• mechoman444@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    12
    ·
    3 days ago

    Christ on a stick. Universal healthcare has nothing to do with socialism. Government programs that serve the public are part of the government’s core purpose in the first place.

    It is remarkable how many people on this platform champion “socialism” when what they actually mean is social democracy. The difference is substantial.

    Socialism does not work. It has never worked. No nation has prospered under socialism, and none will as long as scarcity remains.

    • plyth@feddit.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      2 days ago

      Why should only healthcare work if run by government? Government could run all industries.

      • mechoman444@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        2 days ago

        I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not… If you’re not that’s the most brain dead thing I’ve ever heard in a long time.

        • plyth@feddit.org
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          2 days ago

          Why can’t the government serve the public and provide all needed goods and not just healthcare? Where is the limit that prevents socialism?

          • mechoman444@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            2 days ago

            Socialism doesn’t preclude the end of Private Business.

            If the government controlled all private businesses where would they get money to operate? How woukd they collect taxes? How do you encourage innovation? philanthropy?

            • plyth@feddit.org
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              2 days ago

              Like in health care, the businesses continue to make money. The government can continue to tax its businesses or use all profits.

              Innovation is usually the argument against government healthcare. If that is not a problem for you, why should there be one in other areas? However, most research is publicly funded anyway.

              Philanthropy would also have to shift to the state. The state funds theaters and museums. It could take care of more causes.

              Where do you see problems?

                • plyth@feddit.org
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  1 day ago

                  Can you explain why, please? If the state sets the prices correctly or allocates enough resources, it should work.

                  • ohulancutash@feddit.uk
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    2
                    ·
                    1 day ago

                    Where do the taxes come from? Has to be more than government funding otherwise the government is paying itself.

              • mechoman444@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                4
                ·
                2 days ago

                It appears you’re arguing from a fundamental misunderstanding of the system you’re defending. You’re describing expanded government programs inside a market economy. That is not socialism. That is social democracy.

                Under actual socialism, the state owns the means of production. There is no private sector to tax. There is no flow of revenue from independent businesses because those businesses no longer exist as independent entities. Your points about taxation, profit collection, and philanthropy only make sense inside a mixed economy, precisely the system you claim to be replacing.

                In other words, you’re defending a model that isn’t the one under discussion. You’re arguing for more public services, not socialism. These are completely different frameworks, and conflating them is why your reasoning keeps circling without connecting.

                  • mechoman444@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    3
                    ·
                    2 days ago

                    You’re question is nonsensical and does not rebut any of my statements.

                    Socialism has nothing to do with value. The value of something is intrinsic to itself and has nothing to do with any kind of governmental system.

                    I have explained to you what socialism is in comparison to capitalism corporatocracy and social democracy and you still don’t even understand what socialism is. Do you understand that you don’t understand the definition of the word?