A random rambling...how do BYC members define socialism?

[speckledhen]

And this is the sub-forum devoted to just that

No, not quite. As I said before (and I believe I am becoming invisible for some reason):


Rule # 12 says:

We strongly discourage religious and political topics and reserve the right to delete them at our discretion. The topics of religion and politics should be confined to the “Random Ramblings” section of the forum.

Emphasis above is mine. It only states that if you feel you must start a political thread, that it be placed in Random Ramblings, not that we want you to start them.


And the 1st amendment rights do not apply here. This is a privately owned forum. Please re-read Rule #12. There are millions of other Random Topics that do not include politics or religion. You said it yourself, "A hot topic"​

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:
No, not quite. As I said before (and I believe I am becoming invisible for some reason):


Rule # 12 says:

We strongly discourage religious and political topics and reserve the right to delete them at our discretion. The topics of religion and politics should be confined to the “Random Ramblings” section of the forum.

Emphasis above is mine. It only states that if you feel you must start a political thread, that it be placed in Random Ramblings, not that we want you to start them.


And the 1st amendment rights do not apply here. This is a privately owned forum. Please re-read Rule #12. There are millions of other Random Topics that do not include politics or religion. You said it yourself, "A hot topic"

Youre not invisable. I see you loud and clear. Like willowcol said I like my friends on here to much.

 

[conradpdx]

I don't believe they pay state taxes (I could be wrong here). And yes the state of Alaska owns its oil, and yes they distribute the profits from the sale to it's citizens. And yes that is socialism, completely cut and dry.

Of course so was the Tarp bailout, but in reverse since, we the tax payers, have just taken on the losses of an industry, but don't get to share in the profits.

I've never understood Americas fear of socialism. Or police, fire, education, parks, and transportation systems are pretty much socialist. And personally I believe any industry that services a population as a legal monopoly should be owned by the local government (such as power, water, telecommunications, toll roads/highways). Especially since the public often pays to build these services then they are sold or rented to companies at a loss or at cost so that these companies can make a profit. Personally, I'd rather have elected officials in charge of these industries, and with the profit taken out of the picture these services would be cheaper for the consumer.

But don't kid yourself, socialism is very alive and well in this country. Large businesses are lured into states and cities with the promise of local governments giving them such things as property, tax breaks, training of employees, government contracts to buy the companies products etc. But the problem is that it's the losses and expendatures that are socialized not the profits. The profits are given away.

 

[Timmo]

Cyn, you're not invisible, but why do you jump to the conclusion that this topic is dynamite?

I only started a topic about the word "socialism."

The U.S. has been a socialistic society since it's conception, even before it's conception. As has been the same for any other great society, taxes fund it's existance.

Socialism is the hallmark of civilization, public taxes get spent on the public. Everyone receives benefits from taxes. Military pay and retirement included.

One of the reasons I made this post is that I simply don't understand why the word has been turned into a negative.

There is a great disparity between all the various uses of the word "socialism" and the definition of a "socialistic state."

The classic dictionary definition is something akin to complete state ownership of all commerce and industry. We are nothing near that definition. I agree with WriterofWords that the definition has been taken out of context.

I hope others chime in here.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I'm all for having good, thoughtful political conversations with my flesh and blood friends. Yet, I won't engage in a political discussion here.

I have many online friends here whom I have never met, and probably never will. I suspect my BYC friends are complex, fascinating people, much deeper than what I can glean from their postings, (and some of them are fantastic writers!) but I can't really know them well from this venue.

I believe people are inclined to be much less civil when the need to express an opinion is weighed against a vague sense of a person. I have read several political discussions here, and none of them ended well. I hope your thread is different.

 

[speckledhen]

Cyn, why do you jump to the conclusion that this topic is dynamite?

From experience, my dear. Never assume 23,000 people can join in a discussion about anything like this without arguing. Heck, not even 12 people can! It's the nature of the beast.​

 

[Timmo]

Quote:
From experience, my dear. Never assume 23,000 people can join in a discussion about anything like this without arguing. Heck, not even 12 people can! It's the nature of the beast.

That speaks volumes about our society. But what you say is true. I was on the bad side of a conversation on this site once, my comments were deleted. My feelings were half and half about that. Half of me was glad what I said was gone, but the other half was mad that my words were censored.

 

[Timmo]

Quote:
I agree with most of your post, except for this part:

But don't kid yourself, socialism is very alive and well in this country. Large businesses are lured into states and cities with the promise of local governments giving them such things as property, tax breaks, training of employees, government contracts to buy the companies products etc.

Did you mean capitalism?

 

[Timmo]

Quote:
Me too.

 

[crtrlovr]

Part of the problem with any highly charged topic is that the internet forum type of discussion does not allow or transmit body language, facial expression, tone of voice, volume (except by you caps lock people!

), etc. A comment made in a thoughtful way could be misinterpreted to be aggressive in nature. A comment made in a joking manner could be misinterpreted to be an insult (even when we use our friendly little smilies to help convey the emotion we are trying to convey). It becomes easier to tell what a person really wants to convey if you've read many of their posts and have some type of insight as to their personality type (serious? jokester? introspective? thinks outside the box? etc.), and even then misunderstandings can occur.