Why do Americans frown upon Socialism so much?

[JustAlex]

@Duane Once again....I'm NOT advocating for "pure socialism"....I just want a better mixture and you didn't provide anything to deter that opinion from me.

Can you please explain why France voted in a Socialist President in their past elections?

You might want to read this:

http://www.policymic.com/articles/82...zed-in-the-u-s

[Wickabee]

My question was for everyone...

[duane1969]

That is a nice fluffy read that tries to paint socialism...or the "new" socialism, as some perfect utopian accomplishment. However one only needs to look at the northern European countries that the article mentions to see the flaw in this new socialism. It doesn't work. There will never, ever be a system where taking from the earners and giving to the non-earners will be accepted and France is a prime example that it simply doesn't work. There is no such thing as taking from the rich and giving to the poor resulting in a bunch of happy people. The rich become disgruntled that their wealth is taken from them and the poor remain unhappy because all they want is more and more for free.

Terminology aside, show me one country that has achieved economic success, a low poverty rate and a population that is entirely happy by taking from the working class and giving to the poor.

[bouncer]

I'm sorry but you are 100% incorrect.....

First of all, the government doesn't give "free handouts" they have social programs which people are ENTITLED to (that's why they are called entitlements) and help you in a very bad situation.

For example if you are suddenly unemployed, the government helps you by giving you unemployment benefits (FOR A SHORT PERIOD) until you can find another job.

These "benefits" are a fraction of what you used to earn at whatever your job used to be.

You mentioned “short period” of time, the POTUS has extended unemployment benefits to 99 weeks, that doesn't seem like a short period to me. What incentive do people have to find a job? I have members of my own family who chose not to find work due to the POTUS. I have one member of my family tell me, “why work, when unemployment covers all my expenses and allows me to save?” When the unemployment benefits run out at the end of 2012 let's see how much the unemployment rate starts to drop when people are forced to start finding work.

Secondly, most poor people work as hard if not HARDER than rich people.

Does anyone here really want to make a case that a poor man or woman working two jobs (Making minimum wage) while probably having to support kids isn't working "Hard enough"?


What's the solution.....to become labor slaves and work 60+ hours a week just to be "above water"?

Nowadays, graduating from college doesn't cut it out either.

You have MILLIONS of college graduates (many of whom have debt) working minimum wage jobs....

My mom worked multiple jobs to raise 3 kids because she didn’t want to rely on gov’t assistance. Once you start relying on the gov’t for help it’s hard to break the cycle. I personally worked multiple jobs to put myself through college to earn a degree in IT and it’s paying off today. Did I like working fast food flipping burgers making $4.15 an hour? No, but I refused to take out loans to pay for college. Once you start accruing debt it’s hard to get out of it.

[Wickabee]

A lot of you who are against socialism are describing communism is the thing...

[duane1969]

What is socialism and what is communism to you?

My question was for everyone...

I thought you were asking Alex.

Socialism to me - A system where the bulk of society is economically equal. Success and failure are irrelevant as those who succeed are socially bound to assist those who fail. A desire to succeed is inhibited because it is much easier to fail or simply not succeed because you still get a piece of the pie, so the amount of effort needed to get that piece is gradually lowered. Those who work hard, earn more and find success get very little more than those who do not work hard to achieve success. Over time the populus on a whole loses it's desire to work hard. Those who did work hard are tired of their sweat providing for those who sweat less. Those who sweat less are unhappy because their piece of the pie is getting smaller because the hard workers are not working quite as hard as they used to. Production declines, morale declines, society struggles as people begin to think about themselves, and eventually anarchy or revolt results.

The major flaw in socialism is it's basic concept. Socialism's success is dependent on a society of people who all work towards the same goal. The problem is that not everyone in society will work and not everyone is society has the same goals. The net result is that those who do work and have goals grow tired of carrying those who work less and have no goals.

Communism is a end result of socialism. It can never exist without the first step of socialism. Communism is a government owned society where personal property is virtually non-existant. The only ones who truly benefit in communism is the government.

[bouncer]

I thought you were asking Alex.

Socialism to me - A system where the bulk of society is economically equal. Success and failure are irrelevant as those who succeed are socially bound to assist those who fail. A desire to succeed is inhibited because it is much easier to fail or simply not succeed because you still get a piece of the pie, so the amount of effort needed to get that piece is gradually lowered. Those who work hard, earn more and find success get very little more than those who do not work hard to achieve success. Over time the populus on a whole loses it's desire to work hard. Those who did work hard are tired of their sweat providing for those who sweat less. Those who sweat less are unhappy because their piece of the pie is getting smaller because the hard workers are not working quite as hard as they used to. Production declines, morale declines, society struggles as people begin to think about themselves, and eventually anarchy or revolt results.

The major flaw in socialism is it's basic concept. Socialism's success is dependent on a society of people who all work towards the same goal. The problem is that not everyone in society will work and not everyone is society has the same goals. The net result is that those who do work and have goals grow tired of carrying those who work less and have no goals.

Good definition of socialism.

[Wickabee]

Sounds like communism. Socialism includes capitalism and allows for personal wealth.

[boba]

A lot of you who are against socialism are describing communism is the thing...

Communism is impossable, it just leads to socialism.

I think a simple definition of socialism could be, a government that owns and regulates business.

[Wickabee]

Communism is impossable, it just leads to socialism.

I think a simple definition of socialism could be, a government that owns and regulates business.

If we're calling Canada and Europe socialist, that's wrong. Regulate is right, but businesses are not government owned. That would be...communism.