the limits of fascism

[tillingborn]

We were talking about the BBC and the NHS,

I don't really know why. They're not exemplars of Socialist economics. They're merely socialized elements totally dependent on a broadly Capitalistic system. As such, they make no argument for Socialist economics, because they're on life-support from Capitalism.

As I stated, the UK and all other west European nations are mixed economies. There are some things which a significant proportion of the electorate believe should not be left to uncontrolled capitalism. We have elections largely to decide what responsibility we think is reasonable to impose on our citizens. We have to resist the lunatics at both extremes of the political spectrum. From what I gather, you think any social control of capitalism is a slippery slope to genocide and that anyone who disagrees with you is a leftist. I am happy to be proven wrong.

It's not a trick question.

I didn't say it was. I'm saying, "Give me a real example." That should be easy.

You're right, it is shockingly easy. https://www.who.int/news/item/13-12-201 ... h-expenses So my question to you is what do you think we should do about it?

[Skepdick]

You're right, it is shockingly easy. https://www.who.int/news/item/13-12-201 ... h-expenses So my question to you is what do you think we should do about it?

The trivial answer is: get health insurance.
The difficult question is: Tax-subsidized or private medical aid schemes?

Where I live, I couldn't trust the government's ability to organise a blowjob at a whorehouse.

[tillingborn]

Perhaps you'll recognise the narrator's own input into the narrative...

Yeah, I make shit up but you are consistently a dick.

Where I live, I couldn't trust the government's ability to organise a blowjob at a whorehouse.

Meh. In my version of reality that says more about you than your government.

[Skepdick]

Yeah, I make shit up but you are consistently a dick.

It's not even a secret. I put it in my name so that it doesn't keep surprising you.

And yet...

Meh. In my version of reality that says more about you than your government.

In my version of reality I am taxed at 48%. Further 15% VAT.

And then I pay for my medical insurance from what's left.

[Immanuel Can]

We were talking about the BBC and the NHS,

I don't really know why. They're not exemplars of Socialist economics. They're merely socialized elements totally dependent on a broadly Capitalistic system. As such, they make no argument for Socialist economics, because they're on life-support from Capitalism.

As I stated, the UK and all other west European nations are mixed economies. There are some things which a significant proportion of the electorate believe should not be left to uncontrolled capitalism.

An unimportant caveat. There's practically no person other than an outright Anarchist, who will say government has NO function. The question is rather whether Socialism can run an economy.

It can't. Even socialized programs depend for their existence on Capitalism. Thus, everybody who likes such programs ought to be in favour of Capitalism.

We have to resist the lunatics at both extremes of the political spectrum.

Of course. But the Anarchists are no threat right now. Socialism, on the other hand, is rearing its ugly head yet again.

So my question to you is what do you think we should do about it?

Answer: we started doing it, until COVID and the Leftists stopped us, just a year ago. We were exporting Capitalism, in various ground-level forms like microenterprise, to the Developing World at an astonishing rate, and thereby doing the unthinkable: actually eliminating world poverty.

https://ourworldindata.org/uploads/2019 ... 86x550.png

[tillingborn]

Meh. In my version of reality that says more about you than your government.

In my version of reality I am taxed at 48%. Further 15% VAT.

And then I pay for my medical insurance from what's left.

Leaving you nothing for a blowjob in a whorehouse. My point exactly.

[Skepdick]

Leaving you nothing for a blowjob in a whorehouse. My point exactly.

Yeah. Somehow you confused affordability with service delivery.

[tillingborn]

There's practically no person other than an outright Anarchist, who will say government has NO function.

My thoughts exactly.

The question is rather whether Socialism can run an economy.

It can't. Even socialized programs depend for their existence on Capitalism. Thus, everybody who likes such programs ought to be in favour of Capitalism.

How would you explain capitalism to someone who doesn't know what it means?

[tillingborn]

Leaving you nothing for a blowjob in a whorehouse. My point exactly.

Yeah. Somehow you confused affordability with service delivery.

On the contrary: my point exactly.

[Skepdick]

On the contrary: my point exactly.

And what's the point of your "point"?

[tillingborn]

And what's the point of your "point"?

What is the point of you asking?

[Immanuel Can]

How would you explain capitalism to someone who doesn't know what it means?

It's actually extremely easy, and has been working successfully all over the world. Instead of sending wads of money to Socialist dictators, and seeing it disappear into their bank accounts, you send aid workers to the poor themselves, ask them what they want, and then help them to get it, training them in the rudimentary principles that make for business success...quality, customer service, basic accounting practices, borrowing and repaying...and so on.

In a year or two, the whole family is self-sustaining...the kids are in school, the family can afford basic healthcare, everybody has food to eat, and the neighbourhoods are improving rapidly. It's absolutely amazing.

I've seen it. I know about all this. I know it works, and it's the greatest thing we can possibly do for the Developing World. If you don't know about microenterprise, then everybody should. This is the way to go. And yeah, it's Capitalist. Nothing else gets people out of poverty quickly and permanently except being given a chance to act on their own initiative.

[Advocate]

[quote=tillingborn post_id=504392 time=1616778185 user_id=7001]
How would you explain capitalism to someone who doesn't know what it means?
[/quote]

It is the profit motive enshrined in law.

[Immanuel Can]

It is the profit motive enshrined in law.

????

One might say that Socialism is profitlessness enshrined in law, then.

[tillingborn]

How would you explain capitalism to someone who doesn't know what it means?

It's actually extremely easy, and has been working successfully all over the world. Instead of sending wads of money to Socialist dictators, and seeing it disappear into their bank accounts, you send aid workers to the poor themselves, ask them what they want, and then help them to get it, training them in the rudimentary principles that make for business success...quality, customer service, basic accounting practices, borrowing and repaying...and so on.

That's exactly the sort of practise I would hope to see, but where does the aid come from, and who decides how to distribute it? Do you think we should trust people who have no motivation other profit?