So what do you think of when you think socialism?

[DuaneBidoux]

I don't at all consider myself a socialist and feel that the free market usually is in general a good thing. But i do not consider Sweden or France to be socialist either which I think would not be a majority of Americans opinions.

I consider them to be welfare states which to my mind is not only ok but necessary and a moral imperative at least for those countries that have the wealth and means and have established democratic institutions and laws.

My first instinct is to try and let the free market work (as they do in Sweden) but make sure it is answerable for the costs it incures to society and do not externalize those costs and harm to others..

And I am under the conviction that intervention is sometimes necessary to protect the people and rules and regulations are also sometimes (usually) necessary to protect workers, the sick, the environment, etc.

When I think of socialism I think of a government that truly invades aspects of society across the board and from top to bottom instead of working as guardians of the common good.

What are your thoughts? I do not believe that Bernie Sanders is a socialist at least not under my definition.

[notadmblnd]

1. We are our brothers keepers

And those of us more fortunate should look out for them collectively. Looking out for each other is one of the things that make us more human.

[GeorgeGist]

2. Happiest countries in the world:

Denmark, Norway.

[misterhighwasted]

3. monotony

Nt

[Trajan]

4. There are different definitions of that word

And many will use the definition that suits their agenda ...

I do appreciate Bernie's definition as a Democratic Socialist, in that he is a duly elected Senator, taking office based on the DEMOCRATIC vote of the people in his district. He, along with other duly elected representatives, create social legislation, which is voted on by a democratically elected congress, which either passes or rejects the law, per the rules defined in the U.S. Constitution.

If that social legislation passes, it is then signed into law by the President of the United States, again per the rules defined in the U.S. Constitution.

It is 'Democratic', in that it is created by elected representatives.

It is 'Social' in that it affects some social aspect of our life as citizens of this country ...

The other definition, which the right wing buffoons adhere to, where a socialist government takes control of all means of production ...

This is NOT the Socialism that Bernie promotes ... That type is a caricature of which the right wing (and at least a few Hillary supporters ) try to smear Bernie and his followers ...

[Action_Patrol]

5. Libraries, Health and Happiness. Clearly I'm a jerk

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of

The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evil. Albert Einstein

I agree with him.

[onehandle]

7. The American system is already largely Socialist.

Anyone who doesn't agree can get off of my roads and stop bothering my fire department when you smell smoke.

[bigwillq]

8. Hillary Clinton.

Am I right?

[LoveIsNow]

9. To me, it means democratic control and ownership

of businesses. Sometimes, but not necessarily under the auspices of the government. Being a market socialist, I am more in favor of worker cooperatives, which are private, democratically-controlled businesses, where workers are paid on a share system, but not of a planned economy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worker_cooperative

I think Bernie is more of a social democrat than a democratic socialist. It's a fine distinction, but in essence a social democrat believes in capitalism, but is in favor of guaranteeing not just our civil and political rights, but also our social rights (which I typically describe as the right to equally participate in all aspects of society and become whomever you want, regardless of the circumstances into which you were born). This is typically done through a robust welfare state, education, and the promotion of collective bargaining.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy

Democratic socialists should, in theory, advocate eliminating the divide between labor and capital through either worker or state ownership of businesses, and possibly some form of economic planning if they are state rather than market socialists. True democratic socialists consider social democracy to be putting a bandaid on capitalism at best. However, in practice, most democratic socialist parties around the world support social democracy instead, so calling Sanders a democratic socialist is pretty much on keeping with the common usage.

[DuaneBidoux]

12. Nice thoughts thanks.

Maybe it's just a name. I definitely believe In worker and consumer cooperatives and employee ownership as one of the surest ways regular people are going to be assured a fair piece of the pie. What is the difference between capitalism and " free market economies?."

The only thought I have when I hear capitalism is "money above people." On the other hand when I think of " free market' economics" I think of regular people taking control of their life both economic and otherwise. Pp: maybe an inner city tenents association who rent a lot next to their building, plant gardens and sell it to local grocers. To me that is a free market responding to people's needs.

That is exactly where we have capitalism instead of free markets because the capitalists of today, at least,, tries to stop the people in the free market.

[HereSince1628]

10. Socialism...taxpayers owning and benefiting from public enterprises

Taxpayers may not benefit from direct dividends or profits, as in public non-profits that return services.

Which can be compared to captalism...private investors owning and benefiting (mostly benefited in profits) from private enterprises.

In my mind there are parallels, corporations and communities are both groups of people. In both cases money from groups of people are used to create and maintain an enterprise that yields desired benefits.

There are of course differences. For-profit investment is voluntary and benefits accrue with share of ownership. In public enterprises, participation in financing may be mandatory, and benefits may not accrue in direct proportion to proportion of investment via taxation or fees (for example in some states, license plates and property taxes on autos may be based on the value of the car). Of course, once operating some pubic enterprises are capable of self-financing and operation as agencies independent of the community government that created them.

[Todays_Illusion]

11. I think of our tax dependent multinational corporations and wealthiest citizens getting a free ride

for all that expensive military/intelligence/patent protection etc that allows all that off-shore profit they then keep off-shore to avoid paying taxes on to cover the cost of what allows them to gain it.

[moondust]

13. Egalitarianism.

Equality, sharing, teamwork, "common good" over personal greed.

Anthony Bourdain did a show on Denmark. At one point his Danish host commented that Danes frown on anybody who, as I remember it, basically tries too hard to stand out from the crowd, suggesting a culture where they're "all in it together." Of course that's easier done in a small country with a largely homogeneous population than in a large melting pot, but still...

In the past I've wondered if the federal government shouldn't buy out Walmart and run it like a giant military PX system: a public option for everyday shopping. Living wage and benefits for all employees and good but not absurd salaries for management. American-made goods whenever possible with an emphasis on quality. No shareholders demanding maximum profits and ROI at any cost. Don't know if it would work but that's one sort of semi-socialistic idea that's not too hard to imagine.

If you're thinking of centralized control of most everything, you're probably thinking of communism rather than socialism.

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. Tomorrow.