The Philosophy Discussion Forum

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 11:38 pm

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sun Jul 05, 2026 9:36 pm So my question again: when you get Socialism in power in the US, what do you think it is that they'll do for you?

Do you think the Canadian health care system ...

I actually want an answer to my question, Gary. So go ahead.

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 11:44 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 11:38 pm

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Sun Jul 05, 2026 9:36 pm So my question again: when you get Socialism in power in the US, what do you think it is that they'll do for you?

Do you think the Canadian health care system ...

I actually want an answer to my question, Gary. So go ahead.

Well I was talking about government programs. If you think government programs are "socialism" then let me know. That's what you replied to. If you think only soviet style society is "socialist," then your response is a strawman. I've never once endorsed Soviet Union-style society.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 12:39 am

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 11:44 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jul 06, 2026 11:38 pm

Do you think the Canadian health care system ...

I actually want an answer to my question, Gary. So go ahead.

Well I was talking about government programs.

I'm talking about Socialist government. What do you think they will do for you, if they get in?

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 2:36 am
I'm talking about Socialist government. What do you think they will do for you, if they get in?

Ah, but contrary to your belief abut "socialism" being a unified ideology, it isn't. So what kind of socialist administration.

Take the "anarchists". Josiah Warren, Benjamin Tucker, and Lysander Spooner all sometimes self identified "socialist" (Warren was very pre-Marx). Joseph and Laurence Ladabie (father and son) usually classed as individualist anarchists, but "Jo" was a noted labor leader. I actually got to meet/speak with Laurence some years before his death when a bunch from the NY Federation of Anarchists went out to meet with him and discuss on what we agreed and on what differed << surprise at how much in agreement >>

MikeNovack wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 2:00 pm

Immanuel Can wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2026 2:36 am
I'm talking about Socialist government. What do you think they will do for you, if they get in?

Ah, but contrary to your belief abut "socialism" being a unified ideology, it isn't.

Actually, it is. It has sub-variants, but they're all committed to the same basic suppositions, whatever adornments they add later on.

Fascism and Communism, for example, have lots of differences and are bitter rivals; but they share a ton of commitments, including State rule of business, the taking of private property, elimination of all political alternatives, and especially, totalitarian collectivism. "Social-ism" is the dominant feature they have in common...the "society" must subordinate and control the individual, in both systems. National Socialism (Fascism) and International Socialism (Communism) are actually cousin-rivals, more alike than different -- particularly in the outcomes they visit on freedom and the individual.