Has America become a good example of why Socialism doesn't work?

Question

Before 1913 there was no income tax, no federal 'safety nets,' and very little interference by the government into the economy and medicine.

Of course, since then, we've been involved in both world wars and invaded half a dozen countries, unprovoked. Businesses buy politicians and get repaid with billions in corporate welfare. The same two parties keep getting elected on the same old promises that they never deliver. Human rights and freedom have been written into the most narrow definitions imaginable.

Promises promises promises. 90 years of socialism later and who is better off: the average worker or the ultra-rich? The one who pays taxes or the one who collects them?

Taxes have nothing to do with the military or corporate welfare?

Government intervention in economics has nothing to do with the incredible lack of competition and growth of monopolies?

Decades of Supreme Court rulings that favor questionable government policies has nothing to do with the decline of individual rights?

Keep feeding them, then...

You're wrong on GDP per capita..

Answer 1

Here's your best answer:

Socialism nothing more than a parallel to the Roman empire. In the end, there will be 1 civil servant for 1 worker, no money to fund the military, self implosion, and attack from outside enemies, ending in our inevitable demise.

Now, here's why:

Socialism breeds dependent mindsets by politicians who throw bones (money) to the loudest groups screaming for annual funding in exchange for votes.) (special interest groups.) These very groups lobby to expand legal definitions (eg, rape is now fully clothed touching), to ensure the very thing that enables their survival continues; CONFLICT.

Public awareness campains are blasted by tax $$ these groups get, panic ensues, and the wedges begin. (between men, women, children, races etc.) The groups get larger, sucking more tax dollars better left in the hands of individuals.

It controls the media, deliberately stupfies the population (to easily control) , and turns us into blind sheep.

Now thanks to socialism, you have angry people, and massive self serving industries (jails, courts, divorce, rape, etc). Add in a military gone nuts and you have this formula:

Socialism (the taking of 1 to give to another) infringes on the very rights we have as individuals and would turn our forefathers over in their graves. The next effect is stealing (and this is big) tax dollars from companies renders them innefficient. Another innefficiency is forcing the company owner(s) to hire based on color, gender, ect and not on performance.

All those $$$$ in stolen dollars would have otherwise allowed us to expand our companies, keep us 20 years AHEAD of china by pumping more $$ into R+D (research and developement) and ultimately kept our manufacturing strong.

On every level possible, gov't intervention hinders progress by stealing from the producers, to fund the non producers in exchange for votes. It also creates what we see today: A massive expanding gov't with many different hydra heads that take the form of gov't agencies and special interest groups, each fighting each other for survival (yearly funding.)

Those who agree with socialism generally reap the benifits and security of this system, whereas the self sufficient see the infringement on rights, dilema's with lower productivity, etc etc.

And as a closing line, "those who are willing to exchange a little freedom win exchange for security deserve neither liberty or security."

Answer 2

I don't know what your definition of socialism is but it is my understanding that the United States is a capitalistic democracy.

Socialism is a system where everything is owned collectively. The United States can hardly be described as socialist as you have a wide range of economic differences within your country. You can have people that are extremely wealthy to those who make minimum wage and live very humbly. I would hardly describe that as a collective distribution of your countries resources.

I'd say that a lion's share of your countries resources are being funneled into the Iraq war and other wars through the years as well as peacekeeping. It is expensive to maintain a military and the technology that goes with it. I wonder if there are any figures as to what this war cost?

I don't know if a truly socialist system would ever work with human nature being what it is. The most that can be hoped for is a decent quality of life for the majority and not just the powerful few. The United States does seem to meet that criteria with the systems that you have in place. It's not perfect but it could be worse.

Answer 3

Do you suggest we replace the government with anarchy? How many people were in this country before 1913 compared to now? What we need is a transparent government and people with some honesty and integrity who have the desire to serve the American people and not the business world. American citizens have become nothing more then taxpayers with no rights or say in what happens. We desperately need to shrink the federal government and start returning more power to states. Taxes are a must if we expect to live in any kind of civilized fashion. What people don't like is their tax dollars being spent on pork and earmarks. Elected officials should be held accountable for their promises. If they fail to provide what they promise when elected, no more government job when their term expires. People are held accountable in the work place, so should our elected officials be held accountable. Personally I would like to see one four year term for Senators and two, two year terms for representatives and then out of government. I also would like to see elected officials work for minimum wage. Remove all the perks of being a congressperson. If you want to serve the public, prove it, get rid of the perks.

Answer 4

Republican and Democrat is a total joke.. Those names are just labels for puppets.. those puppets answer to the people who right them the checks and it isnt the american people, its the elitest scum who have their self interest in mind, which is why they pay their puppets in washington the millions they do.. the American people are just the slave's who bares the debt for treachery.. they all live the life of luxury selling out their country and their souls to greed.. using politics of human weakness for rallying cries.. the whole time stealing my wealth and in the process my independence, making us all dependent upon government.. Every week 35%of my money is stolen from me and given to someone else, and for what?? so an illegal immigrant can recieve free healthcare? so a woman raising three kids from three men who all left their responsabilities behind, can go out and smoke crack?? Every month the value of my savings is declining, Where's my Freedom??? where's my Liberty?? now they want Universal Healthcare and to turn into a full blown socialist nation?? why so i can pay more taxes for inept pork barrell govt. programs?? because after all govt. can run my life so much better than i can?? No THANK YOU!! Can we turn back the clock please!!!

Answer 5

To answer your question. We as being Americans were never Socialist to begin with and never wanted to. Back in WWII Truman told the American people that we were never to become a socialist government. To actully state another answer the Soviet Union is a fantastic example of a horrible socialist government. This is because it fell into one of the biggest depressions ever in any country known to this day

Answer 6

No, one has nothing to do with the other.

We didn't get involved in WW1 or WW2 because we have income tax or welfare. Nor does taxation require the govt to strip away personal liberties -- they could easily have stopped at just taking all our money.

[EDIT] You miss the point -- socialism did not CAUSE high military spending, and high taxes did not CAUSE military aggression --- military aggression and govt over-spending caused high taxes. But socialism and excessive military action have nothing to do with each other. They are independent problems, BOTH of which cause taxes. Not the other way around.

Yes, two parties running a closed-loop system is a problem -- and there lies your answer -- the desire to control everything that both Democrats and Republicans have made their mantra.

Socialism works perfectly fine -- personally I oppose it, but that is because I oppose big govt -- as an economic model, it is completely functional -- the same cannot be said for politicians.

Answer 7

Well, with 90 years of "socialism", as you have stated, America has the largest GDP, and the largest GDP per capita, of any nation on earth. My stats are from the Wall Steet Journal, and, the Economist, so, no, I am not wrong.

Answer 8

While many of the things that you rant about could be true but most have nothing what so ever to do with Socialism.... you really should learn what words mean before you use them.

Answer 9

You don't even know what socialism is but if you vote the turds running under Dem ticket, you may find out.