Of course no one knows what will be in 10 or 20 years. Maybe Europe will be taken over by China and then we'll have Chinese-style communism instead of socialism. — Apollodorus
All I'm saying is that "socialism" isn't always what believers in it think it is, — Apollodorus
It is used as a term of condemnation without understanding what it actually is. — Fooloso4
Yes, on this we agree. It is used as a term of condemnation without understanding what it actually is. — Fooloso4
Meanwhile, anyone who went to school (and paid attention) knows full well that every single solitary one of our founding fathers was dyed-in-the-wool liberal. — James Riley
I think the problem is that even socialists don't know what socialism really is until it's too late. — Apollodorus
The majority of those who call themselves "conservative" are without knowing it liberal in that they ascribe to the tradition of natural rights, equality, individualism, in a word, liberalism. — Fooloso4
And no, social security isn't socialism. There was public road building, public health care, a standing army paid by the state, etc. even in Ancient Greece and Rome. — Apollodorus
To my knowledge the Roman military was funded by the imperial government through revenue from taxes, etc. Either way, the army was kept for the public good. — Apollodorus
saw a guy post a meme showing Roman roads still extant, and asking why our engineers could not do that today. My simple response was, it's amazing what you can do with unlimited slave labor. — James Riley
Even in Rome slaves were a minority. — Apollodorus
Unlimited slave labor"? Even in Rome slaves were a minority. Plus they had to be fed, etc. — Apollodorus
Total state control over society, that's what people object to. — Apollodorus
Total state control over society, that's what people object to. — Apollodorus
Total state control over society, that's what people object to. — Apollodorus
This puts socialism in the same category of political arrangement in society as Naziism, totalitarianism, Monarchy, military despotism, martial law, and -- I am sorry to say this -- American-type capitalist democracy. — god must be atheist
Fooloso4 I think democrats agenda is pretty socialist — Alexandros
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.