What, exactly, is socialism? Again this discussion seems necessary.

Huh? Sounds like you’re just throwing out words

 

No he's 100% correct. Socialism is about govt (Medicare for all, green new deal) while capitalism is about freedom from govt, the basic principle of our country

 

I think you should educate yourself on democratic socialism. Check out Denmark and Sweden and see how awful things are you know like people getting healthcare and going to college free

 

I hate those unions. I want to go back to working seven days a week and dangerous factories. I want children to be able to work 40 hours a week in sweatshops. Damn those unions

 

This is sad to, read, that you do not enjoy the Socialism which unions provide for us hardworkers.

 

It doesn't have to be the state, but something has to fill that role, as you acknowledge in your other posts! Two points: your premise outlines a cross level dispute, two equally represented entities. Even though the current system suggests you'll obtain justice if wronged by a multinational conglomerate, most people know it isn't true. With respect to, for instance, the consumer, do you even think along those lines? Unaware to you I suppose, capital, just left to itself has been tried & the result was a race to the ethical bottom. Largely, it still is. However, what you ache & pain for is already here:

Now, obviously you're not "forced" to take the job, but if it's the one you want or all there is.... you have to sign off on your day in court & present your case before their arbiter. Of course, the corporation doesn't waive any of their rights...

 

Herd-like mentality along the lines of what's mandatory thought. Politically enacted, socialism is a form of democracy. However, those are easiest forms of government to topple or usurp. Which is all that should matter. The counterargument is equally flawed with respect to organized labor. It's never about the fact that key unions were infiltrated by organized crime but rather the exception when workers resorted to violence to overtake control of a company. It's laughable how you correlate slavery with socialism while making no mention of the institutionalization of the practice here in America, that went on for centuries! Even today highly concentrated capital still covets the exploitation of cheap labor.

"This is the United States of America, it is a highly competitive economy. You claw your way up on the backs of others, that's the way it's done, didn't you know that?" - Stuart Varney

Seems accurate to me, apart from the contention that it's competitive & upward mobility, common. If this were a free market, an open system, worker-oriented & non-profit entities would've overtaken the for-profits long ago. No? Well then where are the not-for-profit insurance companies? With respect to the concern over central control over all means of production, you have that in this system. Difference being, on a global scale. The border of nations premise applies to you & I, but antiquated for the very top, every conflict suspect.

 

What role?

 

So, do you endorse dissolving the military industrial complex and police departments throughout the USA?

 

Your argument entails the vacuum left by the state. As I've said elsewhere, states with weak central government that capitulate to the narrow interests of capital, are all over the world. Now that I think about it, you're right, multinationals do thrive in that environment. Of course, the general population of those countries tend to have very little with no means to change it.

The other concern regarding your premise is the notion that people like you or I would attain justice presenting our case before an arbiter. One of course that the corporation would or wouldn't accept for obvious reasons. Again, forced arbitration is something that's apparently legal & becoming more widespread anyway. That's beside the fact that you can always try to settle your differences out of court...

I personally care less about the form of government & how the economy is structured as I do about it's integrity & equity. The current model doesn't take nearly enough into consideration, humanity is living beyond it's means. I've read that the environmental footprint of the average American is as high as 70 times that of the world's poorest nations. We know half of the world's population lives on $2-3.00 per day.

When we recognize that raising the living standards of everyone to that of Americans isn't sustainable (or at least not for very long), some of us tend to question what our foreign policy objectives truly are. I understand the narrative for a redistribution of wealth, but a more equitable distribution of it from the beginning would serve us all. Defending capital's decision to marginalize its workforce, because it can, isn't a worthy stand.

 

The purpose of socialism is to enslave the working class. Socialism is used within capitalism to achive the same goal.

 

Don’t forget Medicare and social secutry and public schools and police ...all so socialistic. You tend to think like an extremist that because there are some things that the government provides you with , that it’s going to get rid of capitalism.

 

Socialism is when govt owns industry not when it runs police/fire. Do you understand?

 

conservatives are not anarchists. you have learned this 23 times. Shall we go for 24?

 

This comment isn't a legitimate definition but rather just an attack of the word. Would a member-owned credit union, a non-profit cooperative, be an example of socialism? Is it true they tend to offer higher rates on savings & lower rates on loans? Are employee-owned businesses an example? Of course, there aren't that many in the U.S. & probably most of them are from a bygone era. Those who live in the southeast have probably shopped at a Publix, one of the largest supermarket chains in the region. I dare say they compensate the employee you profess to care about better than Walmart does!

Those were positives, but not every example is. Let's talk about no-brand meats in the grocery store, their origin CAFOs, factory-farm toxic concoctions! Are taxpayer subsidies to industrial agriculture a form of socialism? If so, why would your government help make their products artificially cheaper? Further, their practices are considered inadequately regulated. Conversely, the government doesn't subsidize the healthier & environmentally sound, transparent options.
------------------------

Whether it's the seeds of the obesity or opioid epidemics, I don't see the bloated & bureaucratic boot of the commie state bearing down on the neck of industry that you & others seemingly do. But rather one that's toothless & lobbied, in fact complicit! These things they're doing to us are by design. If these aren't examples of class warfare, then what are?

 

I agree let’s get rid of those mooching old people, and let’s make all schools private....

How sad...you don’t evem understand democratic socialism, trump knows his base .Nobody wants to run industries. No one wants to destroy capitalism. Let’s get rid of Medicare and education and the fire departments.

 

Entails? How so?

I'm not arguing for states, so...yeah no.

Corporations are a state device. If there were no state, then there would be no corporations.

Step one: Never use a car, or bus, or train, or airplane. Or purchase any item transported to you via truck or rail. You will change the world.

Who is this dude "capital" and their decisions to which you refer?

 

show me someone who wants to get rid of old people? Lie??
govt schools and govt health yes because they are worst and most expensive in world. Do you understand?

 

a lib is a creeping commie:

The World was not always capitalist and will not always be capitalist- Alexandria Ocassio-Cortez

“It’s hard to know, but I mean if you’re in the Iowa caucuses and 41 percent of Democrats are socialists or self-described socialists, and I’m asked ‘Are you a capitalist?’ and I say, ‘Yes, but with appropriate regulation and appropriate accountability.’ You know, that probably gets lost in the ‘Oh my gosh, she’s a capitalist!’ ” Hillary Clinton said.

“Guess what this liberal would be all about? This liberal would be about socializing … uh, umm. … Would be about, basically, taking over, and the government running all of your companies.” Maxine Waters


"You don’t necessarily need a choice of 23 underarm spray deodorants when children are hungry in this country," Sanders told John Harwood

 

A libcommie wants socialized money.

 

socialism is when govt owns major industries, not when it manages the monetary system. 1+1=2

 

You missunderstand the definition of socialism. In order for socialism to exist, it must be implemented by force. Credit Unions and cooperatives are not socialist because you have the choise to belong or not. In true socialism, you have no choice.

 

Yes our country is greatest in human history because no violence was involved. Nobody got to rip off the other guy so everyone had to get a job and contribute. Now, liberal corruption is taking over and everyone wants to use the govt to "legally" rip off the other guy.

 

Well, it's obvious you are not a true conservative or you would have said that this is what the 2d Amendment is all about.

 

if that's the case then socialism also does not entail other services such as education and health matters