Which roots as a species did we have a utopia? If things were perfect, people wouldn’t have sought solutions which led us to where we’re at. People, animals, even plants will always have problems. It’s just a question of what those problems are. If we don’t problems, we’ll create our own, it’s just how we’re wired.
When people talk about wanting socialism in the US, they are usually talking about something like Scandinavia. Scandinavia is rooted in capitalism, but has a social safety net. The US has the same thing, it’s just has some inefficiencies. The US has welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment, section 8 housing, social security, and various other programs. If we check out the budget it shows $4.1T being spend on these programs. People always talk about much the US spends on the military, but they are spending 5x more on social services and safety nets (socialism if we want to call it that). Police, fire departments, most roads, national parks, etc are all paid for and supported by the government through tax dollars at either a national or local level.
In terms of those who captured the wealth, I think the stat is that 90% millionaires in the US are first generation millionaires who didn’t inherit their way there. I kind of like the idea someone, regardless of their background, has a chance to make it. At least there is hope for a way way out. Form what I’ve seen with socialism it doesn’t mean everyone lives well, it just means everyone lives poorly. Instead of having some people a the top who started companies, rich politicians with their thumb on everyone. It’s still a power hierarchy, it’s just one that’s harder to rise up in. I didn’t start a business and I’m not a millionaire, but I have a 401k, so when those rich guys win, I win too, because my 401k gains value which will help me in retirement. A house and a 401k, with consistent investment over time are how most people become millionaires, and that ability doesn’t exist without those people willing to take the risk on a business… and most of them fail and end up with nothing. We see a lot of selection bias when looking at those on the top.
I’m not trying to fight you on it, or get into a big debate. I’d just tell you to keep an open mind and not throw the baby out with the bathwater. A lot of people online will paint capitalism as all bad, and socialism as a utopia. In reality, neither is perfect and a balance is probably the best we can do… and that’s what we have in the US. One can argue the tipping of the scale might be a little off, and that’s something to work on, but it doesn’t mean with throw out the whole system. I’m not saying you were going there, but I see that a lot. If those other systems were so great, I’d question why the US is still the most popular place to immigrate to for people looking for a better life. The US has more foreign born residents than anywhere else in the world, and it isn’t even close. There has to be a reason for that.
Which roots as a species did we have a utopia? If things were perfect, people wouldn’t have sought solutions which led us to where we’re at. People, animals, even plants will always have problems. It’s just a question of what those problems are. If we don’t problems, we’ll create our own, it’s just how we’re wired.
When people talk about wanting socialism in the US, they are usually talking about something like Scandinavia. Scandinavia is rooted in capitalism, but has a social safety net. The US has the same thing, it’s just has some inefficiencies. The US has welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment, section 8 housing, social security, and various other programs. If we check out the budget it shows $4.1T being spend on these programs. People always talk about much the US spends on the military, but they are spending 5x more on social services and safety nets (socialism if we want to call it that). Police, fire departments, most roads, national parks, etc are all paid for and supported by the government through tax dollars at either a national or local level.
In terms of those who captured the wealth, I think the stat is that 90% millionaires in the US are first generation millionaires who didn’t inherit their way there. I kind of like the idea someone, regardless of their background, has a chance to make it. At least there is hope for a way way out. Form what I’ve seen with socialism it doesn’t mean everyone lives well, it just means everyone lives poorly. Instead of having some people a the top who started companies, rich politicians with their thumb on everyone. It’s still a power hierarchy, it’s just one that’s harder to rise up in. I didn’t start a business and I’m not a millionaire, but I have a 401k, so when those rich guys win, I win too, because my 401k gains value which will help me in retirement. A house and a 401k, with consistent investment over time are how most people become millionaires, and that ability doesn’t exist without those people willing to take the risk on a business… and most of them fail and end up with nothing. We see a lot of selection bias when looking at those on the top.
I’m not trying to fight you on it, or get into a big debate. I’d just tell you to keep an open mind and not throw the baby out with the bathwater. A lot of people online will paint capitalism as all bad, and socialism as a utopia. In reality, neither is perfect and a balance is probably the best we can do… and that’s what we have in the US. One can argue the tipping of the scale might be a little off, and that’s something to work on, but it doesn’t mean with throw out the whole system. I’m not saying you were going there, but I see that a lot. If those other systems were so great, I’d question why the US is still the most popular place to immigrate to for people looking for a better life. The US has more foreign born residents than anywhere else in the world, and it isn’t even close. There has to be a reason for that.