Comments on: Is Socialism Feasible? http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/ Thoughts on Money, Investing and Life Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:50:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Insurance Plus http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-3362 Insurance Plus Mon, 03 Jan 2011 05:17:17 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-3362 It likely depends on whether the society will choose to accept it or not. It likely depends on whether the society will choose to accept it or not.

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-1167 uberVU - social comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:37:45 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-1167 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by yallacoupon: Is Socialism Feasible? http://bte.tc/aSms #RTW... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by yallacoupon: Is Socialism Feasible? http://bte.tc/aSms #RTW…

]]> By: Roger http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-1156 Roger Tue, 23 Mar 2010 03:23:37 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-1156 @ctreit: Very true. We often talk about the United States as if it was a purely capitalist society, but as anyone who's read about farm subsidies can tell you, that's far from the case. The real question might be, 'What mix of capitalism and socialism yields the best results for society?' @Evan: I don't think we're quite as close to a communist society as you seem to fear, although we might be getting close to a corporatist one; I'm more worried about corporate control of the government than vice versa. (Although, it might be all semantics; the powerful people in politics are closely linked to the powerful people in business, when they aren't the exact same people.) Good point on the country size, though; I think that Socialism is most workable in small groups, particularly those who are related or otherwise have incentive to help each other out. Consider the number of families where a less successful member gets help from someone else with no expectation of a return; try to do that across an entire country, and you'll get people revolting. @ctreit: Very true. We often talk about the United States as if it was a purely capitalist society, but as anyone who’s read about farm subsidies can tell you, that’s far from the case. The real question might be, ‘What mix of capitalism and socialism yields the best results for society?’

@Evan: I don’t think we’re quite as close to a communist society as you seem to fear, although we might be getting close to a corporatist one; I’m more worried about corporate control of the government than vice versa. (Although, it might be all semantics; the powerful people in politics are closely linked to the powerful people in business, when they aren’t the exact same people.)

Good point on the country size, though; I think that Socialism is most workable in small groups, particularly those who are related or otherwise have incentive to help each other out. Consider the number of families where a less successful member gets help from someone else with no expectation of a return; try to do that across an entire country, and you’ll get people revolting.

]]> By: Evan http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-1150 Evan Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:12:55 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-1150 Great article. It is scary actually how many of Communisms Tenents (taking a step forward from socialism) that America Currently hits: http://www.myjourneytomillions.com/articles/is-the-united-states-turning-towards-communism/ Regardless of my hatred for big government, I think Socialism is near impossible with a country as large as ours - large as in both population and geographic size. .-= Evan´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/myjourneytomillions/feed/~3/MpsnWkFV5o8/" rel="nofollow">I use ING For my Savings and You May Want to Also!</a> =-. Great article. It is scary actually how many of Communisms Tenents (taking a step forward from socialism) that America Currently hits:

http://www.myjourneytomillions.com/articles/is-the-united-states-turning-towards-communism/

Regardless of my hatred for big government, I think Socialism is near impossible with a country as large as ours – large as in both population and geographic size.
.-= Evan´s last blog ..I use ING For my Savings and You May Want to Also! =-.

]]> By: Roger http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-1144 Roger Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:37:59 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-1144 @FS: That's part of the problem; in concept, socialism seems like it should work, even more than capitalism. If you tried explaining to an alien why people acting according to their own self-interest with no higher plan would prosper more than those who decide everything they're doing ahead of time, you'd likely get some confused looks. It sounds like your retirement plan is awfully similar to Social Security. Not that I'm trying to disparage a system that has the overwhelming support of the AARP and would be political suicide to try to cut in any way... @FS: That’s part of the problem; in concept, socialism seems like it should work, even more than capitalism. If you tried explaining to an alien why people acting according to their own self-interest with no higher plan would prosper more than those who decide everything they’re doing ahead of time, you’d likely get some confused looks.

It sounds like your retirement plan is awfully similar to Social Security. Not that I’m trying to disparage a system that has the overwhelming support of the AARP and would be political suicide to try to cut in any way…

]]> By: ctreit http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-1143 ctreit Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:35:12 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-1143 Both, socialism and capitalism have their merits and sound good in theory. But neither one seems to be working in practice when it is applied in its pure form. And that is why all modern capitalist systems have elements of socialism in it. Both, socialism and capitalism have their merits and sound good in theory. But neither one seems to be working in practice when it is applied in its pure form. And that is why all modern capitalist systems have elements of socialism in it.

]]> By: Yakezie Challenge Carnival #4 - The Growth Edition « Eliminate The Muda! http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-1137 Yakezie Challenge Carnival #4 - The Growth Edition « Eliminate The Muda! Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:21:12 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-1137 [...] The Amateur Financier explores Is Socialism Feasible? [...] [...] The Amateur Financier explores Is Socialism Feasible? [...]

]]> By: Financial Samurai http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-1135 Financial Samurai Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:09:24 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-1135 I have to admit I REALLY love handouts. I love free samples, free backstops, free bailouts, free everything, so long as I benefit. Too bad I don't live in Bizarro World, and we've actually got to work for a living. Conceptually, I don't think Socialism is all that bad. We should help our brother man if we are rich. It's those who take advantage of free-riding which give Socialism a bad name. When I retire, I want to be a Socialist, so we can tax the rich and redistribute the money to us retired folks so we can live the good life off others dime. Is this so bad? Best, Sam .-= Financial Samurai´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.financialsamurai.com/2010/03/19/punctuality-breeds-credibility-tardiness-flakers/" rel="nofollow">Punctuality Breeds Credibility – Stop Being Late!</a> =-. I have to admit I REALLY love handouts. I love free samples, free backstops, free bailouts, free everything, so long as I benefit.

Too bad I don’t live in Bizarro World, and we’ve actually got to work for a living.

Conceptually, I don’t think Socialism is all that bad. We should help our brother man if we are rich. It’s those who take advantage of free-riding which give Socialism a bad name.

When I retire, I want to be a Socialist, so we can tax the rich and redistribute the money to us retired folks so we can live the good life off others dime. Is this so bad?

Best,

Sam
.-= Financial Samurai´s last blog ..Punctuality Breeds Credibility – Stop Being Late! =-.

]]> By: Roger http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-1130 Roger Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:17:10 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-1130 @Monevator: That sounds about right. Isn't the expression, 'if you aren't a radical when you're young, you have no heart; if you aren't a conservative when you're old, you have no brain'? You're quite right, of course; one or two examples of the lazy or otherwise undeserving getting rewarded unjustly because someone wants to be 'fair' and you'll be heading for capitalism with open arms. (Not that such situations don't arise in capitalistic societies as well; I add much more value to society than Paris Hilton, for example, and yet will be lucky to ever be worth more than a small fraction of her net worth.) As for girls loving a long-haired socialist, I'm not sure that's true anymore. Most girls seem to go for rebels, and it's been decades since growing your hair long and talking about spreading the wealth was considered even slightly rebellious. Now, you're more likely to remind a girl of how her dad used to act. @Monevator: That sounds about right. Isn’t the expression, ‘if you aren’t a radical when you’re young, you have no heart; if you aren’t a conservative when you’re old, you have no brain’? You’re quite right, of course; one or two examples of the lazy or otherwise undeserving getting rewarded unjustly because someone wants to be ‘fair’ and you’ll be heading for capitalism with open arms. (Not that such situations don’t arise in capitalistic societies as well; I add much more value to society than Paris Hilton, for example, and yet will be lucky to ever be worth more than a small fraction of her net worth.)

As for girls loving a long-haired socialist, I’m not sure that’s true anymore. Most girls seem to go for rebels, and it’s been decades since growing your hair long and talking about spreading the wealth was considered even slightly rebellious. Now, you’re more likely to remind a girl of how her dad used to act.

]]> By: Monevator http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/is-socialism-feasible/#comment-1129 Monevator Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:51:16 +0000 http://www.theamateurfinancier.com/blog/?p=1691#comment-1129 I was a socialist for a while in university. I wasn't beforehand, and it lasted about five minutes on leaving and getting a job. Once you see people lazing around riding on the back of your own and other more hard working types - in a system that supposedly roots out this kind of freeloading - you start to get suspicious about socialism. Then you get your first paycheck, and see the tax you pay and wonder where the money goes, and that's that. Harsh but true! Still, the girls love a long haired socialist. I'd recommend everyone gives it a whirl once. ;) I was a socialist for a while in university. I wasn’t beforehand, and it lasted about five minutes on leaving and getting a job.

Once you see people lazing around riding on the back of your own and other more hard working types – in a system that supposedly roots out this kind of freeloading – you start to get suspicious about socialism.

Then you get your first paycheck, and see the tax you pay and wonder where the money goes, and that’s that.

Harsh but true!

Still, the girls love a long haired socialist. I’d recommend everyone gives it a whirl once. ;)

]]>