odeas propounded by socialism. If we do not do that borrowing (and adjusting), I suspect we are going to go belly up soon.

[Stone]

And now Frank pops up. I have agreed with him many times in here in the past as well.

[Mr.Badguy]

Reframing the question, my answer would be:

I would sure as hell rather be thought of as a socialist than as an unfettered capitalist as currently practiced in the United States.

Capitalism is a fine economic policy...but it can sorely be abused to the point where much of the population are, de facto, living in an authoritarian society.

Right now the United States would greatly benefit from borrowing some of the odeas propounded by socialism. If we do not do that borrowing (and adjusting), I suspect we are going to go belly up soon.

Just about any economic system works IN THEORY. The only failing most of them have in practice is that humans tend to be power hungry, greedy, and intolerant of others not like themselves.

[Joe Capitalist]

Reframing the question, my answer would be:

I would sure as hell rather be thought of as a socialist than as an unfettered capitalist as currently practiced in the United States.

Capitalism is a fine economic policy...but it can sorely be abused to the point where much of the population are, de facto, living in an authoritarian society.

Right now the United States would greatly benefit from borrowing some of the odeas propounded by socialism. If we do not do that borrowing (and adjusting), I suspect we are going to go belly up soon.

Oh, I disagree. It is not unfettered. Look at all the government regulations and agencies: FCC, FAA, EPA, FDA, ATF and others. American Capitalism isn't perfect but it's pretty darn close. Think about the Industrial Revolution or Internet Revolution. That was due to the capitalism engine at work. And I doubt it's ever been abused to the point of looking authoritarian.

I'm fine with some forms of socialism to protect the disadvantaged but capitalism and a free market system is what made America great.

[Grumpy]

.
Would you rather live in a Socialist country or an Authoritarian country?

NO

[Stone]

Political extremists, regardless of flavor, rarely, if ever, agree with the opposition.

Thats soooooooooo unbelievably stupid though. If people agree on certain issues and can find at least some common ground why not just be truthful and admit that? Just seems so dumb to me. As if everything is just so cut and dried with no grey areas. These people cant possibly believe that one political party is pure good and takes the proper approach on all matters and the other is pure evil and wrong on every point. I mean,...can they REALLY believe that? I think not. Few could possibly be THAT stupid. IMO it is much more a case of good old fashioned blind stubborness and an unwillingness to concede ANYTHING.

[Doc Dutch]

Thats soooooooooo unbelievably stupid though. If people agree on certain issues and can find at least some common ground why not just be truthful and admit that? Just seems so dumb to me. As if everything is just so cut and dried with no grey areas. These people cant possibly believe that one political party is pure good and takes the proper approach on all matters and the other is pure evil and wrong on every point. I mean,...can they REALLY believe that? I think not. Few could possibly be THAT stupid. IMO it is much more a case of good old fashioned blind stubborness and an unwillingness to concede ANYTHING.

Most do, in a rational system. American politics has become increasingly irrational since the Clinton years. The Democrats have always been bleeding-heart, overly-emotional wackadoodles. Republicans were the adults in the room, the father figures who focused upon practical matters.

All of that changed when 1) Jerry Falwell's assholes got a seat at the Republican table and 2) the Cold War ended. Both events coupled together resulted in this bullshit 25 years later: