Posted on 11/04/2015 12:19:44 PM PST by wastedyears
Anthony, what exactly do you think Democratic Socialism is? Nationalizing commercial production? Centralized public planning? It's the 21st Century. We are no more trying to apply the failed ideologies of the old Soviet republic to America today than we were trying to apply the ancient Athenian concept of Democracy when we created our democratic republic.
Social Democracy is about reasonable, responsible reforms to round off the rough edges of capitalism. These reforms are fueled by the free market, and require a thriving market to exist. No one is trying to impose a burden upon the free market.
The whole point of Social Democratic programs (Think: National Parks program, Public Education, Social Security, public roads, etc.) is to ensure that our society benefits from well maintained programs that are built for the benefit of society, and not just a wealthy few.
These things can't be trusted to the forces of runaway laissez-faire capitalism. We realized that with big tycoons and trusts during the Industrial revolution, and again during the Great Depression. That's why we had all of these labor standards and big social policies instated in the first place.
Runaway Capitalism is just as dangerous as runaway Socialism, as unfettered Capitalism leaves all wealth and power unobstructed to follow it's natural course -- that is, to be gravitationally drawn toward itself, creating small pockets of extreme concentrations of wealth, drawing wealth UP from the common people, contrary to popular conceptions from the 80s and on that it should somehow "tricke-down".
We aren't talking about taking from the rich to feed the poor. We're talking about compelling the super-rich to pay their fair share. We're not talking about nationalizing the economy, we're talking about reasonable social reforms for the benefit of a flourishing society. Unless you are part of the top 1% of super-rich that have actually benefited from this rigged economy, you have nothing to lose. The pendulum has swung too far in one direction, and it's time for a careful course correction.
“...drawing wealth UP from the common people, contrary to popular conceptions from the 80s and on that it should somehow “tricke-down”
I’d have to wonder if the author has much life experience in the private sector.
And who has final authority over deciding what a "fair share" is. If it's someone other than the person who is working hard for the money how is it not "taking".
Nice try at making "from each according to his ability to each according to his need" sound like something other than "from each according to his ability to each according to his need".
All they talk about is “fair share” but never define it. OK, let’s play the game. First, define fair share. Second, apply it to everybody, including the liars, thieves and perverts in Congress. Next, apply it to wealth as well as income. Last, REDUCE taxes because the super rich are already paying more than their fair share.
“Social Democracy is about reasonable”
Lie.
“responsible reforms”
Lie.
“to round off the rough edges of capitalism”
Lie.
“These reforms are fueled by the free market”
Lie.
“and require a thriving market to exist”
Lie.
“No one is trying to impose a burden upon the free market”
Lie.
Lesson number 1: Socialists lie ALL the time.
National Parks, Social Security, and Public Education are the stars of this new vision? No thanks!
That one is probably true. When the once-thriving market collapses, then all of their BFIs (B=brilliant, I=ideas) will be put on the shelf until the thriving market returns, the sheep get complacent, and the process is repeated.
Love it.
Every week I go to Panera and pick up their leftover bread. 3-7 _bushels_ every week. I have a hard time giving it all away.
Remember that Sanders lamented “You don’t necessarily need a choice of 23 underarm spray deodorants or of 18 different pairs of sneakers when children are hungry in this country.” Our neo-Bolsheviks don’t realize that without that “excess” there would be MORE hunger in this country - a LOT more.
I keep coming back to Cruz’s “Bolsheviks debating Mensheviks” portrayal of the Left.
The Mensheviks were Bolsheviks (”workers of the world, unite!” types) who realized that capitalism was critical to building a society with enough wealth to support their goal of Democratic Centralism.
The new Chinese Communists seem to have figured out what you did: the process must be repeated, to wit socialism can’t function without capitalism creating wealth worth forcibly redistributing.
But hey, if Barnyard Bernie the latest incarnation of Major, sings another chorus about big rock candy mountain; this time history will be wrong.
‘..fair share...’
Any bill with the word ‘fair’ in it is bound to be a disaster.
Using the word ‘fair’ is like trying the hide the smell of dog crap with syrup.
You nincompoop, this is a Constitutional Republic! Where do these retards get this "Democratic Republic" nonsense from?!? The framers wanted nothing to do with "democracy", to them that was just "the mob rules."
Yes, Hillary, we are! The common good is defined by the Constitution, and it requires thatSo it was contrary to the common good that the Clinton Foundation, named for you and subject to your control, sought and received money from foreign governments while you were supposed to be working for the common good as Secretary of State. Likewise, your partner Bill Clinton solicited fabulous “honoraria” for speeches to foreign government entities while you were supposed to be working for the common good as Secretary of State.
- Article 1 Section 9:
- No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state
So now, Hillary, you must disgorge whatever you gained from foreign governments while you were supposed to be working for the common good. It must be returned to its sources. The Constitution - the common good - demands no less.
Keep saying a lie often enough, and it becomes truth thanks to the uninformed masses.
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