Can democratic Socialism save America?

[Michie]

This week, I am not responding to a question but expressing my personal views on the implications of the rise of democratic socialism in America.

Robin Hood is a legend in English folklore based on the illegal and daring exploits of a good-hearted crusader for the common man, or peasants. His heroic character is considered to symbolize resistance to abusive authority and heavy taxation.

Over the years, books and movies based on this fictional character have romanticized the idea of taking from the rich (always portrayed as greedy, selfish, and corrupt), with altruistic motives, of course, to redistribute to the poor and oppressed victims. Robin Hood was never portrayed as greedy, selfish, or corrupt, only kind, just, benevolent, and generous — the perfect protector and redistributor of wealth to the masses.

It sounds very much like the modern platform of democratic socialism.

In my 2021 book, Seven Gray Swans, I offered a biblical analysis of seven key trends that I labeled as gray swans. In the simplest of terms, a gray swan is an obvious danger that we tend to ignore. My list included, among others, universal basic income, social scoring, biometric IDs, and democratic socialism.

Continued below.

Can democratic Socialism save America?

The threat of democratic socialism is no longer an outlier

www.christianpost.com

 

[Yarddog]

This week, I am not responding to a question but expressing my personal views on the implications of the rise of democratic socialism in America.

Robin Hood is a legend in English folklore based on the illegal and daring exploits of a good-hearted crusader for the common man, or peasants. His heroic character is considered to symbolize resistance to abusive authority and heavy taxation.

Over the years, books and movies based on this fictional character have romanticized the idea of taking from the rich (always portrayed as greedy, selfish, and corrupt), with altruistic motives, of course, to redistribute to the poor and oppressed victims. Robin Hood was never portrayed as greedy, selfish, or corrupt, only kind, just, benevolent, and generous — the perfect protector and redistributor of wealth to the masses.

It sounds very much like the modern platform of democratic socialism.

In my 2021 book, Seven Gray Swans, I offered a biblical analysis of seven key trends that I labeled as gray swans. In the simplest of terms, a gray swan is an obvious danger that we tend to ignore. My list included, among others, universal basic income, social scoring, biometric IDs, and democratic socialism.

Continued below.

Can democratic Socialism save America?

The threat of democratic socialism is no longer an outlier

www.christianpost.com

It's sad when a person writing for a Christian paper feels the need to lie, in order to get his point. The countries that he cites ate not examples of Democratic Socialism. One is a dictatorship and the others are Communistic.

A better example would be Norwegian countries but they really practice Social Democracy rather then Democratic Socialism.

 

[Michie]

It’s a fine line to walk.

Democratic socialism is based on a fable that increases human suffering while claiming to be morally superior and virtuous. Those who are frustrated with being locked out of the opportunities they dreamed of are most likely to fall for these poorly devised solutions proven to be catastrophic in places like Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea.

Venezuela is not communist but a socialist State with a Socialist government.

 

[Hentenza]

It’s a fine line to walk.

Democratic socialism is based on a fable that increases human suffering while claiming to be morally superior and virtuous. Those who are frustrated with being locked out of the opportunities they dreamed of are most likely to fall for these poorly devised solutions proven to be catastrophic in places like Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea.

Venezuela is not communist but a socialist State with a Socialist government.

The government of Cuba is communism and North Korea has a totalitarian dictatorship under the Kim family. Venezuela is indeed socialist but ran by a dictator so it does not resemble democratic socialism.

 

[Michie]

The government of Cuba is communism and North Korea has a totalitarian dictatorship under the Kim family. Venezuela is indeed socialist but ran by a dictator so it does not resemble democratic socialism.

Looking up the author’s credentials… I do not believe he was saying Cuba and North Korea was socialist but warning what can happen under the shaky foundations of Socialism. But people are free to take as they will.

 

[Yarddog]

It’s a fine line to walk.

Democratic socialism is based on a fable that increases human suffering while claiming to be morally superior and virtuous. Those who are frustrated with being locked out of the opportunities they dreamed of are most likely to fall for these poorly devised solutions proven to be catastrophic in places like Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea.

Venezuela is not communist but a socialist State with a Socialist government.

Venezuela is a dictatorship it is not Democratic Socialism.

 

[Michie]

Venezuela is a dictatorship it is not Democratic Socialism.

But they identify as socialist. Look it up.

 

[Fervent]

The problem with blanket statements about socialism of any kind is that it seems to be in the eye of the beholder. One man's democratic socialist is another man's communist. But if all we mean by it is that essential services are provided by the government, especially in industries where there are strong factors that create difficulties for market control, then we already have it with police, fire, and education. The question is, are there currently markets that resist competitive forces that the public would be better served by them being publically operated?

 

[Yarddog]

But they identify as socialist. Look it up.

That has nothing to do with Democratic Socialism. Look it up.

 

[Michie]

That has nothing to do with Democratic Socialism. Look it up.

You said Venezuela was communist. They aren’t. But I’m not going to strain gnats with you.

 

[Postvieww]

Communist, socialist, democratic socialist, dictatorship, social democracy or what ever label one prefers, none of these are supported by our constitution. We are a constitutional republic and all of these various alternatives have one goal and that is to destroy the fabric of our nation and mold it into something to control the masses with false promises. Where we are today is in large part traceable back to our colleges with many ultra left professors who in words of the late great Rush Limbaugh are creating young “minds full of mush”. MAMDANI will fail to deliver all of the goodies he promised to a snookered voting block. The only remaining question is how much actual damage to NY he will leave in his wake. Katie Wilson in Seattle may even be worse! God help this nation!!!!

 

[Yarddog]

You said Venezuela was communist. They aren’t. But I’m not going to strain gnats with you.

No I didn't. Look it up.
I said Venezuela is a dictatorship. Post #6

 

[Yarddog]

Communist, socialist, democratic socialist, dictatorship, social democracy or what ever label one prefers, none of these are supported by our constitution.

That is incorrect. They are supported just as much as Capitalism.

We are a constitutional republic and all of these various alternatives have one goal and that is to destroy the fabric of our nation and mold it into something to control the masses with false promises.

That is also incorrect. There ate several Social Democracies which are quite successful. They people are really happy.

America has had socialism, in some concept, since our foundation. The preamble's text fits comfortably in with Social Democracy.

 

[Fervent]

America has had socialism, in some concept, since our foundation. The preamble's text fits comfortably in with Social Democracy.

What it boils down to is what industries are fit for socialization, with socialism serving as a boogeyman for totalitarian governance that restricts property rights. It's easy to criticize capitalism, but we really don't live in a strongly capitalistic economy. Our economy is run by megalithic corporations, which may as well be monopolies. The concern over socialism is that it's ripe for corruption, particularly in an already unwieldy governmental structure like we have in government on the scale of the US. So the concerns are legitimate, but there have to be more productive ways of talking about these things.

 

[Hentenza]

Socialism is yet to work anywhere. At the end of the day it’s just about using someone else’s money and that is always bound to run out. Even Scandinavian countries that claim democratic socialism are highly capitalistic.

 

[ralliann]

This week, I am not responding to a question but expressing my personal views on the implications of the rise of democratic socialism in America.

Robin Hood is a legend in English folklore based on the illegal and daring exploits of a good-hearted crusader for the common man, or peasants. His heroic character is considered to symbolize resistance to abusive authority and heavy taxation.

Over the years, books and movies based on this fictional character have romanticized the idea of taking from the rich (always portrayed as greedy, selfish, and corrupt), with altruistic motives, of course, to redistribute to the poor and oppressed victims. Robin Hood was never portrayed as greedy, selfish, or corrupt, only kind, just, benevolent, and generous — the perfect protector and redistributor of wealth to the masses.

It sounds very much like the modern platform of democratic socialism.

In my 2021 book, Seven Gray Swans, I offered a biblical analysis of seven key trends that I labeled as gray swans. In the simplest of terms, a gray swan is an obvious danger that we tend to ignore. My list included, among others, universal basic income, social scoring, biometric IDs, and democratic socialism.

Continued below.

Can democratic Socialism save America?

The threat of democratic socialism is no longer an outlier

www.christianpost.com

I received a warning for speaking of the dems leaning to socialism. Is it ok now to talk about it here? I believe my warning should be removed. It was not long ago.

 

[Yarddog]

What it boils down to is what industries are fit for socialization, with socialism serving as a boogeyman for totalitarian governance that restricts property rights.

As usual, people just don't understand just what Socialism is. They love many socialist programs, such as the military, police, border patrol, schools, libraries, highway systems, dams, bridges, space program, etc... but hate corporate welfare, international welfare, social welfare, medicade, etc...

What we need to do is look at all nations that have a form of Socialism in some manner. There are bad countries such as Venezuela, and good countries such as Iceland. We should learn to make our country better, not worse.

It's easy to criticize capitalism, but we really don't live in a strongly capitalistic economy. Our economy is run by megalithic corporations, which may as well be monopolies. The concern over socialism is that it's ripe for corruption, particularly in an already unwieldy governmental structure like we have in government on the scale of the US. So the concerns are legitimate, but there have to be more productive ways of talking about these things.

Corruption is the main problem with any form of government.

 

[Fervent]

As usual, people just don't understand just what Socialism is. They love many socialist programs, such as the military, police, border patrol, schools, libraries, highway systems, dams, bridges, space program, etc... but hate corporate welfare, international welfare, social welfare, medicade, etc...

Yeah, I'm a believer that certain industries need to be publically controlled because they are inherently resistant to market pressures and/or are essential services that would not turn a profit if run appropriately. Definitely not afraid of the word socialism, but I get what it represents in some people's minds to cause such hostility.

What we need to do is look at all nations that have a form of Socialism in some manner. There are bad countries such as Venezuela, and good countries such as Iceland. We should learn to make our country better, not worse.

I think we need to evaluate it based on public interest/suceptibility to market influences. Health care, for example, is a high informational asymmetric, immediate need, essential service that makes it insensitive to market pressures and so is a good candidate for socialization IMO. But I'm of a mind that we should be conservative about what industries we socialize.

Corruption is the main problem with any form of government.

True enough, but there are factors that make larger governments more susceptible to corruption that make it reasonable to be suspicious towards governmental expansion

 

[Postvieww]

I received a warning for speaking of the dems leaning to socialism. Is it ok now to talk about it here? I believe my warning should be removed. It was not long ago.

Why would there be a warning for speaking a truth that is proudly and openly admitted by many democratic leaders in our government?

 

[Postvieww]

That is incorrect. They are supported just as much as Capitalism.

Explain how that is the case especially communism.

That is also incorrect. There ate several Social Democracies which are quite successful. They people are really happy.

Then those who want that life style are free to move there.

America has had socialism, in some concept, since our foundation. The preamble's text fits comfortably in with Social Democracy.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. What is currently being proposed in this country as democratic socialism or what ever variation of that is not compatible with the preamble as you claim. “the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” is not in the future promoted by the likes of Bernie, Mamdani, Omar, Cortez and many others .