Look to the 19th century for what can happen when people are set free! — synthesis

They made cultural wastelands of every place they touched. I don't think that's what you want.

Who is "they."

You can attempt to attenuate the corruption at the top through socialism (which also cuts out most of the innovation/discovery as well as destroying incentive), or you can allow people to be as creative as possible and keep incentives in place (with REAL checks and balances) and then the entire society can benefit from the people who dedicate their entire lives to this sort of thing. — synthesis

Would the world really be lesser without all the wonderful efficiency, innovation, and incentive (money)? Granted there's a lot of money to be made in inventing, financing, producing, marketing, etc etc, all the junk (mostly unhealthy junk) in the world, but money isn't everything, is it? Beyond basic needs it doesn't offer well-being.

Who is "they." — synthesis

Capitalists. Oscar Mayer, for instance. Or the british and french bankers who laughed at the stupid Russian workers, until 1917.

Fighting against capitalism is like fighting against the wind. You just have to take precautions against hurricanes and tornadoes (political corruption). It's the only economic system there is (unless you wish to regress to feudalism or slavery).

People need motivation to achieve beyond and above, and besides, if it weren't for these folks, how would your redistribution schemes work?

People need motivation to achieve beyond and above — synthesis

They need motivation to achieve Bed Bath and Beyond, but even those are going out of business now. Amazon and slave labor proved to be more innovative and cheap, I guess. Yay capitalism!

how would your redistribution schemes work — synthesis

Funny how when the rich are taxed at a higher rate they call it redistribution but not when their taxes are reduced.

Fighting against capitalism is like fighting against the wind. You just have to take precautions against hurricanes and tornadoes (political corruption). It's the only economic system there is (unless you wish to regress to feudalism or slavery). — synthesis

I'm not fighting anything, man. Just philosophizing. So you don't pick freedom, you have no choice. Um.

But weren't you pointing out the folly of socialism?

Wow. Total presumption there buddy; and that is all you. Synthesis is discussing a system in which people are responsible for their own actions and, as a consequence, their own health, as much as they can be. This is not the current system. For those of us that work in the current system, we see a lot of money (truly stupid amounts) spent on solving essentially self-inflicted problems. Should your insurance company pay to repair your car every Monday because you choose to beat it with a sledge hammer every Sunday, because you like to? Or maybe insurance steps in only when you have had an accident, something that was not your choice? I support the second approach; with insurance and health care. I have never understood why I am expected to care more about my patient's health than they do.

If you choose to take this post as pro middle class white boy rhetoric, that's what you bring to the game. Look back at my posts: No race, no gender. A patient is a patient is a patient.

For those of us that work in the current system, we see a lot of money (truly stupid amounts) spent on solving essentially self-inflicted problems. — Book273

The push-back against the idea of people taking responsibility for themselves is truly incredible. This political climate has fostered a mentality where many wish to blame every damn thing on somebody else. Talk about the short road to hell.

Until people start taking responsibility for themselves, nothing is going to change (except the fact the truly caring providers are going to keep burning-out). Bring in the corporate docs who could care less about anything other than meeting the fiscal metrics (so they can earn a little extra cash to pay back their usurious student loans).

Funny how when the rich are taxed at a higher rate they call it redistribution but not when their taxes are reduced. — praxis

The problem is corruption. Redistribution works both ways (except the elite are rich enough to pay-off the politicians to create their loopholes (again, corruption).

You never want to discourage productive behavior. That kills your economy.