Utilit99 4,099 Posted June 22, 2022 Bernie Sanders famously said that "real" socialism has never been tried. Frankly, we're shocked he would ever suggest such a thing because there are numerous examples of real socialist utopias that we have to pull from. Here are just a few: 1) Star Trek's Federation of Planets: There's no money, but people still work for some reason. Workers of the world, set your phasers to Social Contract! 2) The Borg Collective: Like a more efficient Federation that tears through freedom-loving planets and subjects them to the will of the collective. 3) In the wonderful dream AOC had last night: Elon Musk even made an appearance. 4) In John Lennon's "Imagine": Everything works perfectly when you imagine it! Even marriage to Yoko Ono. 5) Smurf Village: Cheerful workers in a heavily regulated population. Just like China. 6) In Bernie Sander's serial fanfic: He's been writing Social Thunder for three years now. It's a big hit on his Substack. 7) A beaver dam: Everyone chips in or they all die. 8) The nuclear family: Too bad the nuclear family is RACIST. 9) An ant farm: It worked great until a kid came and shook it up. 10) Whatever South American country Che Guevara ruled: We're sure socialism worked there, otherwise people wouldn't still be wearing the shirt You see! Socialism is alive and well today. You only have to open yourself up to the imaginary world behind you and seize the means of production for the proletariat! https://babylonbee.com/news/10-times-socialism-actually-worked?utm_source=The+Babylon+Bee+Newsletter&utm_campaign=63199d107d-Sponsored_Newsletter_6%2F22%2F22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_62f636e998-63199d107d-42735511&mc_cid=63199d107d&mc_eid=811fff1d67 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hardcore troubadour 12,399 Posted June 22, 2022 AOC kept all those Amazon jobs out of NYC, including her district. She got er done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iam90sbaby 2,076 Posted June 22, 2022 National Socialism works when everyone contributes in a homogeneous society. I'll take socialism over greedy corporate capitalism any day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iam90sbaby 2,076 Posted June 22, 2022 And I'll add to your list. Japan, South Korea, every Scandinavian country. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimmySmith 2,782 Posted June 22, 2022 There can be no diversity in socialism. Ask a lib which one he wants. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Utilit99 4,099 Posted June 22, 2022 23 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said: National Socialism works when everyone contributes in a homogeneous society. I'll take socialism over greedy corporate capitalism any day. I think you are confused. You are just throwing shlt at the wall. Adding communism and the partial social democratic countries that fluctuate over time and now ranked as capitalistic. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden shouldn’t be held up as socialist utopias. Good news for you is, you seem to have a lot of better countries you can choose to live in over this terrible one. Nordic countries are often used internationally to prove that socialism works. It’s true that social democratic parties are enjoying success in this part of the world. Yet while Nordic countries are seeing a partial comeback for social democratic parties, their policies aren’t in fact socialist, but centrist. Nordic nations—and especially Sweden—did embrace socialism between around 1970 and 1990. During the past 30 years, however, both conservative and social democratic-led governments have moved toward the center. Today, the Nordic social democrats have adopted stricter immigration policies, tightened eligibility requirements for welfare benefit systems, taken a tougher stance on crime, and carried out business-friendly policies. The Nordic welfare system that people like to point to as a flourishing example of socialism was developed around 1970, when there was a policy shift throughout Nordic societies toward higher taxes and generous public benefits. In the century preceding that turn, Nordic countries had combined small public sectors and free markets to achieve strong economic growth. From around 1870 to 1970, for instance, Sweden’s per capita GDP increased around tenfold, the highest growth rate in all of Europe. It was after this period of rapidly growing prosperity that there was a shift to high-tax policies. The public remained skeptical of direct tax raises, and the shift largely occurred through gradual rises in the indirect payroll tax. It wasn’t an unusual trajectory: Researchers have shown that countries with higher trust levels tend to have larger and more generous welfare systems. And trust and social responsibility have historically been strong in this region, in part due to the need for collaboration in the unforgiving Nordic climate—stronger, indeed, than in the rest of Europe. As a result of the shift away from low-tax policies, however, economic growth stagnated. Over the past 50 years, for instance, Swedish GDP per capita has only grown by a factor of 2.1. More importantly, the norms relating to hard work and responsibility have started to erode, according to measurements by the World Value Survey, as welfare has increased. For example, in the early 1980s, 19 percent of Swedes agreed that it could be justified to some degree for someone to claim public welfare when they weren’t eligible. This share gradually increased to 40 percent in 2011, and it has since fallen to 36 percent following stricter control of welfare systems and public campaigns warning against overuse. Today, Nordic nations still have higher taxes and more generous welfare systems than most parts of the world. But since the 1990s, Sweden and other Nordic nations have focused on strengthening those norms of social responsibility again by increasing the control of public welfare systems, reducing generosity in the welfare models, and lowering taxes. Indeed, many Nordic policies now promote free trade and free enterprise. The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, which measures how capitalist a country is by studying regulation and taxation in different areas of the economy, ranks Denmark and Iceland as the 10th and 11th most capitalist countries in the world. Finland comes in at 17th, Sweden at 21st, and Norway at 28th. By comparison, the United States is ranked 20th. Property rights, business freedom, monetary freedom, and trade freedom are strong in the Nordic nations. https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/10/27/nordic-countries-not-socialist-denmark-norway-sweden-centrist/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iam90sbaby 2,076 Posted June 22, 2022 13 minutes ago, Utilit99 said: I think you are confused. You are just throwing shlt at the wall. Adding communism and the partial social democratic countries that fluctuate over time and now ranked as capitalistic. Denmark, Norway, and Sweden shouldn’t be held up as socialist utopias. Good news for you is, you seem to have a lot of better countries you can choose to live in over this terrible one. Nordic countries are often used internationally to prove that socialism works. It’s true that social democratic parties are enjoying success in this part of the world. Yet while Nordic countries are seeing a partial comeback for social democratic parties, their policies aren’t in fact socialist, but centrist. Nordic nations—and especially Sweden—did embrace socialism between around 1970 and 1990. During the past 30 years, however, both conservative and social democratic-led governments have moved toward the center. Today, the Nordic social democrats have adopted stricter immigration policies, tightened eligibility requirements for welfare benefit systems, taken a tougher stance on crime, and carried out business-friendly policies. The Nordic welfare system that people like to point to as a flourishing example of socialism was developed around 1970, when there was a policy shift throughout Nordic societies toward higher taxes and generous public benefits. In the century preceding that turn, Nordic countries had combined small public sectors and free markets to achieve strong economic growth. From around 1870 to 1970, for instance, Sweden’s per capita GDP increased around tenfold, the highest growth rate in all of Europe. It was after this period of rapidly growing prosperity that there was a shift to high-tax policies. The public remained skeptical of direct tax raises, and the shift largely occurred through gradual rises in the indirect payroll tax. It wasn’t an unusual trajectory: Researchers have shown that countries with higher trust levels tend to have larger and more generous welfare systems. And trust and social responsibility have historically been strong in this region, in part due to the need for collaboration in the unforgiving Nordic climate—stronger, indeed, than in the rest of Europe. As a result of the shift away from low-tax policies, however, economic growth stagnated. Over the past 50 years, for instance, Swedish GDP per capita has only grown by a factor of 2.1. More importantly, the norms relating to hard work and responsibility have started to erode, according to measurements by the World Value Survey, as welfare has increased. For example, in the early 1980s, 19 percent of Swedes agreed that it could be justified to some degree for someone to claim public welfare when they weren’t eligible. This share gradually increased to 40 percent in 2011, and it has since fallen to 36 percent following stricter control of welfare systems and public campaigns warning against overuse. Today, Nordic nations still have higher taxes and more generous welfare systems than most parts of the world. But since the 1990s, Sweden and other Nordic nations have focused on strengthening those norms of social responsibility again by increasing the control of public welfare systems, reducing generosity in the welfare models, and lowering taxes. Indeed, many Nordic policies now promote free trade and free enterprise. The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, which measures how capitalist a country is by studying regulation and taxation in different areas of the economy, ranks Denmark and Iceland as the 10th and 11th most capitalist countries in the world. Finland comes in at 17th, Sweden at 21st, and Norway at 28th. By comparison, the United States is ranked 20th. Property rights, business freedom, monetary freedom, and trade freedom are strong in the Nordic nations. https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/10/27/nordic-countries-not-socialist-denmark-norway-sweden-centrist/ All of those countries would be considered socialist here in America. How much socialism does a country need to have before it's officially a socialist country? 2022 America is already socialist if you use 1950s standards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baker Boy 1,446 Posted June 22, 2022 37 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said: National Socialism works when everyone contributes in a homogeneous society. I'll take socialism over greedy corporate capitalism any day. Nationalsozialismus (National Socialism, later shortened to Nazi) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baker Boy 1,446 Posted June 22, 2022 6 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said: All of those countries would be considered socialist here in America. How much socialism does a country need to have before it's officially a socialist country? 2022 America is already socialist if you use 1950s standards. Norman Mattoon Thomas (November 20, 1884 - December 19, 1968) was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. Norman Thomas said this in a 1944 speech: "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." He went on to say: "I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democratic Party has adopted our platform." 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iam90sbaby 2,076 Posted June 22, 2022 10 minutes ago, Baker Boy said: Nationalsozialismus (National Socialism, later shortened to Nazi) Nazis were bad because they committed genocide, not because they had a national socialist system. Is it really that hard to grasp? Modern day Japan are Nazis by your logic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BunnysBastatrds 1,886 Posted June 22, 2022 2 hours ago, iam90sbaby said: And I'll add to your list. Japan, South Korea, every Scandinavian country. Yet they all rely on us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baker Boy 1,446 Posted June 23, 2022 20 hours ago, iam90sbaby said: Nazis were bad because they committed genocide, not because they had a national socialist system. Is it really that hard to grasp? Modern day Japan are Nazis by your logic. They committed genocide in the name of National Socialism and the people went along with them just like you re willing to do today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iam90sbaby 2,076 Posted June 23, 2022 4 minutes ago, Baker Boy said: They committed genocide in the name of National Socialism and the people went along with them just like you re willing to do today. Thats kinda retarded if you think that. National Socialism doesn't equal genocide. Plenty of countries today that fall into that category. Also, all I want is universal healthcare, "free" community college in every county while maintaining private options. Plus very secure borders with almost zero immigration. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shovelheadt 60 Posted June 23, 2022 SEC, FDIC, Social Security, TVA…weren’t all of these created by the biggest socialism program in the history of the US. In fact, I seem to remember reading that Hoover refused to consider such programs because he felt them too Socialist. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baker Boy 1,446 Posted June 25, 2022 On 6/23/2022 at 9:56 AM, iam90sbaby said: Thats kinda retarded if you think that. National Socialism doesn't equal genocide. Plenty of countries today that fall into that category. Also, all I want is universal healthcare, "free" community college in every county while maintaining private options. Plus very secure borders with almost zero immigration. I never said it did. That’s kinda retarded if you think I did. The point is that is what happened in Germany. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Utilit99 4,099 Posted June 25, 2022 Socialism sucks. Capitalism doesn't mean that the federal government isn't put in charge of a few things. The problem is when the government is in charge of too many things and they are run like shlt and don't benefit the citizens. Which is where most socialism ends up. We need smaller government, and let the people themselves run the country. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iam90sbaby 2,076 Posted June 26, 2022 23 hours ago, Baker Boy said: I never said it did. That’s kinda retarded if you think I did. The point is that is what happened in Germany. I am pretty retarded sometimes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iam90sbaby 2,076 Posted June 26, 2022 23 hours ago, Utilit99 said: Socialism sucks. Capitalism doesn't mean that the federal government isn't put in charge of a few things. The problem is when the government is in charge of too many things and they are run like shlt and don't benefit the citizens. Which is where most socialism ends up. We need smaller government, and let the people themselves run the country. 100% socialism where every single industry is controlled by the state sucks. More accessible healthcare and education doesn't suck. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Utilit99 4,099 Posted June 26, 2022 7 hours ago, iam90sbaby said: 100% socialism where every single industry is controlled by the state sucks. More accessible healthcare and education doesn't suck. I agree with the healthcare. As long as the physicians and nurses are paid very well. Those are jobs that need to be financially supported to encourage people to want to do them. Education? Sure, maybe community college like you mentioned earlier I think. But the rest I don't care. I paid for my own schooling in college and I would be glad to do it again. But if something is free, the standards need to be held high for the students. If a student is getting C's and D's in all their classes, fock that. GPA needs to be 3.0+ or out with your ass or you are paying for it yourself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bier Meister 1,508 Posted June 26, 2022 29 minutes ago, Utilit99 said: I agree with the healthcare. As long as the physicians and nurses are paid very well. Those are jobs that need to be financially supported to encourage people to want to do them. Education? Sure, maybe community college like you mentioned earlier I think. But the rest I don't care. I paid for my own schooling in college and I would be glad to do it again. But if something is free, the standards need to be held high for the students. If a student is getting C's and D's in all their classes, fock that. GPA needs to be 3.0+ or out with your ass or you are paying for it yourself. Or, instead of all or nothing, have a tiered system of coverage/reimbursement based on gpa. still have private and public entities. Also, for better public college acceptance- higher merit/performance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonmx 1,494 Posted June 26, 2022 On 6/22/2022 at 3:51 PM, iam90sbaby said: National Socialism works when everyone contributes in a homogeneous society. I'll take socialism over greedy corporate capitalism any day. And Germany had a solution. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Utilit99 4,099 Posted June 26, 2022 1 minute ago, Bier Meister said: Or, instead of all or nothing, have a tiered system of coverage/reimbursement based on gpa. still have private and public entities. Also, for better public college acceptance- higher merit/performance. Sounds like a good idea for sure. When I went back to school to get a new career, I went the community college route to get the base classes out of the way then transferred the credits to a bigger school. I think more kids should do that instead of going to some college and not know what the hell they want to do. Heck, even if they know what they want to do get some of the easy stuff out of the way for free or for cheap. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bier Meister 1,508 Posted June 26, 2022 3 minutes ago, Utilit99 said: Sounds like a good idea for sure. When I went back to school to get a new career, I went the community college route to get the base classes out of the way then transferred the credits to a bigger school. I think more kids should do that instead of going to some college and not know what the hell they want to do. Heck, even if they know what they want to do get some of the easy stuff out of the way for free or for cheap. It is a good plan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reality 2,697 Posted July 7, 2022 Well dang, I was pulling for Sri Lanka. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hardcore troubadour 12,399 Posted July 7, 2022 On 6/26/2022 at 6:24 PM, jonmx said: And Germany had a solution. The Nazis wore flair Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peenie 1,685 Posted July 7, 2022 From my understanding the state runs the health care system in Norway. After each person pays $250 worth of healthcare for the year, the rest of your healthcare costs are free: paid for by taxes. That seems pretty socialist to me. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites