Unfortuneatly, before I could join in the conversation about socialism in a different thread it was closed due to idiocy. Hopefully, a sane and serious conversation can take place in this thread without the same idiocy.
I'm sure there are some who wonder how socialism (collectivism) can exist in a democratic society, but look no further than Social Security, which is a form of collectivism, as an example. Social Security serves the socio-ethical responsibilities of an intelligent society and no society can be deemed intelligent without addressing its responsibiliy to all its citizens.
I believe the best society for all citizens is to be found somwhere between a purely capitalist (plutocratic) and a purely socialist (collectivist) society. I believe that mixed ideologies, mixed economies, and mixed societies best serve the interests of all people.
I also believe that philosophical mixture is exactly what Hugo Chavez is attempting in Venezulela. He has proven that his policies work in the best interests of the common people as he has directed the resources of his nation inward to benefit the people, not himself, not the mafia, and not the corporate interest. Castro did much of the same thing in Cuba and was villified for it by the same plutocrats who now control America. The literacy and health of Cubans improved dramatically under Castro, much as under Chavez.
The problem with a purely capitalist society under a democratic government is that ultimately the plutocrats and corporate interests will control the government and the will of the people becomes secondary to the corporate will. Just as what has happened in America today. The giant whole in the concept of democracy is money. It serves the predatory phase of human development and ignores the ethical in service to the god of profit.
There can be a balance of these differing philosophies that benefit the whole, but it requires open minds and new thinking if our nation is to survive. We are being drained dry by the blood-sucking macinations of purely capitalist corporate interests at a time when we've become ever more dependant on the rest of the world.
