Questions For Socialist

Discussion in 'Socialism' started by SmegheadforPresident, May 17, 2016.

  1. SmegheadforPresident

    SmegheadforPresident Members

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    Hi. I'm starting to learn a bit about socialism and have been asking around on a few places. I prefer to hear from those who understand it and can address my specific curiosities. I'd like to ask on here as well to see if I get similar answers. I know there are bits of socialism in most capitalist counties, but as a thought experiment, I'm trying to just image socialism by itself.

    First questions
    Is the idea of people being product of their society absolutely critical to socialism? If humans did turn out to self interested by nature, could socialism still work?
     
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  2. P_Bateman

    P_Bateman Members

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    Ima socialist by political prefrence but I live in a capitalists country. I've seen the benefit of social programs such as affordable schooling and affordable medical it's helped out me on a path I don't believe I coulda reached without the opportunity . That's why I believe state rights are important cause the citiZens can decide if that's the direction they wanna go . If humans are completely self serving I think we're doomed overall but maybe we've been since creating atomic weapons . I believe we all benefit from taking care of each other, I don't believe humans strive to be worthless welfare children but many have only been taught how to be scammers of a system. If the oppurtunity to be a Doctor or a welfare queen were presented I believe most would choose to strive for more. Either way, till we go a socialist route in our country I prepare myself to compete while donating my time to help those with less.
     
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  3. M_Ranko

    M_Ranko Straight edge xXx

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    Humans ARE greedy, selfish cunts by nature and that's exactly what's hampering socialism. Joint ownership and sharing with everybody is at the heart of the socialist system, and much too often this is sabotaged by the basic human desire to just hoard everything to oneself and leave others with nothing. A.k.a, your basic greed. So, no. With the hand that humanity's been dealt with, true socialism cannot work. It will always be at odds with the most fundamental human flaw of them all: greed, and the "me me me" mentality.
     
  4. autophobe2e

    autophobe2e Senior Member

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    It's best not to think of it as creating a system that runs counter to human nature, but rather creating a system that doesn't encourage and reward the very worst facets of human nature.

    The idea that capitalism is an emergent system that naturally arises as a reflection of man's greed and is therefore the only plausible system of governance? absolute bollocks.
     
  5. gentle_dissident

    gentle_dissident Members

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    We are highly trainable animals. We have the wrong training. Perhaps we should look at who benefits from the mess we're in.
     
  6. autophobe2e

    autophobe2e Senior Member

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    The greatest trick capitalism ever pulled was convincing the world that it is the only system that will work because it is the only system that is "natural", and that all other systems are just naive wishful thinking.

    There is nothing "natural" about a factory owner making unearned income from the surplus of labour that he took no part in. There is nothing "natural" about social ownership of the means of production leading to people feeling the full benefit of work that they do either. there is, however, something "fair" about it, which is a much more important question.
     
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  7. Nerdanderthal

    Nerdanderthal Members

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    The beauty of capitalism is it incentivizes trade, collaboration and caring for one's property. There's a huge problem with the government interfering and seizing the wealth created by the private market (the only place wealth is created), it's other people's property.

    China, USSR, every single socialist, communist, system has created unbelievable amounts of waste and corruption because as of yet, it's impossible to get a government employee to be as careful with tax money as you are with your money.
     
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  8. andallthatstocome

    andallthatstocome not a squid

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    I do not dispute this; however, the greed is a very near-sighted impulse, and if these impulses are tempered by a broad view, patience, and reason, it becomes apparent that that which benefits the whole, benefits the self.
     
  9. andallthatstocome

    andallthatstocome not a squid

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    and yet china owns everyone's debt...

    everyone borrows from them because they most efficiently capitalize upon goods and services available to them, providing an excess of capital that they can then lend at interest
     
  10. theDeepSouthfire

    theDeepSouthfire Members

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    The heart of socialism is too to provide every citizen with it basic need. Communism is often confused with socialism they are different in that socialism does not own the factors of production. We currently do not even live in a pure capitalist system but instead the united states in known as a mixed economic system where industry's that are considered essential like electric, water, and others, are owned are highly regulated by the government. But to get to the point the main policys supported by socialist in America are single payer health care, higher mim. Wage, higher taxes on super wealth and capital gains, and affordable higher education
     
  11. StellarCoon

    StellarCoon Dr. Professor

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    The power and promise of socialism lies not so much in the nature of man but in the nature of nature itself. Observe throughout the whole of history any entity which has stood alone, then compare these to those who have worked together as a cohesive unit and compare the results. If by chance our nature is not there, we should aspire to get there.
     
  12. Allexxey

    Allexxey Members

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    In Russia,(I'm Russian) Mr. Gorbachev tried to, and what we've got now knows all the world, mob rules
     
  13. Vladimir Illich

    Vladimir Illich Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

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    Yes, we need to go back to the Soviet (workers Council) system and recreate a Soviet Socialist Republic
     
  14. Allexxey

    Allexxey Members

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    Yes, we need it, but how? Mafia will not go without blood.
     
  15. Vladimir Illich

    Vladimir Illich Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

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    So the mafia die - are you bothered ???
     
  16. wilsjane

    wilsjane Nutty Professor HipForums Supporter

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    Gorbachev was a good man who saw he future of Russia as co-existence with the rest of the world.
    I saw Putin's visit to the US as wanting a peaceful future. It is such a pity that so many idiots in the US condemned Trump for having similar views.
     
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  17. Allexxey

    Allexxey Members

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    Gorbachev destroyed the USSR, maybe he didn't want to, but so happened under his rule.
    As for Putin's, it's all just bare words he utters. You all see what's happening since 2014.
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019
  18. Allexxey

    Allexxey Members

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    The quicker it dies the better.
     
  19. Vladimir Illich

    Vladimir Illich Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

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    Come back Uncle Len(in) all is forgiven !!!
     
  20. Allexxey

    Allexxey Members

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    Yes. It's another time now. Lenin wouldn't help now
     
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