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Arguments against Socialism

1) Why do you agree/disagree with Socialism?

2) What influences you to make such a decision?

3) Which country is the exemplar of Socialism/your opposed ideology?

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Reply 1



TO tired for proper debate may be back tomoz
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 2
parts of it are nice, but it's not really realistic
I wouldn't really want to live like that
china
Reply 3
'Every human being should be a moderate Socialist' - Thomas Mann
Why Socialism Doesn't Work

Socialism Made Simple

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a
single student before but had, once, failed an entire class.
That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one
would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said okay, we will have an experiment in this
class on socialism. All grades would be averaged and everyone
would receive the same grade, so no one would fail and no one
would receive an ‘A’.

After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a ‘B’.
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who
studied little were happy.

But, as the second test rolled around, the students who studied little
had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they
wanted a free ride too; so they studied little. The second test
average was a ‘D’!

No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around the average was an ‘F’.
The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name-calling all
resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of
anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that
socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is
great, the effort to succeed is great; But when government takes all the reward away; no one will try or want to succeed.
Reply 5
Original post by NGC773
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that
socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is
great, the effort to succeed is great; But when government takes all the reward away; no one will try or want to succeed.


Nice story :smile:
Man I hate it when people neg rep stuff but then don't reply to it, I had a post recently that had about 10 neg reps vs 3 positive reps and only one person actually challenged me on it.

I assume those who neg rep but don't challenge just don't like what they read...
Reply 6
Original post by NGC773
Why Socialism Doesn't Work

Socialism Made Simple

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a
single student before but had, once, failed an entire class.
That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one
would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said okay, we will have an experiment in this
class on socialism. All grades would be averaged and everyone
would receive the same grade, so no one would fail and no one
would receive an ‘A’.

After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a ‘B’.
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who
studied little were happy.

But, as the second test rolled around, the students who studied little
had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they
wanted a free ride too; so they studied little. The second test
average was a ‘D’!

No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around the average was an ‘F’.
The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name-calling all
resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of
anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that
socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is
great, the effort to succeed is great; But when government takes all the reward away; no one will try or want to succeed.


A clever story :smile: I am not a radical Socialist who believes in making everyone economically equal though; I just believe in a very strong welfare State, a society based on meritocracy and equal opportunity for all. I am also quite biased towards State Capitalism.
1) Why do you disagree with Socialism?
It takes people's freedom away
It isn't motivating
It unfairly overtaxes and undertaxes certain people
It takes away people's hard earned money
It creates a culture of dependency
It is against religion
It is basically stealing

2) What influences you to make such a decision?
My belief in freedom and fairness
My Christian beliefs
Strong emphasis in school history lessons against Communism
My conservatism
I believe hard work is the way to go
I love money
My conservatism has been influenced by the bible, family, and right-wing books/texts/videos/clips/speeches/articles.

3) Which country is the exemplar of Socialism/your opposed ideology?
Socialism: China
Conservatism: USA
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 8
Original post by Samwest1992
1) Why do you disagree with Socialism?
It takes people's freedom away
It isn't motivating
It fairly ovetaxes and undertaxes certain people
It takes away people's hard earned money
It creates a culture of dependency
It is against religion
It is basically stealing

2) What influences you to make such a decision?
My belief in freedom and fairness
My Christian beliefs
Strong emphasis in school history lessons against Communism
My conservatism
I believe hard work is the way to go
I love money
My conservatism has been influenced by the bible, family, and right-wing books/texts/videos/clips/ speeches/articles.

3) Which country is the exemplar of Socialism/your opposed ideology?
Socialism: China
Conservatism: USA


I am a devoted Christian and yet I am a Socialist. Perhaps you were referring to the radical notion of Marxism? I am against far-left views of Communism.

Don't you think that Capitalism is corrupt? People ought to owe their position to their merit, not mere birth. If we are against leaders inheriting their role then why are we not against filthy rich businessmen inheriting theirs? :s-smilie:
Original post by Alex-jc123
I am a devoted Christian and yet I am a Socialist. Perhaps you were referring to the radical notion of Marxism? I am against far-left views of Communism.

Don't you think that Capitalism is corrupt? People ought to owe their position to their merit, not mere birth. If we are against leaders inheriting their role then why are we not against filthy rich businessmen inheriting theirs? :s-smilie:


Well, it is just that the ideology of pure socialism says that religion must die out. They believe religion is an ideological weapon used by the ruling class to distort reality, fool the masses, create oppression and legitimate/ease suffering. And they believe religion would no longer be needed in a classless society.

Here is some Christian capitalism I found...


2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,

nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.

Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.

And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.


Also, I don't believe capitalism is corrupt. I think it is simply the result of people having freedom over their money. And to me, that freedom is essential. But with capitalism, I do truly believe in merit. Capitalism means hard work, prosperity and achievement. But with socialism, I don't see gaining merit. If everyone is equal, no one would be more successful to achieve that merit.
Reply 10
Because socialism is, necessarily, a destruction of liberty
Reply 11
and liberty is destruction of justice.
Reply 12
Original post by Samwest1992
Well, it is just that the ideology of pure socialism says that religion must die out. They believe religion is an ideological weapon used by the ruling class to distort reality, fool the masses, create oppression and legitimate/ease suffering. And they believe religion would no longer be needed in a classless society.

Here is some Christian capitalism I found...



Also, I don't believe capitalism is corrupt. I think it is simply the result of people having freedom over their money. And to me, that freedom is essential. But with capitalism, I do truly believe in merit. Capitalism means hard work, prosperity and achievement. But with socialism, I don't see gaining merit. If everyone is equal, no one would be more successful to achieve that merit.


Everyone is equal in a Communist State, but not necessarily a Socialist one. Those who are hardworking and diligent are superior to those who are idle. However, a strong welfare state would mean that those who are incapable of doing the same level of work would receive some 'benefits'.

The Bible is also a work of Socialism. As Christians, we ought to condemn the economic abuses of bankers and bourgeois businessmen.
Reply 13
Original post by Planar
Because socialism is, necessarily, a destruction of liberty


Actually, it is capitalism and private property which infringe on the liberty of the many for the monopolised benefit of the few. Socialism's aim, of distributing opportunity and wealth equitably for universal benefit, actually maximises human liberty. And, any society in which the few have their most frivolous whims catered for while the many struggle to have their most basic needs met can hardly be described as one which champions liberty.
Original post by NGC773
.


Basically this.

China as it was under Mao is a major influence. Now I'm not too knowledgeable on the subject but I think it was his reforms of the economy which caused famine and stagnation. Go forward a few decades, and China has moved towards a market capitalist system, and is now one of the biggest economies. Millions have been brought out of poverty and on average standard of living is improving for everyone. Then as Hayek said, "There is all the difference in the world between treating people equally and attempting to make them equal."
Original post by Oswy
Actually, it is capitalism and private property which infringe on the liberty of the many for the monopolised benefit of the few. Socialism's aim, of distributing opportunity and wealth equitably for universal benefit, actually maximises human liberty. And, any society in which the few have their most frivolous whims catered for while the many struggle to have their most basic needs met can hardly be described as one which champions liberty.


If i work hours and hours a week, make a decent living. I dont want that wealth I have accumulated to be taken away from me....
Reply 16
Original post by NGC773
If i work hours and hours a week, make a decent living. I dont want that wealth I have accumulated to be taken away from me....


And that's exactly what happens to the many under capitalism. They are alienated from their full productive potentials through the monopolisation of land, resources and markets by the wealthy and privileged and thus exploited for wage-labour (or marginalised through unemployment and underemployment).

In a world where there was an unlimited supply, of both productive land and resources, and to which everyone had equal access, capitalism might just have a case, but it just isn't so.
Reply 17
Original post by NGC773
If i work hours and hours a week, make a decent living. I dont want that wealth I have accumulated to be taken away from me....


This is exactly what socialism tries to avoid - in a capitalist factory (say) all of the workers work 'hours and hours a week' for pittance whilst the owner sits on his arse all day and then gets all that 'wealth you have accumulated'.

Hard work =/= money, as much as some people try to believe it.
Original post by nexttime
Hard work =/= money, as much as some people try to believe it.


Agreed, it comes down to luck a lot of the time unfortunately.
Reply 19
Why cant the poor just die??

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