APP - Socialism Reconsidered

Military vets experienced socialized medicine during their service, an interesting perspective is below.

"In the Navy, Christopher J. Brownfield was a patient under socialized health care and lived to tell the tale. He explains why the public option for health care is good enough for the military—and America."

http://www.thedailybeast.com/socialized-medicine-works-for-the-military

I grew up in a military household; my father was more than a part time warrior. He spent 24 years in the military serving during Korea and in Vietnam. I can tell you that military socialized medicine was no better than the failed systems in Europe from PERSONAL experience.

I find it ironic that you would tout it after the scandals and failures of the Veterans Health Administration. But then, when it comes to facts and memories, liberals are woefully short on both accounts.
 
I grew up in a military household; my father was more than a part time warrior. He spent 24 years in the military serving during Korea and in Vietnam. I can tell you that military socialized medicine was no better than the failed systems in Europe from PERSONAL experience.

I find it ironic that you would tout it after the scandals and failures of the Veterans Health Administration. But then, when it comes to facts and memories, liberals are woefully short on both accounts.

I have heard both sides of this topic, there are some from WWII who really like it and others from Nam for instance that think it stinks, but not only is it socialized medicine it is also for those who served a form of income. A few friends I know depend on its benefits. I am lucky I have never had to use it.

But then ask yourself why your father's experience was so bad? If one believed the thank you vets hoopla today, surely their treatment would be commensurate with the praise? And whose fault is it the veterans administrator is so bad for some? You surely can't blame democrats alone. So tell us why is it so bad and whose fault is it?
 
I grew up in a military household; my father was more than a part time warrior. He spent 24 years in the military serving during Korea and in Vietnam. I can tell you that military socialized medicine was no better than the failed systems in Europe from PERSONAL experience.

I find it ironic that you would tout it after the scandals and failures of the Veterans Health Administration. But then, when it comes to facts and memories, liberals are woefully short on both accounts.

I am lucky I have never had to use it.

Yes you are; but then, perhaps if you had experienced it you wouldn't be a shill for failed socialism.

But then ask yourself why your father's experience was so bad?

It wasn't JUST my fathers, it was mine as well. I know why our experience wasn't that great, because when you have government managing the process, you get malaise, long wait times, shortages of doctors and a lack of modern equipment.

If one believed the thank you vets hoopla today, surely their treatment would be commensurate with the praise? And whose fault is it the veterans administrator is so bad for some? You surely can't blame democrats alone. So tell us why is it so bad and whose fault is it?

The point was beyond your capability to comprehend; it isn't about blaming political parties, it is about recognizing the failure of Government to be the end all provider of jobs, healthcare, welfare and safety.
 
....The point was beyond your capability to comprehend; it isn't about blaming political parties, it is about recognizing the failure of Government to be the end all provider of jobs, healthcare, welfare and safety.

Without a strong government we have nothing. Every stable nation has socialized healthcare except us. That must tell you something. Of course 'dark money' will create myths about government as it is the only entity that challenges their power. Individually we can do little and even the courts can be bought and paid for as the Gorsuch selection demonstrates. An excellent read for those who wonder how we got here is: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28695425-strangers-in-their-own-land

And government is political parties and they are to blame not the right wing bogeyman.

Government is a whipping boy, an imaginary foe, but how would you like living in Somalia? "The unity of Government, which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very Liberty, which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee, that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the Palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion, that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts." http://www.quotedb.com/speeches/washington-farewell-address


"For decades conservatives have been demonizing government and not enough has been done to defend it. Ever since Ronald Reagan declared in 1981 that "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem," Republicans have been waging a political war against this institution. They have been joined in this anti-government crusade by libertarian thinkers, Tea Party activists, right-wing media pundits, and wealthy corporate lobbies. This powerful political coalition blithely ignores anything good about government and conducts a relentless smear campaign against this institution. They constantly play upon the fears and insecurities of average Americans and encourage them to blame all their problems on big bad government." http://www.governmentisgood.com/
 
Without a strong government we have nothing. Every stable nation has socialized healthcare except us. That must tell you something. Of course 'dark money' will create myths about government as it is the only entity that challenges their power. Individually we can do little and even the courts can be bought and paid for as the Gorsuch selection demonstrates. An excellent read for those who wonder how we got here is: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28695425-strangers-in-their-own-land

And government is political parties and they are to blame not the right wing bogeyman.

Government is a whipping boy, an imaginary foe, but how would you like living in Somalia? "The unity of Government, which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very Liberty, which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee, that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the Palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion, that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts." http://www.quotedb.com/speeches/washington-farewell-address


"For decades conservatives have been demonizing government and not enough has been done to defend it. Ever since Ronald Reagan declared in 1981 that "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem," Republicans have been waging a political war against this institution. They have been joined in this anti-government crusade by libertarian thinkers, Tea Party activists, right-wing media pundits, and wealthy corporate lobbies. This powerful political coalition blithely ignores anything good about government and conducts a relentless smear campaign against this institution. They constantly play upon the fears and insecurities of average Americans and encourage them to blame all their problems on big bad government." http://www.governmentisgood.com/

Thank you for your service in this battle of the war on government! You've slayed Bigdog
 
Without a strong government we have nothing.

Once again you get it all wrong; without LIMITED government we have no liberty.

I'm sure you want Trump to promote strong government right? LOL

Every stable nation has socialized healthcare except us. That must tell you something.

That doesn't make it right or best. Waiting a year for hip replacements or being told your baby is getting taken off life support because they don't have the capability of saving it are not my idea of a great healthcare system. Neither are paying confiscatory taxes and wading through massive regulation.

They are only stable because we, in the US, have provided the military might to allow them to decimate their defense capability in order to direct ever greater tax revenue towards socialized welfare which continues to bankrupt their nations.

Of course 'dark money' will create myths about government as it is the only entity that challenges their power. Individually we can do little and even the courts can be bought and paid for as the Gorsuch selection demonstrates.

They only myths created about government comes from lying progressive leftists who want to promote the idiotic false claim that we need to all become wards of the "dark" state in order to be healthier and safer. Nothing could be further from the truth. Venezuela is the most recent evidence of that truth.

An excellent read for those who wonder how we got here is: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28695425-strangers-in-their-own-land

More progressive Marxist propaganda intended for gullible buffoons.... hardly anything connected to "good" or intelligent.
 
I find it interesting that right wingers need to address each sentence rather than comment in a single paragraph. The reason is to distract and pretend you are actually addressing the issue. Take the last sentence, the writer obviously knows nothing about Marxism. So name calling becomes thought for the right winger. But when you consider the media the right depends on for their knowledge you come to understand why their reasoning is so weak.

"As a political force, American conservative movement has been morally and philosophically bankrupt for decades, which is one of the big reasons we are where we are right now. Largely in the interest of preserving their own power and empowering a massive money-grab by the class they represent, Republicans have cobbled together cynical coalitions by trying to appease multiple constituencies with competing and often contradictory interests: Libertarians, the Christian right, the post-industrial white working class, finance capital and the billionaire caste. "

http://www.salon.com/2017/02/18/fro...-trump-conservative-thought-has-died-at-last/
 
I find it interesting that right wingers need to address each sentence rather than comment in a single paragraph. The reason is to distract and pretend you are actually addressing the issue. Take the last sentence, the writer obviously knows nothing about Marxism. So name calling becomes thought for the right winger. But when you consider the media the right depends on for their knowledge you come to understand why their reasoning is so weak.

"As a political force, American conservative movement has been morally and philosophically bankrupt for decades, which is one of the big reasons we are where we are right now. Largely in the interest of preserving their own power and empowering a massive money-grab by the class they represent, Republicans have cobbled together cynical coalitions by trying to appease multiple constituencies with competing and often contradictory interests: Libertarians, the Christian right, the post-industrial white working class, finance capital and the billionaire caste. "

http://www.salon.com/2017/02/18/fro...-trump-conservative-thought-has-died-at-last/

:thisisgettinggood:
 
Without a strong government we have nothing.

With a strong Government we lose our liberty and freedoms. Once again you conflate strong with socialized cradle to grave welfarism. That has NEVER been good for a nations citizens.

In our Constitution, strength means defending our borders and interests....not forcing the majority to have gender neutral bathrooms lest we offend a teeny tiny microscopic portion of the population.

Every stable nation has socialized healthcare except us. That must tell you something.

They are only stable thanks to us. What it tells me is that you are uninformed and prone to swallowing leftist propaganda and are ignorant of the purpose of our Constitution that made this nation the strongest, most free nation in the world.

Of course 'dark money' will create myths about government as it is the only entity that challenges their power.

Abuse of Government power is hardly a myth. I am fascinated that liberals are all for re-distribution up and until the time someone reaches into their pockets.

Individually we can do little and even the courts can be bought and paid for as the Gorsuch selection demonstrates.

Another stupid and false claim; that Gorsuch is somehow buying the courts. Of course, when lunatic fringe jurists are nominated, that is good sense in your myopic Constitution less world.

An excellent read for those who wonder how we got here is: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28695425-strangers-in-their-own-land

Wrong; it would be a waste of time to read some leftist dumbfucks prattle about how they perceive the world.

And government is political parties and they are to blame not the right wing bogeyman.

I am amused by the idiot argument that one can have government without political parties. Further proof of how massively our PUBLIC educational institutions are failing its citizens.

Government is a whipping boy, an imaginary foe,

Wrong; Government is a necessary evil that must be kept in constitutional check. I find your, and other leftists, comments ironic in that you all are refusing to accept the results of the last election and now think Government is broken. Fascinating how the willfully ignorant think Government is only great when THEIR guys are in charge.

but how would you like living in Somalia?

I wouldn't; and neither would many Americans which is why they refused to continue Obamunism with Hitlery.

I do wish you were as intelligent as you foolishly believe you are.
 
This is kinda interesting, it outlines the top ten socialist countries. See what you think.

"Government, despite its many sins, remains the only institution that can make our freedom real." Gregory Downs

Dumbest quote ever; but then, you lying leftists seem to love really dumb quotes.

A much better quote lying leftists need to ponder with intelligence instead of emotion:

The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but to have only the law of nature for his rule. The liberty of man, in society, is to be under no other legislative power, but that established, by consent, in the commonwealth; nor under the dominion of any will, or restraint of any law, but what that legislative power shall enact, according to the trust put in it…

John Locke
 
"Karl Marx was right, socialism works, it is just that he had the wrong species." Edward O. Wilson

Another moronic quote which continues to ignore human nature and it's dark tendencies and pretend that the State is beneficial.

A much better quote:

A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.

Thomas Jefferson
 
"Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite." John Kenneth Galbraith

Another moronic quote which continues to ignore human nature and it's dark tendencies and pretend that the State is beneficial....

Who do you think can manage these 'dark tendencies'? Any guesses, see quote at bottom. And where is your sense of humor, Wilson is an expert in myrmecology. You guys are kinda funny you find a Jefferson quote and think you'd said something. First say something then add your quote. The articles above on socialism are excellent, stop nit picking for a change. Galbraith is a much better source for the state of the state imho.

Another section from Jefferson's piece, I've bolded a few lines. Read it all sometime.

"About to enter, fellow-citizens, on the exercise of duties which comprehend everything dear and valuable to you, it is proper you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our Government, and consequently those which ought to shape its Administration. I will compress them within the narrowest compass they will bear, stating the general principle, but not all its limitations. Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none; the support of the State governments in all their rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestic concerns and the surest bulwarks against antirepublican tendencies; the preservation of the General Government in its whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet anchor of our peace at home and safety abroad; a jealous care of the right of election by the people—a mild and safe corrective of abuses which are lopped by the sword of revolution where peaceable remedies are unprovided; absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the majority, the vital principle of republics, from which is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism; a well disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace and for the first moments of war, till regulars may relieve them; the supremacy of the civil over the military authority; economy in the public expense, that labor may be lightly burthened; the honest payment of our debts and sacred preservation of the public faith; encouragement of agriculture, and of commerce as its handmaid; the diffusion of information and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of the public reason; freedom of religion; freedom of the press, and freedom of person under the protection of the habeas corpus, and trial by juries impartially selected. These principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation." http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres16.html



"Corporate propaganda directed outwards, that is, to the public at large, has two main objectives: to identify the free enterprise system in popular consciousness with every cherished value, and to identify interventionist governments and strong unions (the only agencies capable of checking a complete domination of society by corporations) with tyranny, oppression and even subversion. The techniques used to achieve these results are variously called 'public relations', 'corporate communications' and 'economic education'." Alex Carey 'Taking the Risk out of Democracy'
 
Truth Detector, no more comments on quotations? This thread has had lots of views which is a positive, but as I watch foreign companies build here after they receive tax incentives and fight unions I wonder if Americans wonder in their worship of the free market what it is doing to their work and their nation's financial situation. The Guardian is an excellent media source check it out.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/03/nissan-workers-union-bernie-sanders


"With all their faults, trade unions have done more for humanity than any other organization of men that ever existed." Clarence Darrow
 
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Interesting that unlike the right wing, the left in America is a more diverse group. This is a plus for freedom of the individual but it hurts the work to accomplish a more perfect union. The idea of voting for the lesser of two ? would have elected Hillary but the right wing show values and ideas, along with religious diversity don't matter to them. See the socialists and comments on voting below.

"Should we support progressive Democrats? We should only if they make clear their opposition to American imperialism, their criticisms of the financial and corporate system, their refusal to accept corporate money, or to accept any support from corporate Democrats, their financial networks, and their PACs. We should, of course, also support candidates who run as open socialists in the Democratic Party or in some cases outside of the Democratic Party. Or we might support Green Party or other independent candidacies."

http://newpol.org/content/dsa’s-convention-–-back-democratic-party-or-independent-course

http://johnhalle.com/outragesandint...eight-point-brief-for-lev-lesser-evil-voting/
 
Truth Detector, no more comments on quotations? This thread has had lots of views which is a positive, but as I watch foreign companies build here after they receive tax incentives and fight unions I wonder if Americans wonder in their worship of the free market what it is doing to their work and their nation's financial situation. The Guardian is an excellent media source check it out.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/03/nissan-workers-union-bernie-sanders

"With all their faults, trade unions have done more for humanity than any other organization of men that ever existed." Clarence Darrow

I am always fascinated by one-sided arguments suggesting that unions do not "fight" the corporations.

Yet, without those corporations many would be living in mud huts and hunting and gathering. Why does the misguided lying left stupidly think that corporations are so evil, yet so gullibly willing to become dependent wards of the faceless bureaucratic State enterprise?
 
Interesting that unlike the right wing, the left in America is a more diverse group.

Diversity means NOTHING when it comes hiring time and finding the best person for the job. I am amused by the economic naiveté' that argues that one must have diversity rather than the best qualified. Such stupidity obviously comes from idiots who have never owned a company or had to meet a payroll.

This is a plus for freedom of the individual but it hurts the work to accomplish a more perfect union. The idea of voting for the lesser of two ? would have elected Hillary but the right wing show values and ideas, along with religious diversity don't matter to them. See the socialists and comments on voting below.

WTF does the above screed even mean? Let me guess, you're still smarting over the fact that Trump won.

"Should we support progressive Democrats? We should only if they make clear their opposition to American imperialism,

Another moronic leftist screed; that America is somehow an "imperialistic" nation. I have to hand it to you Comrade Midcan, you have those dimwitted Marxist talking points memorized. You are a brilliant illustration of the failure of the western educational establishment.

their criticisms of the financial and corporate system, their refusal to accept corporate money, or to accept any support from corporate Democrats, their financial networks, and their PACs. We should, of course, also support candidates who run as open socialists in the Democratic Party or in some cases outside of the Democratic Party. Or we might support Green Party or other independent candidacies."

The biggest money grubbers on the planet are Socialists. I am amused that you cannot comprehend the OBVIOUS.
 
There was a time when American corporations worked for and with their employees and not simply the bottom line. Truth Detector lives the free market religion, a religion that is failing the middle class as statistics demonstrate now for many years. But debating with ideologues is a useless venture, their ideas are grounded in abstract BS. I am glad this thread has gotten a lot of reads. Others may garner a bit of knowledge from the discussion.

I've mentioned Jane Mayer often for her well documented book 'Dark Money', she writes for the New Yorker, an excellent magazine. See this piece and watch the video, it is funny and reminds me of America today. Love the socialism quote. One word comes to manage the mind. Ironically one of the writers of the movie is a Trump supporter.

'The Reclusive Hedge-Fund Tycoon Behind the Trump Presidency'

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...hedge-fund-tycoon-behind-the-trump-presidency


"We have two American flags always: one for the rich and one for the poor. When the rich fly it means that things are under control; when the poor fly it means danger, revolution, anarchy." Henry Miller


 
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