591: A Hero's Departure

[OSLIN]

Originally Posted by Bebe

Socialism in terms of the provision of social services works excellently. 'Socialism' is an umbrella term which describes a vast array of political and economic doctrines. You're thinking of communism I think, which is not the same thing - one is a subset of the other.

Norway is a good example of a modern socialist state; Norway is ranked the number one country in the world for standard of living, education and health care (UNDP).

What a beautifully succinct voice of reason you are

Well done!

[Dwayne Cook]

"mom is being raped right now, can i get the million dollars"


keith and patrice bring a great dynamic to the show, i always look forward to the thursday shows...



thanks again

[UGrabMyDrumstick]

Does anyone know what kind of numbers Free Talk Live has? What kind of listenership do they draw in?

I can't believe they're on terrestrial radio. How do people listen to this garbage?

(PS Anyone want to report Ian to the IRS?)

[mkl]

Originally Posted by UGrabMyDrumstick

Does anyone know what kind of numbers Free Talk Live has? What kind of listenership do they draw in?

I can't believe they're on terrestrial radio. How do people listen to this garbage?

(PS Anyone want to report Ian to the IRS?)

I enjoy their show. Just like KATG, it's probably not for everyone.

[DaveNJ]

Originally Posted by Bebe

Socialism in terms of the provision of social services works excellently. 'Socialism' is an umbrella term which describes a vast array of political and economic doctrines. You're thinking of communism I think, which is not the same thing - one is a subset of the other.

Norway is a good example of a modern socialist state; Norway is ranked the number one country in the world for standard of living, education and health care (UNDP).

While it has worked well in European countries up to this point, there are some major flaws with socialism as implemented in Europe. For one, it requires very high taxes. Plenty of people don't even take home 50% of their income. Also, it's being used in very small and relatively homogenous societies. It's much harder to do something on such a grand scale in the US simply because so many states are so different in their wants and needs. Norway is smaller than the state I live in, and I don't even live in a particularly big state. New York City has roughly four times the population of Norway when you include its metro area. There's also the age/replacement rate problem. Many European countries are decreasing in population while still having to give the same services, but with less workers and more pensioners. This can create issues, such as France's recent declaration by their finance minister that they are bankrupt after 20+ years of deficit spending, and that they can no longer continue to give such high benefits to their workers.

I'm not sure socialism is some great evil, and it's not too much like communism, but I still don't want it in America. We're doing relatively well the way we are.

[robotparker]

Originally Posted by DaveNJ

I'm doing relatively well the way I am.

fixed!

[comradevik]

best show in months

[jesikat]

this show fuckin RULEZ!

"i wouldn't have any of this if i didn't shit in a DRAWER"

[Blitzgal]

There are major flaws when *any* philosophical theory is applied to real life. In theory, it sounds great to say that all citizens deserve equal access to all material goods and social services no matter what their socioeconomic status. But in real life, such systems have historically been rife with corruption and the stratification of classes still exists.

In theory, it sounds great to say that the "free market" will determine value and every individual is worth only as much as what they contribute whether through their labor or the intrinsic value of their societal contributions (determined by the market). However in practice, such systems have historically been rife with corruption and the stratification of classes has very little to do with how much actual work people are doing. Fuck all if you're going to tell me that some rich asshole who only has money because his grandfather had money has more intrinsic societal worth than some poor schmuck who's working two jobs and still doesn't even have health care benefits, or that an actor is worth a thousand times more than a teacher, cop, or fireman when it comes to societal contribution.

Ian and his ilk can argue until they're blue in the face about how everything from health care to police work should be privatized because the government fucks everything up, but just take a look at some of the shit going down with Blackwater and the slow privatization of our military and tell me that doesn't stink up a goddamned storm, too.

What's my answer? I don't have one. The only common denominator to the problems with any system is mankind. As a race we have a propensity to let ourselves get fucked up when power and authority get involved. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and all that.

[mkl]

Originally Posted by Blitzgal

Ian and his ilk can argue until they're blue in the face about how everything from health care to police work should be privatized because the government fucks everything up, but just take a look at some of the shit going down with Blackwater and the slow privatization of our military and tell me that doesn't stink up a goddamned storm, too.

Isn't blackwater screwed up because of the government? Private industry doesn't magically make things better. However, typically bad companies will be weeded out. When you have a corrupt government system supporting a private industry, it might as well be the government itself. The market can not correct when the government is giving specific private companies contracts when they shouldn't.