So we were drunk a few months ago...

[queequeger]

Originally Posted by Mockingbird

Also, what would socialist capitalism even look like? If we had universal free health care, and better government institutions, wouldn't it be the same thing as capitalism, just with a better organized government?

That's a pretty good summary right there. The idea is higher taxes (think 50% on average, maybe even higher... of course progressive in nature rather than flat) and much more comprehensive in nature. Meaning universal free education, as high as you can earn (though you do still have to earn the grades). Meaning free health care for everyone (although I think you should be able to opt to pay more for better than average service). Meaning if you're disabled or can't work for a short time, free food.

No one should have to worry about shelter, food, medicine, or education. Everyone who CAN work, should. With this system you still have the motivation to work harder and you are rewarded for it, but it leaves no one wanting. Wikipedia's entries are under 'social democracy' although that's a misnomer because socialism is supposed to be democratic, not despotic like the USSR. I guess someone high jacked the name Social capitalism with some theory that institutionalizes social strata.

but yeah, I wasn't meaning to imply the popular idea of communism (i.e. russia's twisted BS factory) I mean that through technology and idealogical advancements, we'll create a form of socialism without even trying to.

[Mockingbird]

Originally Posted by queequeger

That's a pretty good summary right there. The idea is higher taxes (think 50% on average, maybe even higher... of course progressive in nature rather than flat) and much more comprehensive in nature. Meaning universal free education, as high as you can earn (though you do still have to earn the grades). Meaning free health care for everyone (although I think you should be able to opt to pay more for better than average service). Meaning if you're disabled or can't work for a short time, free food.

No one should have to worry about shelter, food, medicine, or education. Everyone who CAN work, should. With this system you still have the motivation to work harder and you are rewarded for it, but it leaves no one wanting. Wikipedia's entries are under 'social democracy' although that's a misnomer because socialism is supposed to be democratic, not despotic like the USSR. I guess someone high jacked the name Social capitalism with some theory that institutionalizes social strata.

but yeah, I wasn't meaning to imply the popular idea of communism (i.e. russia's twisted BS factory) I mean that through technology and idealogical advancements, we'll create a form of socialism without even trying to.

I agree, I think that people have forgotten the use of many common words, even our forms of government. If you analyze the United States for example, you'll find that it's a lax republic rather than a true democracy. Which is actually better, depending on who you ask. Everyone is so used to calling it a democracy though, that you don't really think twice about it. In the case of 'socialism' we could substitute a new meaning in there to distill the bitter Russian taste. How about:

Socialism: A form of government operating on the philosophy of not being a dick to a stranger, ever.

See, that's much easier to understand.