Socialism

What real good has human progress done us anyway? The world is a bit of a mess, between global warming, the threat of nuclear disaster, war, poverty, high depression and drug abuse rates in developed countries, I almost think we were better off in the stone age. Maybe life wasn't so comfortable, but it was supposedly eglatarian, and there weren't as many depressed emo kids running around.

I don't purpose we go back to the stone age and I don't think I completely socialist society is a good thing. I've seen a world dominated capitalism, and it is obviously it is obviously run for the sake of the upper classes and them alone, to the detriment of everything else.



Maybe then it would be positive to adopt some socialist policies. I think a mixed sort of government is the best.

 

Novacaine

What about dinosaurs, lions, cannibals, and sharks?

Supposedly.

Obviously.

The world will go on as it always has. Anarchy, Monarchy, Democracy, repeat.

 

If you mean that it's problematic that people feel entitled to determine where their wealth is to be distributed, then yes, you could call it a drawback of capitalism. But if you mean the feeling of entitlement to inheritances from others, then no: very few people are able to live on inherited wealth, so I don't see how that effect is supposed to be relevant. Socialism, by contrast, is supposed to cover everybody.

 

You know, socialism != communism. I think that needs to be pointed out.

 

Socialism is a direct frustration to ambitious people (i.e. not me)

A lot of people say socialism could never work because of human greed and curropution. This is true.

But that is also true with most of politics, as politics is just a bunch of ideals anyways. It really irks me when politicians speak of their opinions as if they are indisputable facts.

As much as I'd love a little communist utopia, I know that isn't very plausible or realistic.

 

I get your point. But What I meant by "real good" is that human progress including novicaine come at a high environmental cost. Is the future of the human race worth curing a tooth ache, filling a tank of gas, or watching your favorite TV program?

Now I am not against technology I just don't like the attitude the "progress" comes before all else. People tend have an unbalanced view about the costs of development. And since development is a off shoot of social structure like shai was implying earlier I think it is safe to say that that people have an unbalanced view of their social order.

I am going to nit pick for a sec, sharks, lions, and cannibals still exist and dinosaurs didn't exist in the stone age.

But to what seems to be your over all point, I am again not anti technology. I don't like the seemingly prevalent attitude that technology is a good thing at the expense of everything else. And the seemingly imperialist attitude that we should lead indigenous societies into the post industrial era. That shift comes with a lot of consequences, ones that we ignore at our own peril.

And despite all that you still see extreme capitalism as a good thing?

Thats an over simplification I think.

 

Oh, my mistake. I thought you only meant individual inheritances, so I was pointing out that that entitlement would not come into play for much of the population, while entitlement caused by socialism would.

 

Little things like antibiotics, vaccines, libraries, sewers, education, irrigation, liberation of women, increased life span, telecommunications, radio, the internet, and, by the way, the computer you just used to communicate the above (not to mention a million other things you'd hate to live without).

Communism had its origins in Socialist thought. Socialism is a lot closer to Communism than Capitalism. Both Socialism and Communism fail to take into account human nature. Aggressive, driven (and, sometimes, obnoxious) people start and manage companies and dominate industry in a Capitalistic economy and they are easy targets for derision by less ambitious people. After all, who do you think has the guts to take a second mortgage out on a house to start a company? At least, in a Capitalist system, these people are easily controlled through regulation (if there is the political will to enforce it). They are also distributed among multiple companies that are competing with each other. These same kinds of people, in Socialist and Communist systems, go into government and dominate society from much more powerful, monolithic positions.

What is the "high environmental cost" of novacaine? In the U.S., companies not adhering to the laws and standards of "good manufacturing practice" (GMP) administered by the FDA and EPA, can be fined and, ultimately, shut down and put out of business. If you've ever tried to set up a commercial research laboratory in the U.S., you would know the incredible rules and regulations governing safe, environmentally appropriate laboratory design and practice. If you are experienced in navigating this morass of regulations, particularly in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, you have marketable skills, indeed.

 

Yeah, pretty much. The lack of incentives for individuals is sufficient to implicate pure socialism as a failure.

It's mostly "cons" when you're living in a world with other societies, in which case stagnation means you will be overtaken in development, and then will exist at the whim of the more powerful entities.

 

I dont think the human race is in trouble because we have striven to have painless dentistry. A tank of gas could have been a tank of some other fuel granted, TV is just entertainment. No real value except relaxing and pleasure. I suppose we could do without but I wouldnt if I got to pick.

Back when we were creating technology people thought the world would last forever (or God would be the one to destroy it). Now we know better. Change happens slowly. Change is happening now. I will now get off my Obama impersonation haha.

Yup. Capitalism isnt just that. There is good and bad in all forms of government. I like to deal with the form of government I am most familiar with.

I dont. So we skip a step sometimes, big deal. Adding a new step is just going to make for a slightly different slideshow.

 

I think socialism leads to bigger government because it is all that I have ever seen it lead to... Also I believe that history is the biggest argument against socialism that I can think of. Thats my short answer

 

Nor do I, I think we are in trouble because we value technological progress and thus economic progress and vice versa before anything else. I think we need to slow down and take stalk of what the human race really needs. Do we really need more development for the sake of development ? Or do we need to try and save what we already have?

Then why have there been apoclyptic stories from the beginning of time?

Which is why I think as opposed to having only one form of government we should strive to have a mixed government. Take the best from both worlds and the like.

That is sooo SJ of you LOL

 

Yeah it can! I think we need a mixed form of government, which should be the easiest way to improve on socialism.