patrick.net

Socialism is a range of economic and social systems characterized by social ownership and democratic control of the means of production.

You can view socialism within the USA such as with public schools. The government (i.e. school board, etc.) controls the means of producing public education (K-12).

The question, how far do you want your society to allow the government to control production. Do you want that to extend to health care ? Do you want that to extend to other industries the produces goods and services ?

Can socialism exist in a very heterogeneous society as it does in a very homogeneous society like the Scandinavian countries ? Keep in mind the USA spends about 3.5% of its GDP on defense, whereas the northern European countries barely spend 1% of GDP on defense. If the USA would reduce defense from 3.5% to 1% of GDP, then the $500 billion savings from defense cuts (i.e., 2.5% of GDP) could go to social welfare services. Providing a $6,000 a year voucher per person per year for health care insurance would provide coverage for 83,333,333 million American citizens.

Right now health care accounts for about 12% of the $20 trillion economy, or about $2.4 trillion.

That subsidy would just increase healthcare costs by 6,000 a year.

adarmiento says

Socialism is a range of economic and social systems characterized by social ownership and democratic control of the means of production.

You can view socialism within the USA such as with public schools. The government (i.e. school board, etc.) controls the means of producing public education (K-12).

The question, how far do you want your society to allow the government to control production. Do you want that to extend to health care ? Do you want that to extend to other industries the produces goods and services ?

Can socialism exist in a very heterogeneous society as it does in a very homogeneous society like the Scandinavian countries ? Keep in mind the USA spends about 3.5% of its GDP on defense, whereas the northern European countries barely spend 1% of GDP on defense. If the USA would reduce defense from 3.5% to 1% of GDP, then the $500 billion savings from defense cuts (i.e., 2.5% of GDP) could go to social welfare services. Providing a $6,000 ...

http://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2017/07/24/venezuela-rewards-soldiers-with-toilet-paper-bernie-sanders-takes-notes/

Venezuela rewards soldiers with toilet paper

Things have been a little tense in Venezuela lately, and repression soldiers have had to deploy tear gas on citizens chanting for food. As a morale boost, it seems, some of those repression solders were rewarded with toilet paper and other personal items, and the award presentations were captured on film for posterity.

2430 says

Venezuela rewards soldiers with toilet paper

That's awesome. It's what every asshole desires.

1641 says

A list of socialist nations and their utter fury at how horrible their socialist health care is performing.

I'm all for using their health care system up to a certain point. Our system is fully fucked.
I would also use their education system.
By they way , they are capitalist countries.

Gentle Reader,

Venezuela's problems have nothing to do with socialism, communism, democracy, capitalism, or sadism in tight latex. Well, maybe that last one. What this has to do is an economy and nation dependent on oil. I live in Louisiana, I know about oil and the problems associated with depending on the tax revenue and jobs of an oil extraction economy. We've suffered from oil.

Regards,
Roidy
P.S. Fuck you President Pouty Poo.

15204 says

I live in Louisiana, I know about oil and the problems associated with depending on the tax revenue and jobs of an oil extraction economy. We've suffered from oil.

You guys ran out of toilet paper too?

81606 says

15204 says

I live in Louisiana, I know about oil and the problems associated with depending on the tax revenue and jobs of an oil extraction economy. We've suffered from oil.

You guys ran out of toilet paper too?

Gentle Reader,

I'm not really sure what you mean by running out of toilet paper, but I can say with assurance that we WILL take matters in hand if we do.

Regards,
Roidy