If you are not into socialism, then this is your guide to happiness

[RobertEarl]

Stay off the socialist roads. Use only toll roads

Stay out of libraries: You probably wonder what libraries are?

Don't call the socialist cops for help, ever

Don't expect the military to fight your wars: do it yourself

Don't ever depend on any of the government to do a damn thing for you.

Move to Somalia to be happy!

[northernsouthern]

1. What about Russia?

It is more of an Oligarchy now, so pretty much where we are headed...and Republicans seem to love Putin.

[RobertEarl]

3. Russia

IDK. I heard they are giving land to settlers.

In the US, the denial that our best things have a socialist keel, is deep. Gonna take a lot of re-education to change that denial into realization.

[northernsouthern]

8. Yeah Russia is a weird one...

...it is a mix of extreme monetary corruption and extreme power corruption...basically it is the robber barons vs the mob. But with our schools, I wonder if all the voucher systems and defending what the long term effects will be with how we see things. It seems like the mid forties down have a far more positive view of a socialist world, so perhaps as the older generation gives way we will make progress again.

(not saying the older generation is all bad, just by voting records they seem to be the majority of the votes that are counter productive to a more healthy and socially responsible country)

[RobertEarl]

9. Socialism in the US is hidden

Not hard to expose it, and when we do expose it, we see that it makes America great.

The problem with it being hidden is that the crooks can use it to make profits. We call it Privatizing the profits and socializing the costs.

What we have in Bernie is someone who is exposing the socialist basis of our country and promising to manage our socialism so everyone shares in the profits equally.

[AgingAmerican]

2. Once upon a time we had to explain this to Republicans

Now we have to explain it to fellow Democrats. What happened?

[RobertEarl]

5. 10%

I doubt 10% of the people have a clue. DU just a year ago was half and half. And we're the smart ones!! Now DU is probably 80-20, and the twenty are just dumb as rocks.

From now to November we're gonna have to re-educate the public. I'm game, and Bernie is a great leader.

[redstateblues]

4. Socialism is when the government controls the means of production

It was a huge success in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics if you are old enough to remember that.

[Dragonfli]

11. Incorrect, the type of Socialism we have in the US (and most of the eu and scandinavia)

Is Socialized Democracy.

If you have trouble understanding basic political science, there is something I learned in tenth grade that may help you grasp what is actually quite easy to understand.

We have what is called a "mixed economy", remember that it is important, now here is an oversimplification to help beginners in political philosophy, that although a bit to simplistic for College level study it is nonetheless true and helpful in understanding the basics
.
If you have Socialism without any capitalism in the mix, you have Communism (not a mixed economy) - If you have Capitalism without any Socialism in the mix you have Fascism (not a mixed economy). Following me so far?

Now, you are , judging by your post, completely ignorant of the subject, so I will not bother with sub-sets or differing branches of the extremes but I will include one of the branches of Fascism because Republicans and others lacking in any real political education are confused by some labels used by say, the Nazi Fascist party.

Fascism in it's most basic sense is best described by Mussolini.

“Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power”

― Benito Mussolini.


A "mixed economy like ours" that includes capitalism, Socialism, and democracy is explained below in a graphic. I don't want to get in the weeds as you know too little to follow me there. Also in the graphic is an example of a more authoritarian branch of Fascism, much like Hitler was fond of. So you see you have already learned the basics and two slightly differing forms of Fascism, all in one post! (they both share the basics described by Mussolini however)

Buy some books. Someday perhaps we can have a more in-depth conversation.

[Thinkingabout]

6. Oh, yea, it gets to be a problem when i am required to fivide my business and give the proceeds

To those who has not lifted a finger to create, run or work in the business. Hell no you don't.

[JonLeibowitz]

7. You are thinking (taken loosely) of communism.

Socialism already exists in the US.

Perhaps you should "Think About" these approaches to government and learn the difference?

[Electric Monk]

10. Joe The Plumber? Is that you? Whoda thunkit, right here on DU. nt

[Dragonfli]

12. Also an excellent example of early basic AI programming! /nt