Socialism

[simon12]

Theres been a number of posts here promoting socialism so I am wondering what type of socialism people think could work in the UK, how it could be implemented and since its never worked in the past why its ever a good idea.

 

[yeastinfection]

i expecting to open this and see one word,,
Discuss :lol:

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

Socialism is a product of natural forces, behaviours & instincts, so is capitalism. Both have strengths and weaknesses at given points.

I think capitalism is nearing it's end. Taking the ecology and what we call society with it.

Time for something different, perhaps. But it won't come by consensus. It'll be forced be necessity.

 

[Dexter101]

People get far to wrapped up in ideologies and words. At the end of the day i want to live in a country where everyone gets the opportunity for good education, get to live healthy balanced lives and get the opportunities to make use of their talents and gifts.

I dont mind people becoming millionaires but i do think that money creates money so people with more money have more opportunities to make more money and so it goes on and on.

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

People get far to wrapped up in ideologies and words. At the end of the day i want to live in a country where everyone gets the opportunity for good education, get to live healthy balanced lives and get the opportunities to make use of their talents and gifts.

I dont mind people becoming millionaires but i do think that money creates money so people with more money have more opportunities to make more money and so it goes on and on.

Enlightened capitalism.

Unfortunately.......

 

[MarkBowie]

The problem is which ever ideal you want to follow it is always going to be exploited by the top so many percent and there is always going to be people left behind. Whichever one it is, the middle ground needs to be filled by as many hardworking contributors as possible or none will work.

 

[Gunge]

I'm unsocial and antisocial in equal measure so don't think socialism works for me.

 

[marshbrewer]

A free society would tolerate a bunch of well meaning people buying a bit of land and setting up a socialist commune, assuming nobody was forced to stay there or otherwise imprisoned.

A socialist society would never tolerate a bunch of well meaning people buying a bit of land and setting up a free market society irrespective of whether anybody within was forced to stay there or not.

This really tells you all you need to know. One is coercive, one isn't.

 

[Saisonator]

But that wasn't socialism, this time it will be real socialism.

 

[Ajhutch]

'From each maltster according to his ability to each brewer according to his need'

That kind.


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[Bigcol49]

. . . its never worked in the past

Hi!
It's working in the present: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...via-thrives-heres-why/?utm_term=.bcab5f68983e

 

[foxy]

I wouldn't mind a bit of socialism. Only if I was at the top or near the top of the pecking order. I would definitely not want to be a pleb under such a system.

 

[Ajhutch]

Theres been a number of posts here promoting socialism so I am wondering what type of socialism people think could work in the UK, how it could be implemented and since its never worked in the past why its ever a good idea.

A serious question deserves a serious answer rather than my flippant effort previously.

Instinctively I’d say that the redistributive efforts of the 1997-2001 government which were paid for by economic growth that quite possibly would have happened anyway is as socialist as the UK would ever vote for. I don’t think that truly socialist policies could ever stimulate the growth required to pay for themselves over the long run in the UK or any major western economy. But I may be very wrong, and we may yet find out.

 

[druid]

I think I would look at Norway as a good indicator of what a socialist society can look like. There are going to be problems in every system, the key is to keep the problems to a minimum. The closer peoples opportunities are to being equal, the better off the system is. Its once the extremes become apparent...( America for example) that things really begin to fall apart.

 

[marshbrewer]

Hi!
It's working in the present: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...via-thrives-heres-why/?utm_term=.bcab5f68983e

Mmm... Socialism that works by not being very socialismy. :-)

 

[druid]

"truly socialist policies could ever stimulate the growth required to pay for themselves over the long run " ...




Interesting point, but in reality, if capitalist policies ever stimulated the growth required to pay for themselves, no country would currently be running a deficit...or have debt. Can you name a country that doesn't?

 

[Ajhutch]

"truly socialist policies could ever stimulate the growth required to pay for themselves over the long run " ...




Interesting point, but in reality, if capitalist policies ever stimulated the growth required to pay for themselves, no country would currently be running a deficit...or have debt. Can you name a country that doesn't?

No I can't and that's a fair point. But no country has had either true unfettered capitalism or true unfettered socialism and been on the global money markets (to rack up debt) for an extended period of time. Part of the problem in our current national debate is the idea that it's either one or the other, the reality is our economy is mixed and no political party advocates it not being mixed, they just argue about the exact make up.


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[marshbrewer]

Singapore runs a budget surplus as far as I remember.

 

[IainM]

I love socialism. The best bits are healthcare for all and education for all. Sure, I'm certain with a reduced tax burden I'd be able to afford even better healthcare and education for myself and my kids. However, not everyone else would, and I'm more than happy to forgo whatever advantage I'd have in order to live in a society where I'm not surrounded by people who aren't educated enough to get on in the modern world, or worse that are condemned to perfectly avoidable sickness or indignity.

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
I read an article recently (can't find it now) stating that Conservative governments have not followed a true capitalist line, and that's why everything's gone **** up. A capitalist economy would never accept austerity.