Utopian Socialism

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  • 01-29-2009, 02:09 AM
    sallysue
    Utopian Socialism
    Are we moving in this direction? Are we going to a place where everybody is equal and nobody ever skins thier knee on the playground? A place where government is a warm kiss of sunshine and the answer to all things?

    I remember reading about a high level KGB defector that escaped the Soviet Union before it finally fell. According to him, during Perestroika the communists encouraged criticism of the communist state from the viewpoint of improving communism only. If you question communist socialism as a bad idea that should be thrown out all together - off to the goulag with you.

    Socialism is a proven loser........
  • 01-29-2009, 03:23 AM
    Feanor
    No, no, no ...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sallysue
    Are we moving in this direction? Are we going to a place where everybody is equal and nobody ever skins thier knee on the playground? A place where government is a warm kiss of sunshine and the answer to all things?

    I remember reading about a high level KGB defector that escaped the Soviet Union before it finally fell. According to him, during Perestroika the communists encouraged criticism of the communist state from the viewpoint of improving communism only. If you question communist socialism as a bad idea that should be thrown out all together - off to the goulag with you.

    Socialism is a proven loser........

    I'm not participating in political threads! :mad:
  • 01-29-2009, 06:10 AM
    Worf101
    Indeed....
    Pure unadulterated Socialism is a proven loser... So apparently is "unbridled" "unregulated" capitalism. The idea that pure unadulterated, unchecked and unmanaged greed would work in the best interests of Society as a whole is pure Science Fiction but try getting any laisez faire monetary libertarians to admit that.

    Da Worfster
  • 01-29-2009, 06:24 AM
    GMichael
    No such thing as Utopia. We should keep trying though.
  • 01-29-2009, 07:09 AM
    Ajani
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Worf101
    Pure unadulterated Socialism is a proven loser... So apparently is "unbridled" "unregulated" capitalism. The idea that pure unadulterated, unchecked and unmanaged greed would work in the best interests of Society as a whole is pure Science Fiction but try getting any laisez faire monetary libertarians to admit that.

    Da Worfster

    :thumbsup: Absolutely brilliant! That is the truth that so many people fail to comprehend... it's not about capitalism or socialism... that's political nonsense that politicians use to frighten voters... Neither concept works perfectly in reality... The real trick is finding the correct balance of just how much Government involvement is necessary to keep things going smoothly, while not giving the Government total control of everything...

    Ideally, Government should be like how some religious people view God: Just doing enough to keep things on track, but staying behind the scenes to the point that you could forget he is there...
  • 01-29-2009, 07:09 AM
    Rich-n-Texas
    Feanor, I'm only here to...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Worf
    Pure unadulterated Socialism is a proven loser... So apparently is "unbridled" "unregulated" capitalism. The idea that pure unadulterated, unchecked and unmanaged greed would work in the best interests of Society as a whole is pure Science Fiction but try getting any laisez faire monetary libertarians to admit that.

    Da Worfster

    Agree. Agree agree agree agree agree agree with Worf. WORF should be the president of something in this country! :yesnod:
  • 01-29-2009, 07:40 AM
    GMichael
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
    Agree. Agree agree agree agree agree agree with Worf. WORF should be the president of something in this country! :yesnod:

    I'll save time by casting my vote now. Whatever Worf is running for, he get's my vote.
    Mark it down.
  • 01-29-2009, 08:15 AM
    Rich-n-Texas
    Wait a minute... Does he have US citizenship? Does he even have Earth citizenship? Afterall, he does fly around in a bizzaro looking spaceship all the time, ya know?
  • 01-29-2009, 08:47 AM
    GMichael
    He was raised by humans.
  • 01-29-2009, 09:08 AM
    bobsticks
    Good work Worfster. No pontification from these parts necessary.
  • 01-29-2009, 09:21 AM
    GMichael
    How non-pontific
  • 01-29-2009, 09:52 AM
    bobsticks
    I'm aiming for pith over erudition.
  • 01-29-2009, 10:57 AM
    kexodusc
    At the risk of the bat'leth, ahem...the only thing Worf runs for is dinner :ciappa:

    Nah, I jest...he nailed it of course.

    FWIW, I suppose I would take Utopian Socialism over Dystopian Capitalism any day.
  • 01-29-2009, 10:58 AM
    kexodusc
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bobsticks
    I'm aiming for pith over erudition.

    I aim to pith in the lavvy.
  • 01-29-2009, 11:05 AM
    Worf101
    Ahem....
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
    Wait a minute... Does he have US citizenship? Does he even have Earth citizenship? Afterall, he does fly around in a bizzaro looking spaceship all the time, ya know?

    Ahem I say...

    In that I am a member of the Federation I am permitted to run for President. However due to my checkered and I do mean checkered past, I must forgoe the honor of high elected office.

    If nominated, I will not run.
    If elected, I will not serve.
    If indicted I will not leave.
    If convicted I will not snitch.
    If convicted I will not biatch.

    So let it be written.....

    So let it be done.....

    Da Worfster
  • 01-29-2009, 11:10 AM
    Rich-n-Texas
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kexodusc
    I am to pith in the lavvy.

    Ya know, I always wondered what Bill O'Reilly was takin bout when he'd say "...pithy comments...". Now I know.

    (That wasn't political commentary was it? :idea:)
  • 01-29-2009, 11:13 AM
    bobsticks
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kexodusc
    FWIW, I suppose I would take Utopian Socialism over Dystopian Capitalism any day.

    Not me, I'll take Dystopian Capitalism all day, ereday...28 Days, bay-bay...

    The only Utopia I want is right here
  • 01-29-2009, 11:45 AM
    Feanor
    1 Attachment(s)
    Too bad
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kexodusc
    ...

    FWIW, I suppose I would take Utopian Socialism over Dystopian Capitalism any day.

    ... Because we're a lot more likely to get the latter. Say! isn't that what we've got at the moment?

    Bask in it, 'Sticks. By the way, there's a new Utopia -- :p
    ...
  • 01-29-2009, 12:16 PM
    kexodusc
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bobsticks
    Not me, I'll take Dystopian Capitalism all day, ereday...28 Days, bay-bay...

    That's cause you are a bad ass....:devil:

    Me? Lazy...
  • 01-29-2009, 12:53 PM
    bobsticks
    YEEAAAHHH!!!...for once you and me are of a like mind Bill Bailey...nice pic.
  • 01-29-2009, 12:58 PM
    sallysue
    Quote:

    GMichael

    No such thing as Utopia. We should keep trying though.
    :thumbsup:

    I'm just stirring the shizzle guys.....Just wanted to see how a thread like that would go down, no hard feelings.
  • 01-29-2009, 01:05 PM
    GMichael
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sallysue
    :thumbsup:

    I'm just stirring the shizzle guys.....Just wanted to see how a thread like that would go down, no hard feelings.

    Then we must be doing something wrong. Try again.:devil:
  • 01-29-2009, 01:08 PM
    Rich-n-Texas
    Yeah, who put the train back on the track? :incazzato:
  • 01-29-2009, 04:12 PM
    emesbee
    Worf101 and Ajani are right. Absolute idealogies never work, whether its government controlled socialism, or a totally unregulated free market. Both are recipes for disaster. What we really need to do is to find the right balance between them. Most of the arguments and disagreements seem to be about where one should draw that line. Unfortunately, the terms socialism, capitalism, left, right etc. just become convenient labels that get used by interest groups to push their own particular brands of propaganda.
  • 01-29-2009, 04:34 PM
    Where is Pix...
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by emesbee
    Worf101 and Ajani are right. Absolute idealogies never work, whether its government controlled socialism, or a totally unregulated free market. Both are recipes for disaster. What we really need to do is to find the right balance between them. Most of the arguments and disagreements seem to be about where one should draw that line. Unfortunately, the terms socialism, capitalism, left, right etc. just become convenient labels that get used by interest groups to push their own particular brands of propaganda.

    ...when you need him to get everybody out of their kumbaya-rainbow-coalition-middle-of-the-road comfort zone?

    By the way, I've been wondering about that Focal speaker. It weighs like a ton, right? So putting a little crank on half of that can't be good for stability. 'Seems a little transformer-like. I mean, I'm sure in that price-range they addressed that, but I have to guess that the old Utopia is probably more solid (and a lot cheaper, now, too, I suppose - which would make it a better value?).