Why do so many Americans want socialism (and support Bernie Sanders' Idealism)?

Denmark, Sweden, Norway.

Russia hasn't been Socialist for a long time.

We call that Socialism.

My definition of socialism differs from yours.

I don't discuss things with people who insult and only want to argue because they are resistant to learning and discovery. Have a good day.

The United States is a capitalist country with many socialist programs. That is not a bad thing. That is a good thing. A capitalist society with aspects of socialism mixed in is a good thing. Neither 100 percent socialism or 100 percent capitalism is a good thing. I definitely believe in capitalism, entrepreneurship, and the free enterprise system. I also believe in aspects of socialism such as Medicare, Social Security, Single Payer, public schools, food stamp program, section 8 rental assistance, free school lunch program for the poor, Pell grants for the poor to attend college, and various other socialist programs that I fully support. I also believe that the super wealthy should pay their fair share in taxes to help fund these programs. There are some socialist programs I don't support. I don't support government subsidies to big wealthy corporations. In other words, I don't believe in welfare for the rich. The trick is to find that perfect balance of capitalism and socialism.

Not just that of Socialism either.

RM, I'm in total agreement.

I had a disagreement about political systems, and explained why. If you are unable to accept differing viewpoints, why even participate on a2k?



I disagreed with this statement, and explained why. The current 4.4% unemployment is one of the best in the developed world for the size and mix of our population. Our country represents less than 5% of the world's population, but our economy is the most productive in the world at over $18 trillion dollars. China beats us in GDP, but their population is one of the largest on this planet with 1/5th of the world's population.
https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000

US GDP comparison to other countries. https://knoema.com/nwnfkne/world-gdp-ranking-2016-data-and-charts-forecast

I think you know I was referring to your insults, -not your civil comments. You said to me "It's obvious you have never studied Economics. Did you even go to college?
URL: https://able2know.org/topic/330634-6

Here, by asking if I ever studied economics, you try to position yourself as superior in economics to me, and at the same time assert that I'm completely wrong that there is capitalist economics and there is socialist economics. Care to discuss the labor theory of value?

Then, to top it off, you indicate that you have doubts as to whether I went to college, thereby once again asserting your superiority. Well, I did graduate from college if that is so important to you. But if you wish to further engage me in discussion, you need to omit insults and superiority posturing.

It's an honest question. Did you? Your statements on economics is totally confused and ignorant. I'm willing to stay on topic if you don't continue to make unfounded claims on economics. You only confuse others who have not studied economics. What are the basis for your claims? Have you really done any reading on economics?

Can't handle the truth? LOL

I guess you don't quite understand the concept of a "discussion forum". The idea is that if someone says something with which you disagree, you are allowed to present facts supportive of an opposing position. Calling someone's statements "unfounded claims" is an ignorant assertion intended to intimidate and stifle discussion rather than engage in discussion. I suggest that if you can't deal with opposing positions, correct or incorrect, you might do better to find another activity more suitable to an urge to bully others. Maybe you could train at the police academy or take up professional wrestling. Then you could be an actual cop or professional bully instead of trying to police a forum with bullying tactics that are doomed to fail.

"It's an honest question. Did you?"

One more suggestion: read posts completely and struggle for comprehension.

Cicerone has been on a2k a long time and so have I. He is elderly now (so am I and a good portion of the rest of us) and cranky, as many a2kers are, of any age. A number of us have met him and like and care about him. You show up being instructive.
I need an emoji for shaking my hands in dismissal..

I go back to:

Please provide credible source to support your claim that "capitalism has reached the end of its utility and useful life for the people." If you can provide that, I will personally apologize to you.

What's "elderly"? I turned 70 this year. I'm cranky too with bladder cancer, diabetes, lupus, and other miscellaneous aggravations. But no matter, if I participate in a forum, I expect I will be required to read posts, digest what they say, avoid insulting comments, and resist superiority games. Discussion is one thing. Trolling is another.

I would have to provide a long sequence of widely read and known news stories over many years. Known facts suffice, and I gave them. I provided significantly more than you quoted. You could have quoted more and addressed it point-by-point, but you did otherwise. So let me post the salient portion again:

"By the 1970s capitalism in the US had retained its ability to produce "things" and to create wealth for a few, but at that point the standard of living of the people began to slip. In order to maintain it and keep it growing, women began going back to work in businesses. They developed careers. They increased family income. They bought a second car because two cars were needed with two people working. They sent the kids to college which delayed the addition of their earned income to the family because they could with mom working. So the whole reason their standard of living kept improving was because of two-income families to fund it. But employers saw the opportunity to extract a bit more from workers who continued to do well, and incomes began to stagnate while the rich got richer.

"People were gradually seeing their buying power slide, so banks stepped in to make a killing while providing a temporary appearance of "benefit" to help the standard of living keep on advancing: the credit card was popularized. It was advertised constantly. And debt grew as the standard of living kept up. Then the debt bubble burst in 2008 - 2009."

First digest what I said and how I mean it as an indication of capitalism failing for the majority, and then question, critique, correct, or comment as you choose.

I'm am nearing 76, which often makes me laugh, what, how can this be.
CI and I have often spatted. Whatever our fulsome disagreements, he's not a troll.

When the alternative is extinction its not hard to know why...