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Quote by: Matt W I'm well aware of what Socialism is, SteveA - no need for the dictionary definitions. 
As for Aquietguy1, 'historically' and factually he's talking out of his backside. Russia - Communism (or Leninsim, at least) was imposed after the overthrow of the Tsars. China - After the overthrow of the Emperors. There are many more examples. But one of a steady, gentle progression to Communism? Nope. As I said, it's an extremist reaction - generally kicked off by a different form of extremist rule. Do any of the Socialist governments of Europe want Communism? My arse, if you'll excuse the colloqiualism.  |
What socialist governments
don't continually drift more toward communism until they collapse? China has turned around some but England, America and Europe still seem to be heading more toward communism. As far as I know India is heading that direction also.
We recently allowed emminent domain to redistribute property in the U.S., and since when have the size of public agencies dropped in Europe, England or the U.S.? They keep growing, even as a percent of resources. In the U.S., all combined, local, state and federal governments own more than half the land here now.
Even in Communist Russia government couldn't really own everything. It just had a widespread control over housing, jobs, schools etc. similar to our modern socialist governments but simply to a greater extent. The way I see it is that more than half the GDP currently is controlled in one form or another via. government. If communism would mean control of 80% of it, then we're at least a socialist nation, if not partly communistic.
They recently (like 20 years ago or something) made it illegal to homestead new land here in the U.S. That's a simply example of it, IMO. I know some people are probably thinking ... "Well you can't just let people go out and live anywhere they want, can you?" ... Assuming we had a system that simply enforced against damages to others, why not? There's a mindset that's prevalent and makes people not even realize how they're being enslaved. I guess if someone is truly willing to be a slave and they consider it a voluntary and desirable situation, well what can you do except hope they wake up someday.