Is Socialism theft? (1 Viewer)

Jon

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Maybe they didn't like this bit:

I was in prison and you came to visit me

:unsure:
 

Frothingslosh

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LOL

It probably has more to do with my support of social programs.

Anyway, we're way off-topic. In regards to the topic of whether or not socialism is theft, it is not and cannot be theft, as it is either a political or economic theory. Theft would be a specific implementation, and capitalistic societies can be just as bad as socialist ones. Most things being labeled currently as 'socialism' are simply changes in priorities of how the US government spends the taxes it raises. For some reason, spending a billion dollars on another couple tanks is capitalism, but spending a billion dollars to have a healthier population is somehow "socialism".

Most modern European nations, from the least successful to economic powerhouses, have socialist programs. At the very least, virtually all of them support some sort of national health system and national college degree program for all of their citizens out of taxes raised. Yes, some have higher tax rates, but on the flipside, they don't have to cough up 10% of their paycheck for insurance premiums and another 10% of their check to repay student loans.

What modern socialism does NOT do, however, is seize your home and business and give them to lazy people. By now humanity knows that a purely socialist society like the USSR tried to build is no better than a purely capitalist society (which led to such wonderful things as the British East India Company, rail and oil barons, company towns, and unionization being punishable by death). Modern DICTATORS do that, but they're a whole different story. (And don't get me started on the whole Nazi comparison - if they were socialists, than East Germany was and North Korea is a democratic Republic whose leadership were/are freely elected by their citizens.)
 
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Jon

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Most things being labeled currently as 'socialism' are simply changes in priorities of how the US government spends the taxes it raises.
Since there is a continuum on how much tax you pay, who decides at what point it becomes socialism? It sounds like an arbitrary definition.

You seem to sound like you know a lot about political theory. Did you study it at college?

What about China? Isn't that both Socialist/Communist but also Capitalist? It sounds a bit like fusion food, which I quite like!
 

Frothingslosh

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Nope, I studied Computer Science, Philosophy, and Female Anatomy in college, and not always in that order. I do, however, read CONSTANTLY, and since 2000 or so I've read a ton of political theory.

China is a strange bird. It calls itself a Communist nation (which isn't QUITE the same as socialism), but once it understood that Mao's plan was going to destroy its economy, it opened up to limited capitalism. What it REALLY is, however, is an oligarchy. The only people who can serve in the National People's Congress are the original founders and leaders of the Red Army and their descendants, and the leadership has been passed around between them. Right now, however, Xi Jinping is turning it into a more traditional authoritarian/dictatorial system that still gives lip service to old Marxist thought.
 

Jon

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That is an unusual combination you studied! Ah, a fellow autodidact polymath like myself! I like reading and learning lots too.

Interesting perspective that, the oligarchy. Never considered it.
 

Jon

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OMG I feel another thread coming on...
 

The_Doc_Man

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Hiya, Frothy. Long time no see. Glad you chimed in.
 

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[QUOTE="Jon, post: 1671119, member: 3" whatever your political leanings, we are family here![/QUOTE]remember those words Jon, because in the future, "family" will become very important to you. You might just need them a lot more than you need, or have an interest in, politics. Those pundits will probably retreat to underground bunkers at some point.
 

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