Do You Think Socialism Would Work In the U.S.?

[true_notes]

Some question socialism's temperment in America. Do you think, as a citizen, it would work for you?

[begin_within]

1. Americans are just too selfish for it.

[melody]

8. Arkansas had one of the largest world chapters of Dem Socialists in 1930

The US south is actually quite quasi-Marxist in approach. There's the whole "don't get above your raising" idea down there and a general deep distrust of money and rich people.

I'm not a socialist, but the very poor, "give all to your neighbor" mindset in the rural south doesn't seem very far afield.

Many forms of Socialism are in their own way selfish. But to your question, Americans are no more selfish than any other nationality. These are two logical arguments I've made 500 times here and won't make again, so that's my .02.

[upi402]

2. like the rest of the western world?

but we kill killers to preove killing's wrong!

DOH!

[Greyhound]

3. We need to so what we've always been best at, adopt the choice bits

and leave the rest. Basic essentials (food, shelter, education, health care, energy) should be socialized, true capitalism for the rest.

[tocqueville]

4. define socialism nt

[Mass]

5. First, you have to define what you call socialism.

Is it the social-democracy that most European Socialist Parties support or is it something else, and in this case, what?

At this point in time, the word Socialism has been used by so many people in so many different forms that it has become meaningless without more explanations.

However, given all I have read on DU, my feeling is that most people here would not even support Social Democracy. They say they are progressives, but when it comes to issues, a lot less people are.

[true_notes]

7. Good Point-

In my head, I would like to see "utopian socialism" come into play. Although I realize this would never happen, but wouldn't it be great to treat humans,animals,and overall the planet equally? If someone doesn't have a home then one would be there for him.

Most view socialism as slavery for the state, but I view it as billions working for the betterment of all.

Capitalism is such a decadent system. How can one man live in a mansion for inheriting a massive amount of money, yet another man can live on the street until he dies because he lost his job, got a divorce, or has mental problems, and the company views him as a risk.

On top of that the corporations of today are caught up in the greed wave and will fire an employee for their own good, only to find that the employee will find little to no help from the government.

The military is a socialist society, and it has stayed powerful (though it is totalitarian, which I disagree with), but the principles of a steady paycheck, job security,free healthcare,insurance,and social services it proves that it can be done on a scale, on top of that we are Americans in the military, but most don't realize that we live in a socialist society!(pardon the run-on sentence)

I'll stop there.

[1932]

6. We sort of have a socialism for the wealthy right now. The government

does a great deal to keep the rich rich at the cost of everyone else.

[Birthmark]

9. Socialism is a tool

Capitalism is a tool, too. Like all tools they are very powerful and effective when used for the jobs for which they are designed. There is no such thing as one tool that does all jobs well.

Contending that only one economic tool is the only tool that may be used is akin to claiming that you can saw a board properly with a hammer.

[Darranar]

10. Definitely. Socialism would work in all industrial capitalist societies.

The United States is not particularly unique, except in the notable lack of an effective working-class movement at this point.

[pinto]

11. It already does - Medicare and Social Security.

:thumbsup:

[Endangered Specie]

12. Depends,

I think a mix of capitialism and socialism would be best.

[Vidar]

13. Would it work, yes. Would it ever pass, no.

[rman]

14. Aspects of socialism have been working well in the US

since forever, though it's being undermined by the RW, and quite successfully so. What do you think for instance tax-funded healthcare and -education is? Why do you think Repubs want to privitize those?

When dems say "socialism is bad", do they mean healthcare and education should be privitized?