Socialism

Why do people think socialism is a bad thing? I look at Sweden and other like countries with heavy socialism, and the quality of lives, education and overall happiness is far greater than capitalistic societies that push workaholism and treat people like their slave workers instead of human beings with families and lives of their own.

I don't understand why Americans see socialism as a "bad word" when there are a lot of positives to living in a socialist environment. I wouldn't mind having to pay higher taxes if it meant never having to worry about how am I going to cover my chemo or other life-needing procedures or never having to be in so much student debt that it is crippling.

I get that Americans like their big businesses and capitalism, but look how many of these big companies (Walmart, I'm looking at you!) treat their workers. There is no loyalty and the years when employers actually cared about their employees, for the most part, is gone.

And besides, America was never truly capitalistic, nor is China pure communism. In order for a society to sustain itself, it MUST have a healthy mixture of capitalism and social programs for those who are in less than ideal situations.

Most of those outside world looking at America sees that it is broken for its greed, and I can see why.

/End rant.

I think it's because of everything that happened with the Soviet Union, Germany, etc. All the communist or formerly communist countries. People associate communism with socialism.

People hear socialism and automatically start screaming communism.......

I've been wondering the same thing..

Black and white thinking.

It seems like a lot of people can't imagine "moderate" anything anymore. You're either all of this, or all of that. Instead of imagining something similar to the Nordic Model, people see extreme communism or extreme socialism.

That, and the fact that it seems like a lot of people don't even know what it is. Lol.

But on the flip side, some people just aren't happy with the idea of what is called a "welfare state", or it's pejorative, a "nanny state".

<blockquote><b>Quoting A❤T=P+[It's a Girl:</b>" People hear socialism and automatically start screaming communism......."</blockquote>




Yep!

People are taught to fear Socialism, because it will take away all freedoms and choices. Democracy and socialism can work together.

My problem with it is that when you have a society where everyone pretty much gets the same stuff, regardless of work ethic, creativity, education, etc, people figure out that they don't have to contribute anything to get the same payout.

Like it or not, people are greedy. People are self-serving.

If we lived in smaller societies, I think socialism would work quite well. Most likely because people would actually see the people getting helped. They would be helping their direct neighbors and family members.

But when you tell someone to work really hard and hand over 50% of their paycheck to a bureaucrat in Washington so they can redistribute it to some person you've never met in another state, it starts to piss people off.

Quoting Back to Noob Status:" Why do people think socialism is a bad thing? I look at Sweden and other like countries with heavy socialism, ... [snip!] ... Most of those outside world looking at America sees that it is broken for its greed, and I can see why. /End rant."

Socialism doesnt work on a large scale. That is one thing that is bad about it.
In capitalism it is the market that typically says you cant do something. In socialism it is the ruling class.

America does have a healthy dose of socialist ideals, and I think that it could stand a few more.

However, I don't think it would ever work on a large scale. People here are just too bullheaded about their ideals, and were practically bred to think that anything other than democracy is pure evil.

Everyone keeps bringing up communism, and, like communism, socialism is a WONDERFUL system on paper. Americans are too strong-willed, however, and no matter how well a proposed government would work, improve the quality of life for everyone, or help the economy, there's no way every person or even a big enough majority could agree with it.

I have a lot of socialist views. I was called a socialist by teachers in high school, even mocked in front of the class. I've learned that it's not a bad thing. I've also learned that, even though our country doesn't make the smartest decisions or work together so well, democracy isn't so bad either. It's like, do you want a choice and crappy implementation? Democracy. Do you want everything to work well but have no say in it? Socialism. It'll never be that black and white, but America as a whole will always see it as that black and white.

Quoting Chroma Hex [+1]:" America does have a healthy dose of socialist ideals, and I think that it could stand a few more. However, ... [snip!] ... say in it? Socialism. It'll never be that black and white, but America as a whole will always see it as that black and white. "

Socialism used to be good on paper but enough has been witnessed about the system to note plenty of problems with socialism. Same can be said about communism although I'm not sure large groups of people ever thought it sounded good on paper.

Quoting Chroma Hex [+1]:" America does have a healthy dose of socialist ideals, and I think that it could stand a few more. However, ... [snip!] ... say in it? Socialism. It'll never be that black and white, but America as a whole will always see it as that black and white. "

Socialism used to be good on paper but enough has been witnessed about the system to note plenty of problems with socialism. Same can be said about communism although I'm not sure large groups of people ever thought it sounded good on paper.

Quoting Chroma Hex [+1]:" America does have a healthy dose of socialist ideals, and I think that it could stand a few more. However, ... [snip!] ... say in it? Socialism. It'll never be that black and white, but America as a whole will always see it as that black and white. "

You think we could stand a little more?

We're putting a trillion dollars per year on our national credit card. We can't afford a pot to piss in, let alone another "dose of socialism"

Quoting TheNuge:" Socialism used to be good on paper but enough has been witnessed about the system to note plenty of ... [snip!] ... Same can be said about communism although I'm not sure large groups of people ever thought it sounded good on paper. "

I'm just talking about in general, not for our society. Everyone does a fair share and everyone gets the same and no one has to worry about their well being as long as they're putting in the same as everyone else. It sounds nice, but almost cutesy when you start trying to factor in a limitless number of problems, issues, moral stances, and opinions that would make a society like that impossible on a large scale.

Quoting SpaceCowgirl:" You think we could stand a little more? We're putting a trillion dollars per year on our national credit card. We can't afford a pot to piss in, let alone another "dose of socialism""

I don't see how you can have an opinion on that when I didn't even say what kind of systems I believe need to be enacted.