I'm not aware how any Greek government since the Junta has tried to control the private lives of its citizens.
Venezuela is a banana republic, but for other reasons.
As an actual Brit, no.
Run on a platform of dismantling the NHS, gutting public services and slashing important benefits and pensions and you'll get less than 5% of the vote.
Greece is broke...because of socialism.
Venezuela is broke because of socialism and cronyism.
It doesn't work. It wouldn't work here, but then again it might. Because we have so many people getting entitlements today.
Don't get me wrong. I do agree that there has to be some social changes. But that isn't what fixes the problems we have here. You can't get the right social changes, until you have the individuals change themselves. Sin is the problem.
I blame the churches for not doing their job. They started social work. They started the schools, they started the hospitals. But they let it go by the wayside, they ignored the God given laws and took to the money instead of doing what God intended for us to do.
Christ wasn't a socialist. He was for individual freedoms. If not He would have made everyone accept Him. He didn't, He told them the truth and then he let them figure it out, from the truth. Those that didn't get it, crucified Him, Those that did, followed Him.
He even taught about investing, read the story of the ten talents.
But for every thing He did. It all came down to one thing, save the lost.
By changing the hearts and minds of the individuals to repent and place their trust in Him. He had his followers. Not because he laid down a law and said, do it or else.
Even today, we should never witness the "Do it or else" approach. Show them they have sin in their lives. Give them the truth of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit convicts and then they have a choice. Either surrender and repent. Or don't, and if they don't let them know the consequences of that.
When you take from one to give to another, it promotes dishonesty, anger and resentment.
When you teach, to give from the heart in love, it promotes Love, charity, forgiveness, patience, longsuffering and wisdom...some of those are the fruits of the Spirit. Go figure.
When you take from one to give to another, so the other can continue taking, never contributing to the society he/she lives in. It also promotes dishonesty, anger and resentment. Plus laziness, false contentment and no will to invent or start something, in those who receive this so called free help.
Nope, socialism will not work here..too many individual thinking people here. If it were to start...it would creep up on us...as it's trying to do now.