Is Socialism Un-American?

[Konakimo]

Well, for starters, the two most well-known socialist states (the USSR and Cuba) were/are not dictatorships.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Well, for starters, the two most well-known socialist states (the USSR and Cuba) were/are not dictatorships.

Creo, que fallaste.

If I am wrong, sorry for the Spanish. But tell me how you can deny that Cuba is not a dictatorship, and that the former Soviet Union was not?

[Seperates]

Well, for starters, the two most well-known socialist states (the USSR and Cuba) were/are not dictatorships.

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, dude what history class are you in? Thats was the most ignorant comment of the decade. While i do bealieve that it is only a matter of time before every first-world country becomes socalist, there is no denied that both of those countries were stait up dictatorships (plus Cuba considered/s themselves communist, not socialist.)

[The Sapian Empire]

Nah, it's just we're the LEAST socialist country on the planet Earth. So instead of doing what all the other idiots are doing, let's stick to our own plan. We've been going down the Socialist road since before the civil war. And so has every other civilization that has ever spawned on the Earth's surface. If we were strong and smart, we would fight it... but instead we welcome it with open hands. Pathetic in my book.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, dude what history class are you in? Thats was the most ignorant comment of the decade. While i do bealieve that it is only a matter of time before every first-world country becomes socalist, there is no denied that both of those countries were stait up dictatorships (plus Cuba considered/s themselves communist, not socialist.)

Socialism and dictatorships have no correlation between each other.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Nah, it's just we're the LEAST socialist country on the planet Earth. So instead of doing what all the other idiots are doing, let's stick to our own plan. We've been going down the Socialist road since before the civil war. And so has every other civilization that has ever spawned on the Earth's surface. If we were strong and smart, we would fight it... but instead we welcome it with open hands. Pathetic in my book.

You do realise that most of Europe as well as Canada are socialist countries, correct? Do you also recognise they have far better economies than us?

[Hydesland]

You do realise that most of Europe as well as Canada are socialist countries, correct?

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Do you also recognise they have far better economies than us?

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[Buffett and Colbert]

You do realise that most of Europe as well as Canada are socialist countries, correct?

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Do you also recognise they have far better economies than us?

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Has an internet meme been born?

Can i nos wat its is?

[Hydesland]

Has an internet meme been born?

Can i nos wat its is?

No.

Ok, so basically, what I'm trying to say is that most (all) of Europe and Canada is not socialist, on account of them being principally free market with the means of production mostly owned privately. Having the government intervene in the economy does not make a country socialist, but silly Americans give silly definitions to words, so I can understand if you use their definition.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Has an internet meme been born?

Can i nos wat its is?

No.

Ok, so basically, what I'm trying to say is that most (all) of Europe and Canada is not socialist, on account of them being principally free market with the means of production mostly owned privately. Having the government intervene in the economy does not make a country socialist, but silly Americans give silly definitions to words, so I can understand if you use their definition.

Indeed I used the term Socialist loosely. Let's see... Would it be fine to call them Mixed Economies? These incorporate ideals of "socialism."

[Hydesland]

Indeed I used the term Socialist loosely. Let's see... Would it be fine to call them Mixed Economies? These incorporate ideals of "socialism."

Possibly, but then the US is a mixed economy also, with actually a lot of government intervention. Perhaps you could say that most European countries have a bit more of a egalitarian approach.

[Tunizcha]

I'm a Socialist, and I'm American, therefore the question is invalid.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Indeed I used the term Socialist loosely. Let's see... Would it be fine to call them Mixed Economies? These incorporate ideals of "socialism."

Possibly, but then the US is a mixed economy also, with actually a lot of government intervention. Perhaps you could say that most European countries have a bit more of a egalitarian approach.

True. Of course, to most Americans, Socialism is what most countries already apply.

No better way to fuel the "Down with the French" attitude.

[Bavin]

Well, for starters, the two most well-known socialist states (the USSR and Cuba) were/are not dictatorships.

[Brewdomia]

Well, for starters, the two most well-known socialist states (the USSR and Cuba) were/are not dictatorships.

[UNIverseVERSE]

Possibly, but then the US is a mixed economy also, with actually a lot of government intervention. Perhaps you could say that most European countries have a bit more of a egalitarian approach.

They are social democratic*, would be the terminology I would use. The important question is why the government is intervening -- in most European countries, it is (broadly speaking, and in theory) for the good of the people, while in the US, it's more for the good of the rich. Hence nationalised healthcare, protections of workers, some level of redistribution through taxation, nationalisation of certain major industries, and so on.

*Broadly speaking, a form of socialism which aims to use evolutionary means -- democracy and gradual change through the government -- to achieve more revisionist ends -- greater equality, slight leveling of the class gap, support for the needy.