Socialism

[Speaker to Animals]

Where no competition is possible, the argument for a capitalist solution falls flat on its face. This is especially true wherever privatization implies a state-regulated monopoly.

There is no competition possible for electricity, water supply, etc. The public utility in particular stands out as a strong example that capitalism is not a solution for every economic problem we face.

Why should I have to pay for Duke Energy's profit? They do not compete for this market. They do not even pay for their own infrastructure upgrade. They take that straight out my state's coffers.

We might as well just own the plants and infrastructure, and contract out running the facilities.

We all still have power lines running above the ground on poles, like the fucking third world.

[DBTrek]

Sure, Capitalism fares poorly in non-competitive environments. There are even cases where optimal performance in competitive environments may not be desired. It’s not a divine system, it’s just the best one productive people have discovered thus far.

And socialism is the second best system non-productive people have discovered, right behind communism.


Actually, I’m using Capitalism as a stand-in for “free markets” here, which I probably shouldn’t do - since Capitalism includes tenets about production, wealth creation, and ownership that can lead to excessive hair splitting.

[DrYouth]

So you believe that desire vs necessity somehow matters when we’re talking about whether or not people are collecting the fruits of others labor?

Sounds suspect.

People don’t want to take their failing vehicle to the auto shop. If we socialize mechanics nationwide so anyone can take their car in and have it repaired for “free” is someone still not ultimately paying the cost for someone else simply because no one desires a broken car?

I’d say desire vs necessity plays no role whatsoever in the “collecting the fruits of others labor” equation.

I took out college loans for my degree. That means others paid for my education. While attending classes I was collecting up all the fruits of other’s labor and having a grand ol’ time! Now, ultimately I had to pay it all back with interest, but that doesn’t change the fact that before it was paid off my education was a result of the labors of others.

So whether you’re getting heart surgery, getting your engine replaced, or getting a BS in History, the fact remains that every cent paid by others represents “labor fruits” collected by the recipient.

Ok... perhaps we are talking past each other.

I was reacting to what sounded like an accusation of someone indulging oneself at the cost of another.
Enjoying the "fruits" of another's labour.

As if going to hospital was somehow self-indulgent.

When socialism works... the problem of one person indulging themself at the cost of another is a serious potential pitfall.
So we don't socialize mechanics... not considering driving a car a necessity... although for some this might be debatable.
We do socialize public transit.

We socialize pre-secondary education to a greater degree than post secondary... other societies do this differently.

The nuts and bolts of the marital duties of capitalism and socialism is largely up for debate...
But the fact that Capitalism does health care, military, public transit and public education poorly on it's own isn't really.

[Fife]

Who here argues that health care is a public good?

Or education?

Spoiler alert: they aren't.

[DrYouth]

Who here argues that health care is a public good?

Or education?

Spoiler alert: they aren't.

Meaning what?

[Fife]

Do you know what a public good is?

[Speaker to Animals]

Why does it matter?

[Fife]

Why does it matter?

To an economically illiterate atheist commie, not much.

[DrYouth]

To an atheist commie, not much.

And why does it matter to a libertarian wingnut?
Speak plainly now.

[Fife]

To an atheist commie, not much.

And why does it matter to libertarian wingnut?
Speak plainly now.

How much plainer do you want it: do you know the meaning of the term?