Socialism is a stepping stone towards Communism

a reply to: woodwardjnr

I know stars and applauses are irrelevant to you but its truly a shame that I can only star that post one time.

Should be made mandatory reading material for everyone, everywhere.

a reply to: Willingly

At what point did you become an advocate for noblesse oblige? Look that term up.

Government is not responsible for personally making sure my life goes well. Its only concern is to make sure the conditions in the country are such that my life could go well if I work to make that happen. If I screw up, at some point, I need to own my mistakes and either work to correct them or break. But I need to stop blaming everyone and everything else for them.

If I am an abject failure because I didn't do the things to make myself productive, it's hardly the fault of the successful person who did. And there is a very real difference between being struck by unforeseen disaster and needing some help out and simply being your own disaster. People get tired of hearing you sing a song of woe when you are your own stumbling block and can't or won't see it because you prefer to blame the rest of us or the government for not giving you what you want.

a reply to: MayanBoricua

What works in theory seldom works the same or as well in practice. Any "ism" can be corrupted and captured. The problem is when others control and direct whatever "ism" in ways the benefit the few at the expense of the man. Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, etc. ALL can be corrupted -- and someone will surely try.

Consequently, any system that seeks to control us seeks to create dependence by us on them. And once we give up our self-sufficiency, our independence, our freedom and liberty, we're in trouble.

The answer is choice.... which is freedom and liberty. I have absolutely no problem with government provided services -- education, police, medical, whatever -- but only if there is a free-market option available AND we have the liberty to choose. There is no better competition for private industry than government services, because it forces the free-market to offer better products/services, and denies tyrants the ability to force our dependence on "them."

Everytime I see this claim made, I end up sitting there wondering how it is that so many european countries have had these sorts of "socialist" programs, and never became communist?
They never put an end to capitalism, they never stopped having private property, private ownership... even over a long period of time.

What the heck is going on?

The gateway drug comment is maybe a good metaphor- how is it that some people can have a drink now and then and never become alcoholic nor move onto heroin? Can there be populations that are more or less prone to substance abuse, dependance, or have low impulse control? What could be the factors at play in that?

Nobody is perfect. Some are born into wonderful wealthy loving families, others loving families that are poor. Some have perfect health, others not so much. There is too much emphasis on making it on one's own even if this is impossible. Some people will need help for their entire lives, and others until an acute problem is dealt with. This is socialism, and it is needed. Some have the attitude, let some of those in need die so the .0001% who don't need it can't get it. That should worry everyone, as we have no crystal ball to see the future.

This is a nonsense idea. The U.K. Has a socialist health care system, but is far from being communist. It's had socialism for over 60 years and still no communism. This whole neo McCarthyism sweeping ATS is stupid. For the poorly educated that trump loves so much.