Oddbean new post about login | logout There is no "European" definition or "US vision". You tell us what YOU mean by "socialism", because it sounds like it's not the literal definition.
Right. I think I meant 'social democrat' ('socialist party' is actually the name of french social democrats). Any socialist agenda is harder (impossible?) to implement when the government can't debase it's currency and/or confiscate private property. You likely just have an instinct to help the less fortunate, which is extremely commendable. I would urge you, however, to consider that maybe coercion (which is 1000% necessary for any socialist agenda) might not be the most optimal way to achieve that end. Maybe freedom and strong private property rights would help the less fortunate better than any socialist program?
I would highly appreciate a world where people care, respect and help each other without any kind of coercion (like taxes, laws or police).. Capitalism and socialism both failed to achieve this. Libertarianism I my opinion would be even worst at it. I think a human society needs to find the good balance between coercion and freedom to work correctly. So far, I haven't experienced something better than social democracy to achieve this. Anyway I clearly see that our freedom is at risk now: the 1st reason may be because democraty is screwed by the financial/capitalist system.
Then bitcoin is one of your worst nightmares.
I see it as a very good way to remove part of the power from the financial system
And from the state first and foremost
You either have coercion or freedom. You can't have both.
One man's freedom ends where another man's begins
That is a typical socialist world view.
Are you the type to turn your music up loud on the beach? 😅
I don’t know what that means, but probably something very clever
Do you value more your right to listen to your music or the right others have to listen to the sea sound ?
Of course I value my own right to NOT be exposed to intrusive individuals. And of course I have imagination enough and a natural sense of honor enough to NEVER behave against others in a way I would never want others to behave against me. Very strange question by the way
There's no balance between coercion and freedom. We've already found the best way to maximize human well being - property. If nobody is stealing from you, you can build and create value. A government should only ensure the inviolability of property, and instead of stealing from citizens to pay for its guarantee of safety, the citizens should volunteer in local government. That means if you vote, you better be in your neighborhood watch. Healthcare and retirement schemes are unnecessary if the money isn't debased, so those don't stand as a justification for taxes.
This sounds like a tribal organisation. So you want to organize the country as it was when natives were ruling it ? My experience in France is that everything very big we achieved was made possible thanks to the gouvernement and public money: - highways and roads (very good and dense ones) - health care (one of the best un the world) - TGV - nuclear power plans and bombs - aerospatial (Airbus, Ariane) Today, things are not so good because this global effort has been jeopardized by privatisation of public services, lead by the financial system (privatisation of profits, socialisation of losses).
Has to be a troll account 😂
Sure commie
I'm not. I valuate private property, even if I think it is no it always the best way to go depending on the case. When it comes to things essential to a society and requiring huge investments (health, energy, transportations & communication infrastructures) it sometimes works better and is cheaper when things are managed as common goods. You have a different opinion, I respect it, you don't have to be gross