The Holocaust is offensive

[GG]

poverty, oppression and no coffee

 

 

1475 The world's first coffee shop opens in Constantinople. It is followed by the establishment of two coffee houses in 1554

 

Coffee, the tool of capitalists

[OCinBuffalo]

Almost every representative government is socialist. And while most of them were the result of some kind of revolution to overthrow a monarch or despot, the socialist ideals aren't in place by force: people vote for socialists governments all over the world.

 

(Because I don't want to provoke a side argument, I'll refrain from labeling the US government as socialist even though it largely is.)

Whoa - there is a huge difference between a freely elected legislative body voting on and implementing a government program(s) that its has roots in socialist themes, and a small group(4 or 5) of psychopaths and/or sociopaths simply deciding everything every day, all the time.(which by the way - regardless of the country or implementation, ALWAYS ends up being the case when socialist government is imposed). There is no way in hell that we, or any country that matters economically, are a "socialist"country - a little wishful thinking on your part maybe? The simple answer is that in every country, even Sweden, people own businesses not the government, and, we have an actual freely elected government - not Ortega, Castro, or good old Uncle Joe! So no, almost every representative government is not socialist, not even close.

You want to know why we, and really no one else, are NOT a socialist country? Small businesses. IF we were a socialist country they simply wouldn't exist. In all the former soviet republics and the USSR, this is what they are focusing on - because it is the diversity of small business that allows for a strong economy, since many small businesses mitigate risk better than one, huge, company/government owned collective. Why? Because if the economy takes a turn some of the small businesses will fail, but will be bought by/replaced by others, but the overall state of a nations ability to produce will stay strong. Whereas if the "collective" is running things, and it fails, everybody is screwed. It works just like your body does - lots and lots of little cells - one cell dies - no big deal. And, each cell has to produce or it stops getting fed. The best part is each cell makes its own decisions, good or bad, and the decisions of one cell, do not automatically affect the others. At the same time, we have large corporations who maximize economies of scale, making it cheap for us to buy the things we have pretty much figured out, like dog food, plates, and lawn mowers. As much as people like to bash Wal-Mart - there are millions of people whose lives are better because of them.

 

This is precisely why all the predictors of our economy taking a huge nose dive after 9/11 were astronomically wrong. It is why we kick the crap out of the rest of the world overall in new technology products(um, before you even start, yeah the ones we invent and they steal, well not much we can do about that). It is why we outproduce the Europeans - to their amazement - every single quarter. Their old systems of "over-tax and overspend" would never in a million years allow small business to flourish. Why? Because why should I take the huge risk in starting a new computer company in Holland, if I know that, no matter what, 70% of what I might make IF I don't fail is going to be taken from me, no matter what. I'm better off just staying at my job, working for the big company. Now, is Holland a socialist country? Well, maybe, but the difference is: they and their elected officials could throw off this "over-tax and overspend" yoke any time - they have that choice. IF they want to stop being stupid and actually try to to give us a run for our money - they could and no one would get killed because of it. And, the EU is desperately trying to emulate our small business model - and cutting spending/nanny state programs - this is the reason why we saw the riots in France. The kids are being told by their parents(government): We are not gonna guarantee you everything such that you are allowed to be a non-productive **** that "lives life to the fullest, unlike those greeedy Americans" anymore. That was a pipe dream and an example of selfishness on a galactic scale.

 

In a truly socialist country none of this is happening unless you kill/imprison the 4 or 5 psychopaths - provided they haven't killed/imprisoned you first.

[Chilly]

I'm COOL because I know how to BOLD and underline stuff!

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

I'm COOL because I know how to BOLD and underline stuff!

 

That's a great addition to the thread. Is it "academic laziness week" down in Austin?

 

[RuntheDamnBall]

That's a great addition to the thread. Is it "academic laziness week" down in Austin?

 

Yeah. [/LSI]

[OCinBuffalo]

I'm COOL because I know how to BOLD and underline stuff!

This is hysterical because you are the one who told me last August to use more of them. What, now that I'm using them you don't like it? Bluefire telling me to use emticons, and underlines, and bolds Or, are you simply a Kerry wanna-be flip flop artist? I have been reading your post from then and now today - and laughing. You were just as limited in your ability to add anything useful to the discussion then as now. You were just as likely to crack on, and offer no reasonable contradiction to my points then as now. Good job on the consistency thing - oh wait, I almost forgot, I didn't use any emticons, bolds or underlines this time, is that ok or not? Please be consistent about that too.