The Next US President

[dbphoenix]

The official opposition fulfils a vital role in Democracy imho. They can point out the shortcomings of the administration and gradually evolve better policies and then hope to get elected next time.

If the opposition's loyalties are to its country rather than to itself, this is all to the good. If on the other hand the opposition's unyielding goal is to regain power and hold onto it at all costs, that presents difficulties.

 

[Splitlink]

If the opposition's loyalties are to its country rather than to itself, this is all to the good. If on the other hand the opposition's unyielding goal is to regain power and hold onto it at all costs, that presents difficulties.

I fear the latter. That is human nature. It is the nature of the beast.

Not, just, Americans, but for everyone.

However, this human being is an optimistic beast! Provided, of course, that my family comes first.

 

[dbphoenix]

I fear the latter. That is human nature. It is the nature of the beast.

Not, just, Americans, but for everyone.

Not necessarily. One needn't go far to find societies that place little to no value on "property". Removing that from the social contract has a number of desirable and perhaps necessary consequences.

 

[Splitlink]

Perhaps, you need some good, old-fashioned, socialism over there. I don't recommend it, myself. I'll take my chances with the richer guys, Maybe, some of it will rub off on me.

 

[dbphoenix]

Perhaps, you need some good, old-fashioned, socialism over there. I don't recommend it, myself. I'll take my chances with the richer guys, Maybe, some of it will rub off on me.

Unfortunately, there are no applicable socialist models to emulate.

 

[new_trader]

Perhaps, you need some good, old-fashioned, socialism over there. I don't recommend it, myself. I'll take my chances with the richer guys, Maybe, some of it will rub off on me.

Insanity: Doing the socialism thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Just look at how wonderful things are working out for Venezuela.

 

[dbphoenix]

You consider Venezuela to be a socialist model?

 

[new_trader]

Not necessarily. One needn't go far to find societies that place little to no value on "property". Removing that from the social contract has a number of desirable and perhaps necessary consequences.

Wasn't it the concept of private property rights that saved the pilgrims and made America one of the most prosperous countries the world has ever known?

Thanksgiving

This "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" was an early form of socialism, and it is why the Pilgrims were starving. Bradford writes that "young men that were most able and fit for labor and service" complained about being forced to "spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children." Also, "the strong, or man of parts, had no more in division of victuals and clothes, than he that was weak." So the young and strong refused to work and the total amount of food produced was never adequate.

To rectify this situation, in 1623 Bradford abolished socialism. He gave each household a parcel of land and told them they could keep what they produced, or trade it away as they saw fit. In other words, he replaced socialism with a markets, and that was the end of the famines.

Have you ever heard of "The tragedy of the commons"? Look it up.

 

[dbphoenix]

Wasn't it the concept of private property rights that saved the pilgrims and made America one of the most prosperous countries the world has ever known?

And decimated the native population.

 

[Atilla]

Top 10 Most Socialist Countries in the World
By Peerform · On December 6, 2012
The term socialist has been thrown around quite a bit in the past few years. Not since the cold war has the term garnered so much attention in the press and from politicians. But when you look at countries who actually have a socialist economic structure, you can see some similarities to the United States – but there are some really stark differences.

Below, you will see some of the most socialistic nations in the world today:

China
Denmark
Finland
Netherlands
Canada
Sweden
Norway
Ireland
New Zealand
Belgium


http://blog.peerform.com/top-ten-most-socialist-countries-in-the-world/

:idea:

 

[Pat494]

Top 10 Most Socialist Countries in the World
By Peerform · On December 6, 2012
The term socialist has been thrown around quite a bit in the past few years. Not since the cold war has the term garnered so much attention in the press and from politicians. But when you look at countries who actually have a socialist economic structure, you can see some similarities to the United States – but there are some really stark differences.

Below, you will see some of the most socialistic nations in the world today:

China
Denmark
Finland
Netherlands
Canada
Sweden
Norway
Ireland
New Zealand
Belgium


http://blog.peerform.com/top-ten-most-socialist-countries-in-the-world/

:idea:

I would say China is Communist politically and a capitalist economy regime with its one party power system. Not really Democratic Socialist.

 

[dbphoenix]

Whoever came up with this list doesn't know much about socialism.

 

[Atilla]

I would say China is Communist politically and a capitalist economy regime with its one party power system. Not really Democratic Socialist.

Yes and in some respects one can spot mixture of attributes from both. However, I think in some global research the Norse countries perhaps what can be termed the most egalatarian biased administration with highest taxation systems were found to be the happiest.

I don't see Venezuela or Cuba on that list however, as they are more dictatorships rather than socialist regimes.

 

[Atilla]

Whoever came up with this list doesn't know much about socialism.

We've been here before db and the concept of socialist, capitalist regimes have a wide range of meanings. Link is great and provides brief descriptions about the countries listed.

One issue is people equate socialism with communism and capitalism with fascism.

Then there are all the flavours in between those spectrums. So diversity of views are common.

:idea:

 

[dbphoenix]

"Isms" aren't going to be of much use. The US is supposedly a democratic federal republic that embraces capitalism and is the "greatest country in the world", yet 50 million of our children don't get enough to eat.

 

[forker]

"Isms" aren't going to be of much use. The US is supposedly a democratic federal republic that embraces capitalism and is the "greatest country in the world", yet 50 million of our children don't get enough to eat.

That's the cost of capitalism

 

[Atilla]

"Isms" aren't going to be of much use. The US is supposedly a democratic federal republic that embraces capitalism and is the "greatest country in the world", yet 50 million of our children don't get enough to eat.

UNICEF: Cuba has 0% Child Malnutrition


Maybe the yanks could learn something from Cubans.

 

[dbphoenix]

Not likely. We're "exceptional".

 

[Splitlink]

I would say China is Communist politically and a capitalist economy regime with its one party power system. Not really Democratic Socialist.

It started off as Communist but, now, I'm not sure what it is. We won't know how really friendly they are until their population has a better standard of living but they seem to have moderated a lot.

Trump has irritated them. We need them peaceful!

It's a long story but I fell out of a bosun's chair into an iced over harbour when I was a cadet, painting the Plimsol mark. A Chinese guard rushed down the gangway and fished me out. So you can see, it takes all types!

 

[Pat494]

Looks like Trump is bent on picking a fight with China. The Taiwan episode is just for starters. The cancelling of trade agreements will heat it up considerably though.
The building of a military base in the China Sea could be awkward and provocative.
While the US blunders around the rest can pick up some crumbs though.