Socialism: Good or Bad?

[Fbuh]

I keep seeing topics come up about Obama, socialism, and other such related current debates, so I thought I'd start a new one: is socialism necessarily bad?

As an American, I find that most of America is full of fiercely independent people, people so independent, in fact, that they are unwilling to even listen to other arguments. Socialism is, in a very abbreviated definition, the institution of an egalitarian economic/social structure that ensures that all peoples within a society come out equal. For a better definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism. Somehow or another, we interpreted this as bad. My question is: why is it bad? Could we possibly find a middle ground?

 

[Pandalisk]

All things in moderation, to much and you know what happens.

But i like a little socialism.

 

[Armored Prayer]

I don't know much about socialism so I cant say. After reading the abbreviated definition I still don't get it.

 

[El Poncho]

I do not know alot of socialism, but I think that is the thing when no matter what job you have you get the same pay as someone else with a higher skilled job or vice versa. I think maybe if you take little bits from it some of it might work.

 

[Xojins]

There are some aspects about it that are good, and some aspects that are bad, as there is with any system of government.

 

[LockHeart]

Pleeeaaaassseee... No... more... socialism... threads... *expires*

OT: Short summary of my opinion - I don't agree with socialism because I don't feel that belonging to the same race or species as a person entitles me or them to demand that we support each other. No one has a right to demand that I support them, nor do I have the right to demand it of others.

 

[Mcface]

The Nazis were socialists.

thats all I have to say.

 

[SonicKoala]

As many countries in Europe have proven, integrating aspects of Socialism can prove to be very effective and can lead to successful and prosperous societies. Total socialism would be a terrible idea, but then again that goes for any system.

 

[SonicKoala]

The Nazis were socialists.

thats all I have to say.

No, they weren't. They called themselves a socialist party, but their methods can hardly be compared to socialism in any way. Hitler hated socialism.

 

[Spitfire175]

Well, if socialism is your thing, North Korean economy will suit you just fine.

 

[Fbuh]

You've just hit upon my point. The Nazis were socialist. Because of that, it instantly gets a bad rep. Did you know that most of them were German? Well, that means that all German people are bad.

Do you see my argument here? We are unwilling to move on from the past and to realize that just becasue it's raining doesn't mean that we still can't have a good time.

 

[Spitfire175]

The Nazis were socialists.

thats all I have to say.

No, they weren't. They called themselves a socialist party, but their methods can hardly be compared to socialism in any way. Hitler hated socialism.

State owned factories, no civil rights, a compulsory army, all key points of Hitler's regime and socialism in practicality.

 

[Nincompoop]

It's not supposed to be one or the other. There is no Utopia. We need to find an equilibrium between those. That's what we have in Europe, and it is working out well.

As someone mentioned above, socialism isn't necessarily bad, but if too much, it could be.

Don't confuse socialism with communism. It's more or less the same, but the difference is the means to enforce it. Communism believes that military action can be a solution, whilst socialism is more on the civilized page.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

State control of the economy? Noooo....

State control of certain goods and services the Free market dosen't provide so well? Yes. Like, say:

Armies.
Navies.
Air Forces.
Police Forces.
Firefighters.
Roads.
Lighthouses
Customs.
Healthcare.
Etc.

 

[Legion]

I do not know alot of socialism, but I think that is the thing when no matter what job you have you get the same pay as someone else with a higher skilled job or vice versa.

That's communism. The idea being that everyone is equal because all jobs contribute to society. It's not about individuals making money but equality and a good economy.

The Nazis were socialists.

thats all I have to say.

No, they weren't. They called themselves a socialist party, but their methods can hardly be compared to socialism in any way. Hitler hated socialism.

Indeed. Just like Stalin wasn't and China isn't really Communist.

Hitlers regime was Fascist.

 

[SonicKoala]

You've just hit upon my point. The Nazis were socialist. Because of that, it instantly gets a bad rep. Did you know that most of them were German? Well, that means that all German people are bad.

Do you see my argument here? We are unwilling to move on from the past and to realize that just becasue it's raining doesn't mean that we still can't have a good time.

Okay, I'll repeat myself. The Nazis were not socialist, they just CALLED themselves that.

 

[Smudge91]

*bangs head off wall*
Some part of socialism is really good such as equality - yay!. Some parts arn't so good - boo.
A mix of socialism with capitalism works, as SonicKoala (brilliant name) said europe seem to doing brilliant. Both capitalism and socialism have bad points so if socialism is evil because of its bad points then then capitalism is evil also. Right guys lets think of a new social contract theory.

 

[Nincompoop]

The Nazis were socialists.

thats all I have to say.

No, they weren't. They called themselves a socialist party, but their methods can hardly be compared to socialism in any way. Hitler hated socialism.

Weren't they more like communists?

 

[SonicKoala]

The Nazis were socialists.

thats all I have to say.

No, they weren't. They called themselves a socialist party, but their methods can hardly be compared to socialism in any way. Hitler hated socialism.

State owned factories, no civil rights, a compulsory army, all key points of Hitler's regime and socialism in practicality.

No civil rights and compulsory military service are not tenants of socialism. Do your research. Hitler's regime was a totalitarian regime. He had all the power - socialism is a system that stresses equality. Hitler hated that idea - that's why he hated the USSR.