What does Socialism Add to the Economy?

[Altfish]

So, you need socialism to feel compassion for the under privileged?

I don't see much compassion in the GOP or the UK's conservative party

 

[Nakosis]

I don't see much compassion in the GOP or the UK's conservative party

How does socialism help with that except by eliminating the concerns of the under privileged from the individual to the state?

That's the idea right? You as the individual no longer need to concern yourself with compassion since you make it the responsibility of the state to deal with it.

So, I'll agree with you here, socialism unburdens you from any need for compassion.

 

[metis]

First of all, not everybody who pays taxes are millionaires; however, for those “Peters”that are, Peter is more likely to circulate his money by investing in business where as Paul is more likely to circulate the money by being a customer to business. Investing in a business is a lot more beneficial to that business than being a customer because the business only sees ten cents on the dollar when someone buys its products, where as the business gets the whole dollar when it is invested.

You assuming that "Peter" decides to spend his money locally.

Again, I'm going by basic macro-economics, not hearsay.

 

[Altfish]

How does socialism help with that except by eliminating the concerns of the under privileged from the individual to the state?

That's the idea right? You as the individual no longer need to concern yourself with compassion since you make it the responsibility of the state to deal with it.

So, I'll agree with you here, socialism unburdens you from any need for compassion.

In the UK Socialism is not the same as it is used in the US, in the US what they call Socialism is more akin to what the UK would call communism.

In the UK socialism has led to the minimum wage, paid holidays, healthcare for all freely given, workers' rights, etc.

If you have compassion, you vote for socialist governments.

 

[Esteban X]

If you have compassion, you vote for socialist governments.

In my experience (limited to myself) if one has compassion one cannot not vote for a conservative government. Is the only option, other than conservative, socialist.? On the political spectrum how far left of centre does one have to lean before one becomes socialist?

 

[Stevicus]

In my experience (limited to myself) if one has compassion one cannot not vote for a conservative government. Is the only option, other than conservative, socialist.? On the political spectrum how far left of centre does one have to lean before one becomes socialist?

I think most systems probably end up with a mixture of both private and public ownership, regardless of what they're called or how they're labeled. In practice, it seems to come down to questions of what should be owned/controlled by the state versus what should be left to the private sector.

I suppose one can still have compassion and support conservative, laissez-faire capitalism, but I would say it's not so much a matter of compassion as it is about whether someone puts more trust in the private sector as opposed to the state.

 

[Altfish]

In my experience (limited to myself) if one has compassion one cannot not vote for a conservative government. Is the only option, other than conservative, socialist.? On the political spectrum how far left of centre does one have to lean before one becomes socialist?

In the UK we have more than two political parties.
From Right to Left approximately they go..... yes you could argue the order of the left parties.
Reform, Tories, LibDem, Labour, Green - also in Scotland the SNP, who are to the left of Labour; in Wales there is a Plaid Cymru who are similar in alignment to the SNP.
I'm ignoring Northern Ireland - that is totally different.

In UK, I would say that LibDem, Labour, Green are all socialist

 

[Yerda]

In UK, I would say that LibDem, Labour, Green are all socialist

I'd say that Labour and the LibDems are much more accurately categorised as neoliberal.

What does socialism mean when you say it?

 

[Altfish]

I'd say that Labour and the LibDems are much more accurately categorised as neoliberal.

What does socialism mean when you say it?

Socialism means something along the lines of...
All people are equal, the key industries should be state run ... eg Transport, Highways, Power, Water, Education, Medical, etc
That does NOT exclude private industries being involved, a good example is that my local area buses are being taken over by the local authority, but private companies are tendering for the right to run those services.

 

[Yerda]

Socialism means something along the lines of...
All people are equal, the key industries should be state run ... eg Transport, Highways, Power, Water, Education, Medical, etc

Do Labour and the LibDems agree that key industries should be state run?

That does NOT exclude private industries being involved, a good example is that my local area buses are being taken over by the local authority, but private companies are tendering for the right to run those services.

I'm not sure I understand what the local authority has taken over if the service is operated by private companies

 

[Altfish]

Do Labour and the LibDems agree that key industries should be state run?


I'm not sure I understand what the local authority has taken over if the service is operated by private companies

Labour are in general agreement but it is a slowly, slowly approach. Not sure about LibDems

The private companies run the services but the council set the route, timetable and fares.

 

[Kfox]

You assuming that "Peter" decides to spend his money locally.

No; I think you're assuming Paul spends his money locally. But it doesn't matter, locally or not it's still in circulation.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

?

Socialism works to minimize the disparity of wealth. Disparity of wealth ultimately short circuits society, including its economy. I'll give just two examples.

1. When the lower classes do not have money to spend, overall consumer demand decreases, leading to lower sales for businesses. This can slow economic growth and hinder job creation.

2. Limited financial resources can restrict access to education and training for lower-income individuals, leading to a dearth of individuals with the necessary skills and background to invent and improve.

 

[Balthazzar]

I don't know, but I like opportunity and making increase via effort and perseverance. It's not that we don't need social programs, it just seems more functional with added security for those who apply their hands to go the extra mile, so to speak ... the pursuit of happiness. It's a rewards and incentive structure aimed to increase personal well-being. I wouldn't know much about socialism, but if you're giving away free money and I still have the option to pursue happiness via capitalistic efforts, then hey ... why not? If not, I still prefer to at least effort myself towards the greater increase. Education, effort, ability, perseverance, and business sense pays off for a reason. I'm not sure why people get all pissy about it. I'm a poor man myself and I get pissy about a perceived lack of opportunity. I suppose that limitation is self-imposed or simply the nature of a competitive market. It amounts to frustration.