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I posted this b/c I love how much people here in the U.S.A. say they hate socialism when in actuality, they happily use many implementations of socialism that (usually) work perfectly fine.

I've been to a socialist country (Serbia) and their not that bad. If you dismiss the fact that everyone is poor, theres no sewerage system and pretty much everyone has a menial life it's not that bad.

Ark11 wrote:I've been to a socialist country (Serbia) and their not that bad. If you dismiss the fact that everyone is poor, theres no sewerage system and pretty much everyone has a menial life it's not that bad.

I have a friend who's Serbian, what?

Pending the tone Ark11 was going for, I feel I should say I don't want the U.S. to be a straight Socialist country, rather I want the U.S. to adopt any ideas that will benefit the country as a whole; even Socialist ideas. I think its stupid that people are throwing tantrums just b/c an idea to solve a major problem in the country is deemed as "Socialist"; it seems very close-minded to me.

Ark11 wrote:I've been to a socialist country (Serbia) and their not that bad. If you dismiss the fact that everyone is poor, theres no sewerage system and pretty much everyone has a menial life it's not that bad.

Try visiting Scandinavia instead, and learn how socialism works when used correctly.

Chrille wrote:

Ark11 wrote:I've been to a socialist country (Serbia) and their not that bad. If you dismiss the fact that everyone is poor, theres no sewerage system and pretty much everyone has a menial life it's not that bad.

Try visiting Scandinavia instead, and learn how socialism works when used correctly.

Indeed

Chrille wrote:

Ark11 wrote:I've been to a socialist country (Serbia) and their not that bad. If you dismiss the fact that everyone is poor, theres no sewerage system and pretty much everyone has a menial life it's not that bad.

Try visiting Scandinavia instead, and learn how socialism works when used correctly.

I think you'd be disappointed if you visited anywhere other than Sweden IMHO I would regard Sweden as a "Liberal Capitalist" country, high taxes pay for good state services - that's all. People can still rake in honest money if they work for it.

That's the thing though, in the "socialist" european countries there is more welfare/safety (often consumer safety), but the much touted "american dream" is just as possible as in the US. We're all capitalist after all. As people have said, the US doesn't really have anything against socialist policies as long as they're not called that. Socialism in the US has become a catch phrase and bad word not unlike communism during the McCarthy era. Its public/political meaning doesn't really have anything to do with reality anymore.

Ark11 wrote:I've been to a socialist country (Serbia) and their not that bad. If you dismiss the fact that everyone is poor, theres no sewerage system and pretty much everyone has a menial life it's not that bad.

Sweden is a socialist country and one of the most advanced in the world.

Dionysos wrote:That's the thing though, in the "socialist" european countries there is more welfare/safety (often consumer safety), but the much touted "american dream" is just as possible as in the US.

That's because socialism is best when it isn't pure socialism.

Dionysos wrote:That's the thing though, in the "socialist" european countries there is more welfare/safety (often consumer safety), but the much touted "american dream" is just as possible as in the US. We're all capitalist after all. As people have said, the US doesn't really have anything against socialist policies as long as they're not called that. Socialism in the US has become a catch phrase and bad word not unlike communism during the McCarthy era. Its public/political meaning doesn't really have anything to do with reality anymore.

This^
The way we hear 'Socialism' has been manipulated to the point that its not really a valid description of Socialism anymore.

kkirspel wrote:

Dionysos wrote:That's the thing though, in the "socialist" european countries there is more welfare/safety (often consumer safety), but the much touted "american dream" is just as possible as in the US. We're all capitalist after all. As people have said, the US doesn't really have anything against socialist policies as long as they're not called that. Socialism in the US has become a catch phrase and bad word not unlike communism during the McCarthy era. Its public/political meaning doesn't really have anything to do with reality anymore.

This^
The way we hear 'Socialism' has been manipulated to the point that its not really a valid description of Socialism anymore.

Is someone who doesnt follow 'all' the cristians rules, no cristian anymore?

I think "socialist" elements are very necessary in a modern society. In my opinion, while being no believing Christian myself, but seeing in America so many people claim to be Christians, it is absolutely necessary to have socialist elements too! Because has not Jesus said: Love your next one as you love yourself? Does that not imply to support the weaker elements of a society?

I cannot blame Americans for falling for such phrases as "Socialism is evil" - Cold War has left many wounds, caused by propaganda.

Of course, the systems of "socialism" we have seen were not truely socialist - because in the end, everyone but a small political minority was poor.

But the European countries have strong social elements - at least more than the USA do - and we have fared way better through the financial crisis than the USA.

Social elements are not socialism anyway - but often enough Americans seem to think once you give money by a tax to anyone else, thats socialism.

I call it being part of a human society, in which you care for each other, and don't only care for yourself.

@Dr. Delta: Each Christian group will claim that, indeed! And in my believe, none of them (neither catholic church nor anyone else) ever has really followed the Christian values (!) better than many atheists. At least we don't only help if you start praying to God, too.