Are you sure you really want socialism---think about this one fact

Socialism means big government has all the money and controls everything. It also means that everyone WORKS for that big government. Do the lazy drones in society that depends on the government for hand outs realize what that means. It means that they would have to go to WORK so they could give all they earned to the big government. Think about that word WORK.

 

If I remember correctly. You're retired living on social security and Medicare...no?

 

Yes I am. I am receiving back the money that I paid into for 61 years. It was mandated by big government that you seem to love. I am a law abiding citizen.

 

^oops, sounds like socialism to me.















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Not sure why people are still so worried about socialism. Not like there is a clear and present danger that suddenly the world will turn to socialism. You think that the elite capitalists that controls the West will ever allow their means of wealth to be usurped by socialism?

The only legit fear one might have is what happens when robotics and AI displaces 80 percent of the human work force? What then? Finding jobs that hundreds of millions can do, that robotics and AI cannot do cheaper, might be very difficult. And those jobs have to pay enough to have a disposable income, to buy what robots and AI produces and provides.

It would be a cosmic level irony if capitalism, in its chase to eliminate more costly human labor, to increase profits, ate up capitalism like pancreatic cancer, killing capitalism. Without income from labor, WHO consumes? Remove the essential element of income from producing and providing goods and services and WHO consumes? Robots? AI?

A few people are thinking about this, but in so far as I know, they have no idea either what provides income, what economic activity provides income? So, the world will not embrace socialism over capitalism, but capitalism looks like it might destroy itself. If that happens, we are forced into some form of socialism, by the forces of capitalism itself. Capitalists seem to want to have their cake and eat it too. And this is what the people who hate socialism and love capitalism must consider, sooner or later. But if you want to say that jobs will magically appear in sufficient numbers and there is no need to think about it, I do not think you are seeing the big picture view. Nor does anyone have any idea what that new sector might be, which robots and AI cannot do cheaper.

I really do think this problem will manifest itself before the end of the 21st century. And by the way it looks now, the heads buried in the sand will not see it coming. It will have to beat the hell out of people before the light bulb comes on generating an epiphany. Followed by, "how could we not see the obvious?" For it was completely logical.

 

The threat of labor automation is a real one, but the problem is that I've yet to hear of any good solutions to a shrinking need for a workforce. UBI comes up but that's such a dumb idea that it shows the desperation level of policy making to handle this situation.

 

What options can you come up with instead of UBI? I sure don't have any, which is not to say that I support UBI. This would mean taxing the haves, in order to provide income for the have nots to buy what the haves make and sell, using robots and AI. Just seems to be a flaw there in that paradigm. Like when I once stopped to ask for directions long ago, some hayseed told me that I cannot get there, from here. ha ha. He acted serious and so I had to stop and ask someone else But what he said might be true in regards to UBI.

 

The OP poster defines communism and hangs it on socialism. Nuff said there. The lightbulb won't go off until people start thinking about reality and how it effects them. Conservatives and politicians are devoted to seeing this doesn't happen. They will trot out any red herring (now that communism is dead) to support their idea that unrestricted capitalism is God's Will.

Is capitalism sowing the poison seeds that will eventually kill it? Absolutely. Greed, automation, AI, and quarterly earnings (profits) have already begun the process. At one time America had a social contract between labor and management. It was something like, 'You work loyally for us for life and we will provide you a job and benefits for life. This worked pretty well since Henry Ford redefined the labor market with good wages and a 40 hour work week.

People are just beginning to see the huge disparity in incomes on the pyramid. In the 1950's (years that some in the GOP consider golden) wages over $1,000,000 were taxed at 90%. Nobody seemed to notice (except the folks at the top) and everything ran smoothly. Kennedy cut tax rates dramatically and greed took over. The greed thing is worthy of an OP by itself. Sending labor to really cheap labor countries did wonders to the bottom line and executive bonuses that shot over six figures.

Meanwhile, real wages for average, middle class Americans stalled at 1974 levels. That too was good for bonuses and the bottom line. Once this truth finally dawns on a significant portion of American's, who knows where our social structure goes. The cures are not evident. The situation will deepen as baby boomers retire and unemployables over 50 lose their jobs. Socialism? Odds are that some of that will prevail.

 

Who specifically wants socialism?

 

Well that's how it already works for a huge number of democrat voters and has for over a half century ;( Although "The work" part would certainly be a deal breaker

 

That's not socialism since we each pay for it. Socialism is welfare and SNAP cards for able-bodied people.

Good examples of Socialism, which always fails as a state government, is the USSR and Venezuela.

 

The far Left. Especially the far LWers who think people richer than themselves should pay for their pot and guitar lessons.

 

It's not. A government giving back something earned is not Socialism. Socialism is giving people "each according to their need" AKA Other People's money, not what they've earned.













6

 

Oh, so there are some people that might want something close to socialism. So the OP is concerned about nothing.

 

What is most dangerous, IMO, is why socialism always fails as a national government. It's because it evolves to become totalitarian. The LW in the US is highly authoritarian. Even the proposal for Socialism is authoritarian since it dictates the message that an elite government knows what is best for everyone so it will take control of all their assets and redistribute them as the elite government sees fit.

Sure, there are authoritarian RWers too, notably when it comes to abortion and gay marriage, but for the most part, the right is anti-authoritarian. It's the Left's support for authoritarianism that makes it most dangerous, not just because they propose Socialism as an economic system.

 

Who in Congress is pushing for the US to become a socialist country’s?

 

Democrats. Everyone of them that supported "free college". You do know that nothing is free, right?

 

Don't want socialism. Don't want autocracy, either.

 

Especially the pot.

 

Yes the Socialist ponzi scheme invented by and mandated by the left. If logical 1 could have invested that money instead of financing the swamp over 61 years he would be very, very comfortable now. Instead it's a supplement that only replaces 40% of one's earning year's income and on top of that it's still taxed and a few hundred bucks still goes to medicare and gap insurance. THAT IS THE REALITY OF SOCIALIST BENEVOLENCE!!!

 

Wrong. "Every one of them" have NOT supported "free college".

But you DO understand that college debt is holding this county back in numerous ways...true?

You DO understand that need to have an educated work force in order to continue to be s world leader...right?

 

2008 would have destroyed the retirements of millions of Americans had they only had 401K and no Social Security.

In fact Logical1 would have seen his retirement funds cut in half...and still needed to draw off those funds (guaranteeing that they couldn't return to their previous levels) because for years he would have had to "lock in his losses".

But no...his social security checks kept coming...his Medicare never lapsed...

 

All of the dems in congress want the US to become a socialist society? I don't buy it. No offense.

Will the govt be controlling/running all of the US colleges under their "free college plan"? If no, then it's not socialism.

And yes, I know there is no such thing as free college. We all pay for things one way or the other.

 

What a laughable statement. When's the last time you drove at least 1 mph over the speed limit?