07-03-2012, 07:10 PM
Socialized health care is a bad thing? I'll just drop this here:
http://www.nyu.edu/projects/rodwin/lessons.html
Japan has socialized health care. They also have the lowest infant mortality rate, longest life expectancy, and their medical costs were only 6.6% of their GDP in 1991, compared to America's 13.4%. Given, the statistics are a little dated, but it still presents a valid point.
Sage is also correct about the socialism thing. We've been pretty much 'socialist' for decades now, especially since we've taken on several public welfare programs over the years and funding it with taxpayer money. They money DOES have to come from somewhere, and that somewhere is in the federal and state taxes we all pay with everything we purchase and the taxes we pay from each paycheck.
Just so that we're all aware of how socialism is defined:
For the first section of this, we can see prime examples nestled within the very capitalistic environment of our commerce. The FDA and FTC (Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission, respectively) regulate what food and medicines may be sold in the United States, while the other is supposed to promote competitiveness between companies and protects consumers. Competitiveness is usually defined by the amount of money made and their stake in the economy as compared to similar businesses.
It will probably surprise you that the businesses that make coin money in the United States is an independent company, supposedly separate from the Federal Government. However, our paper currency, produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, is not. Paper money is basically an IOU for coin, and therefore, can be presented to a bank for the equivilant amount of gold or silver (or copper, in the case of pennies, and nickle alloy in the case of nickles.)
The reason I bring this up is because the United States Government has a problem with issuing more paper money than we have coin to cover for it, therefore driving inflation of prices for goods and services, because the value of the paper currency is decreased to accommodate for the gold it is supposed to replace. In that respect, the government regulates how much money is in circulation at any given time, and therefore, controls capital.
Next point, land is no longer free. We cannot just simply go out and claim a field as ours anymore. The government owns the land, and therefore, we have to pay for it, but we still do not 'own' it. We still pay property taxes, land value taxes and other little fees. These are typically due annually, and no, you do not have a choice. You can not pay, but the IRS will be on your ass like white on rice to collect 'their' money once they discover you haven't paid.
Taxes make this country go 'round, basically. Taxes pay for pretty much every 'public' service offered by government agencies, even if you do not utilize them. Welfare, food stamps, Section 8 (government supplemented housing assistance), etc., all of these can fall under the umbrella of what socialism and communism embody.
To add to this, corporations in America are considered ‘people’ and have a vote in our voting system. Why is this?
We also have many examples of capitalism in our society. I’ll let you have a little fun and look those up yourselves.
If you really think we're still just a democracy, I do wholeheartedly believe you are fooling yourself.
http://www.nyu.edu/projects/rodwin/lessons.html
Japan has socialized health care. They also have the lowest infant mortality rate, longest life expectancy, and their medical costs were only 6.6% of their GDP in 1991, compared to America's 13.4%. Given, the statistics are a little dated, but it still presents a valid point.
Sage is also correct about the socialism thing. We've been pretty much 'socialist' for decades now, especially since we've taken on several public welfare programs over the years and funding it with taxpayer money. They money DOES have to come from somewhere, and that somewhere is in the federal and state taxes we all pay with everything we purchase and the taxes we pay from each paycheck.
Just so that we're all aware of how socialism is defined:
Quote:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/socialism
so•cial•ism [soh-shuh-liz-uhm]
noun
1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.
For the first section of this, we can see prime examples nestled within the very capitalistic environment of our commerce. The FDA and FTC (Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission, respectively) regulate what food and medicines may be sold in the United States, while the other is supposed to promote competitiveness between companies and protects consumers. Competitiveness is usually defined by the amount of money made and their stake in the economy as compared to similar businesses.
It will probably surprise you that the businesses that make coin money in the United States is an independent company, supposedly separate from the Federal Government. However, our paper currency, produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, is not. Paper money is basically an IOU for coin, and therefore, can be presented to a bank for the equivilant amount of gold or silver (or copper, in the case of pennies, and nickle alloy in the case of nickles.)
The reason I bring this up is because the United States Government has a problem with issuing more paper money than we have coin to cover for it, therefore driving inflation of prices for goods and services, because the value of the paper currency is decreased to accommodate for the gold it is supposed to replace. In that respect, the government regulates how much money is in circulation at any given time, and therefore, controls capital.
Next point, land is no longer free. We cannot just simply go out and claim a field as ours anymore. The government owns the land, and therefore, we have to pay for it, but we still do not 'own' it. We still pay property taxes, land value taxes and other little fees. These are typically due annually, and no, you do not have a choice. You can not pay, but the IRS will be on your ass like white on rice to collect 'their' money once they discover you haven't paid.
Taxes make this country go 'round, basically. Taxes pay for pretty much every 'public' service offered by government agencies, even if you do not utilize them. Welfare, food stamps, Section 8 (government supplemented housing assistance), etc., all of these can fall under the umbrella of what socialism and communism embody.
To add to this, corporations in America are considered ‘people’ and have a vote in our voting system. Why is this?
We also have many examples of capitalism in our society. I’ll let you have a little fun and look those up yourselves.
If you really think we're still just a democracy, I do wholeheartedly believe you are fooling yourself.
Man alone measures time.
Man alone chimes the hour.
And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear no other creature endures.
A fear of time running out.
― Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper