Socialism [Archive] - The Diamond David Lee Roth Army

lesfunk

10-01-2009, 07:52 PM

Cultural Dictionary

socialism

An economic system in which the production and distribution of goods are controlled substantially by the government rather than by private enterprise, and in which cooperation rather than competition guides economic activity. There are many varieties of socialism. Some socialists tolerate capitalism, as long as the government maintains the dominant influence over the economy; others insist on an abolition of private enterprise. All communists are socialists, but not all socialists are communists.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

lesfunk

10-01-2009, 07:54 PM

is this not the direction we are heading??????

please Edify me then, because I think I might be an ignorant racist

Seshmeister

10-01-2009, 08:11 PM

LOL!

No you live in a country where the government is controlled by private enterprise not the other away around.

The government doesn't now control all those banks and companies you paid to bail out, it was the fact they owned the government meant that they could make it happen.

FORD

10-01-2009, 08:20 PM

Nickdfresh

10-01-2009, 08:20 PM

That definition of "socialism" is so broad, you could call Pres. Ronald Reagan a "socialist." In fact, I think I saw a direct comparison between the United States under Reagan and the Sandinistas that controlled Nicaragua during the 1980s that made the US seem far more socialistic than avowed Marxists. Most economies are "mixed economies." And yeah, you have lobbyists and corporatist that effectively engage in legalized bribery as evidenced by the oligarchical, regionalist health insurance industry pretending to protect a so-called "free market" that isn't really free and doesn't exist...

Seshmeister

10-01-2009, 08:21 PM

Corporatocracy

Corporatocracy or Corpocracy is a form of government where a corporation, a group of corporations, or government entities with private components, control the direction and governance of a country.

This belief is reinforced by two factors. First, corporations give to competing political parties and major political party candidates. This is seen as a corporation hedging their bets on the outcome of an election, and trying to get on the good side of whichever candidate is elected into office. Some say this is one of the hallmarks of a corporatocracy.

Second, in many cases former corporate executives serve as powerful decision makers within government institutions often charged with the regulation of their former employers. Meanwhile, former government employees often accept high ranking positions within corporations thereby providing their new employers with access to governmental decision makers. This serves to create the appearance of a revolving door between corporations and the institutions established to regulate their behavior.

Sound familiar...?

Nickdfresh

10-01-2009, 08:29 PM

The United States is a plutocracy blended into a Republic with some trappings of democracy. Anyone that believes differently is a fool and a willing sap entranced by the puppet show of the ruling elites...

lesfunk

10-01-2009, 08:36 PM

hmmmmm...

Seshmeister

10-01-2009, 08:40 PM

I think anyone watching the health care issue recently can see where the power is in the US.

The current system is clearly very expensive to the point of being untenable whilst not delivering good outcomes as a whole compared to almost all the other industrialised nations. The US people vote very strongly for the president who promises a wholesale reform and elects his party in both houses to back him up.

This in a time where great economic hardship is coming for many people who will not be able to get treatment for themselves or their children without losing everything.

And big business can still block it!

Blocked or hugely watered down with the support of various scare stories played out by lots of big media companies.

Barely a democracy never mind a socialist one.

lesfunk

10-01-2009, 08:51 PM

I guess my fear of healthcare reform lies in my general distrust of our elected officials and their inability to run anything efficiently . In this case, a heath care system that THEY do not participate. I would like to see our Govt. Officials be forced to participate in they same system THEY would adopt for US. I'll bet then it would be pretty sweet.
Even though I pay more than I like to for health insurance, I feel that I do receive adequate health care.
Although I do believe that Big Business (Big Tobacco, Big Medicine, Big Labour, Big Religion, etc.) have gone too far, I believe when you take away incentive to perform well, (profit) you will get poor performance.

I guess I'm one of those asses that prefer Big Business to Big Govt.

Seshmeister

10-01-2009, 08:59 PM

Government is usually inefficient but in the case of US health care it would be really difficult to be more inefficient. For a start the insurance companies skim 30% off the top and then you have all the unnecessary procedures, inflated drug prices and so on.

I'm not a fan of huge government either but I prefer it to a big business monopoly which is the worst of both worlds.

It's been mentioned before but again the US military is a huge huge bit of government and I bet not too efficient yet you don't hear people worrying about that so much.

Hardrock69

10-01-2009, 09:01 PM

Hey I am a socialist.....I mean, I have lotsa friends, and am not one of those weirdos who goes and lives on a mountaintop cause they can't stand to be around other people.....

lesfunk

10-01-2009, 09:30 PM

It's been mentioned before but again the US military is a huge huge bit of government and I bet not too efficient yet you don't hear people worrying about that so much.

Actually, I cuntsider the Military a perfect example of Big Govt ineptness and inefficiency.
The US has the most advanced technology, most powerful weapons and we can't accomplish jack shit.

FORD

10-01-2009, 09:41 PM

Actually, I cuntsider the Military a perfect example of Big Govt ineptness and inefficiency.
The US has the most advanced technology, most powerful weapons and we can't accomplish jack shit.

Maybe that's because there hasn't really been jack shit to accomplish since August 1945?

Everything since then has been a waste of time, lives, and resources on bullshit that has nothing to do with defending this country.

sadaist

10-01-2009, 10:53 PM

Hey I am a socialist.....I mean, I have lotsa friends, and am not one of those weirdos who goes and lives on a mountaintop cause they can't stand to be around other people.....

I'd live like a recluse as long as I could still have Direct TV and Internet. Always wanted to live in a boat moored in San Diego Bay right next to Coronado Bridge. Total privacy, yet also right in the smack center of the city. (plus my dates would be less reluctant to walk out :))

FORD

10-01-2009, 11:02 PM

Next to the bridge? Isn't that where the major shipping port is? (Been years since I've been in San Diego, but my recollection of that area is that it was a bit "industrial".)

standin

10-01-2009, 11:09 PM

The day satellite Internet ( of good quality, speed and price) I will dance in the woods.
I can live without television, but I want the Internet.

I have priced to have my own internet tower installed $5000 = t1
That is somewhat affordable, but the monthly cost I think was a $1000

Seshmeister

10-01-2009, 11:37 PM

Actually, I cuntsider the Military a perfect example of Big Govt ineptness and inefficiency.
The US has the most advanced technology, most powerful weapons and we can't accomplish jack shit.

It's beyond that though it's fucking mind boggling.

Last week I was killing time on the internet and looked at the inventory of the US Air force. It's vast. 2500 fighters or something. Then you remember each costs $100m or so. Then you remember that the navy has another huge bunch of them and we haven't even got onto helicopters or bombers or whatever.

What's it all for? It's certainly at least 10 times bigger than it needs to be to defend the US.

Health care is small beer compared to all that shit. You could have completely free healthcare, free housing, free blowjobs for everyone just by reducing the US military to twice what you need.

GAR

10-02-2009, 12:26 AM

please Edify me then, because I think I might be an ignorant racist

Being a recognized voice here on such racial issues as wetbacks, blacktivists, welfare queens and white trash wiggers I can pretty much clarify you, too, are a racist because you are sounding like you do not like Socialism, an agenda currently is being pitched by a black President.

GAR

10-02-2009, 12:37 AM

What's it all for? It's certainly at least 10 times bigger than it needs to be to defend the US.

It's 10 times smaller than what we really need to defend our nation's agenda, which means making other nations submissive and not submitting to other nation's agendas such as Socialism - like what you got over there working ever so well in the UK

Seshmeister

10-02-2009, 01:08 AM

We need some sort of new word for these posts.

Can I suggest anti-posts?

Posts that after you read them you actually know less.

GAR

10-02-2009, 01:15 AM

Off-topic remarks such as that use the better term "exo-post."

bueno bob

10-02-2009, 02:47 AM

Nitro Express

10-02-2009, 03:33 AM

I don't care what you call it. Socialism, Communism, Fascism, Monopoly ect... It all boils down to a few elites being more equal than the others and ruling the masses with an iron fist.

Nitro Express

10-02-2009, 03:35 AM

I think we are going back to fuedalism. A few connected lords will own everything. Obama likes to pose as Robin Hood but he's really just robbing the hood.

Nitro Express

10-02-2009, 03:42 AM

I think where the US differs is our constitution focuses on the individual and individual rights. It's not about democracy at all. A democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on who's for dinner. The US is a republic based on law that cherishes individual rights. Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Worship. We used to cherish these freedoms and now we have been intimidated by political correctness. We are losing our individualism. What ever happened to I don't like what you are saying but you have the right to say it? We are being domesticated and herded and this is everything being American isn't.

sadaist

10-02-2009, 04:17 AM

Next to the bridge? Isn't that where the major shipping port is? (Been years since I've been in San Diego, but my recollection of that area is that it was a bit "industrial".)

On the San Diego side you are correct...or were. That's where they put Petco Park for the Padres and the cruise ship dock. The moored boats people live on are on the Coronado side of the bridge looking across to the stadium, downtown, Shelter Island, Seaport Village & convention center.

Seshmeister

10-02-2009, 08:12 AM

I think where the US differs is our constitution focuses on the individual and individual rights. It's not about democracy at all. A democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on who's for dinner.

Most other democracies have more than 2 wolves these days though so you can at least vote for a vegetarian wolf who'll shout good suggestions from the sidelines...:)

Nickdfresh

10-02-2009, 12:40 PM

Being a recognized voice here on such racial issues as wetbacks, blacktivists, welfare queens and white trash wiggers I can pretty much clarify you, too, are a racist because you are sounding like you do not like Socialism, an agenda currently is being pitched by a black President.

What about white trash unemployable clusterfucks like you who have their jobz stolen by da' Mexicans? Did you get Cobra for that shit? Or do you leech off that heffer of a girlfriend?

Big Train

10-02-2009, 12:53 PM

It's beyond that though it's fucking mind boggling.

Last week I was killing time on the internet and looked at the inventory of the US Air force. It's vast. 2500 fighters or something. Then you remember each costs $100m or so. Then you remember that the navy has another huge bunch of them and we haven't even got onto helicopters or bombers or whatever.

What's it all for? It's certainly at least 10 times bigger than it needs to be to defend the US.

It's just about right, when you consider the size of our potential opponents (Russia, China, or a combo of both) while simultaneously needing the ability to defend the majority of North America (Mexicans and Canadians are both a little light on F-22's and Apaches).

standin

10-02-2009, 02:39 PM

Big Train

10-07-2009, 04:27 PM

Don't believe the hype when they say no redistribution of wealth :hee:

The Associated Press: Thousands mob Detroit center in hopes of free cash (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jMf-Peoqc-Aa8Tr2VSC2VIH3qY6gD9B6F0180)

Thousands mob Detroit center in hopes of free cash
By COREY WILLIAMS (AP) – 38 minutes ago

DETROIT — Police say authorities had to break up scuffles after thousands of Detroit residents tried to apply for free federal money.

Long lines snaked into a downtown center Wednesday morning, but applications ran out quickly on the final day to get paperwork for a homelessness prevention program.

Police say fights broke out as people pushed and shoved for spots in line. Several people have been treated for fainting and exhaustion.

City officials say many falsely believed they were registering for $3,000 stimulus checks from the Obama administration.

The federally funded program is for low-income residents who recently became homeless or are near homelessness. At least one in four Detroit households is in poverty.

Nickdfresh

10-07-2009, 11:11 PM

It's just about right, when you consider the size of our potential opponents (Russia, China, or a combo of both) while simultaneously needing the ability to defend the majority of North America (Mexicans and Canadians are both a little light on F-22's and Apaches).

Dude, you're utterly clueless on this. Defend against what? The Chinese invasion of Wal-Mart? WTF do the Russians have? They get a hard on when they overrun small countries on their border they outnumber 100-to-1 in population...

FORD

10-07-2009, 11:15 PM

Dude, you're utterly clueless on this. Defend against what? The Chinese invasion of Wal-Mart?

I think it's a little late for that. :(

Hardrock69

10-08-2009, 02:46 AM

We need some sort of new word for these posts.

Can I suggest anti-posts?

Posts that after you read them you actually know less.

Sesh, you posted a classic definition of anything GAR posts around here. :biggrin:

Big Train

10-08-2009, 11:39 AM

Dude, you're utterly clueless on this. Defend against what? The Chinese invasion of Wal-Mart? WTF do the Russians have? They get a hard on when they overrun small countries on their border they outnumber 100-to-1 in population...

OK Patton has spoken...

They are a POTENTIAL Threat, no matter what you may think about the ACTUAL chances of an attack. The weapons are in place as a strategic deterrent, as they should be.

ELVIS

10-08-2009, 11:49 AM

We are largely a socialist population...

Nickdfresh

10-08-2009, 04:28 PM

OK Patton has spoken...

I prefer Gen. Lucian Truscott...

They are a POTENTIAL Threat, no matter what you may think about the ACTUAL chances of an attack. The weapons are in place as a strategic deterrent, as they should be.

They're relatively poor, spend a fraction of what we do on the military, and if it were just about defending North America, we'd spend a fraction of the annual budget on defense do now.