Socialism in Venezuela.

[Baruch]

Yes.  Conservatives call compassion socialism.  Libertarians call socialism collectivism.  Sara Palin refers to anything she doesn't like as socialism.  Brauch calls democratic socialism communism.  And to Hell with the dictionary.  It's all about what words are useful  for trolling the right crowd.

No, you (not you personally) want the government to steal money and property to benefit you, because your are too cowardly and lazy to become a bank robber.  If you want to be a bank robber, the proper way is to be a coddled bank president who speculates and embezzles ... who unlike the 1980s, isn't fined or jailed for your White collar crimes, instead your company is fined, and you take the fines off of your corporate taxes.

This is what all people want, they want to be criminals, but without police, without opposing criminals, and without any shame or guilt.  To be Sopranos, but without the pasta sauce.  This is what materialism gets you.  This is what "me first" morals gets you.  You want to die with as much stuff as possible, because your soul is empty of any actual value.  Motto: To be a consumer, not a producer.

FYI - Nobody here may fit this profile.  But it does fit the people who actually run societies.  Every society.

[Cavebear]

Send Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Cortez to fix it.

This sounds more like some dumb theory invented by our conservative religious right in the US.  I doubt if Bernie or anyone else can fix it.  I know for sure Trump can't.

Stupid people are stupid no matter where they live.  But it occurs to me that Venezuela might be a good place for us to send OUR stupid people to.  They would feel right (left?) at home.

[Baruch]

Stupid people are stupid no matter where they live.  But it occurs to me that Venezuela might be a good place for us to send OUR stupid people to.  They would feel right (left?) at home.

Usually Somalia has been proposed for Republicans.  Venezuela is a good choice for Democrats.

[Cavebear]

Usually Somalia has been proposed for Republicans.  Venezuela is a good choice for Democrats.

Ah, let them all play checkers in Iceland...   And skip across the green dear hills of Ireland wandering among the twitchy sheep.

BTW, did you know that Scotch Whiskey was invented in Ireland.  But the brewers knew no one would want to drink "Irtch"...

[Baruch]

Ah, let them all play checkers in Iceland...   And skip across the green dear hills of Ireland wandering among the twitchy sheep.

BTW, did you know that Scotch Whiskey was invented in Ireland.  But the brewers knew no one would want to drink "Irtch"...

Well in the native tongues I hear it is called "poteen".

[Cavebear]

Well in the native tongues I hear it is called "poteen".

I'm a Southern Comfort and Peach liquer with gingerale on ice type myself.  Unless I get down and nasty mixing gin and lemon juice...

[Baruch]

I'm a Southern Comfort and Peach liquer with gingerale on ice type myself.  Unless I get down and nasty mixing gin and lemon juice...

Well then, you have a bit of red neck in you after all ;-))

[Cavebear]

Well then, you have a bit of red neck in you after all ;-))

Smooth is smooth.  Got bored with imported beers.  I'll be playing horseshoes next.

[Baruch]

Smooth is smooth.  Got bored with imported beers.  I'll be playing horseshoes next.

When you play horseshoes, remember to take them off the horse first ;-)

[Cavebear]

When you play horseshoes, remember to take them off the horse first ;-)

What sport is THAT?  If you want to build muscles you need some weight.

[Jason Harvestdancer]

Ooo, oo I can play this game too!
 
One word, and I will completely and utterly debunk a political system... Somalia!

HAH!

TAKE THAT CAPITALISTS!

An interesting choice.  Let's examine it.

There was a time a few decades ago when Somalia had a government.  It wasn't a very good government.  The government forgot the first rule of parasites - don't kill the host.  The dictator was named President of Somalia Major General Mohamed Siad Barre, and he was an avowed Marxist.  His one-party rule was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party.

During the 32 years of Barre's rule, everything that could be looted was looted.  Everything that couldn't be looted was broken.  Then, when the country was brought as low as it could go and still have people living there, the government collapsed.

Then, having been brought so low AND having no government, idiots started saying "this is what a country with no government looks like."

****

I have decided that Venezuela actually is a Socialist success story, and it proves the Modern Monetary Theory as well.  Everyone is equal, everyone is a multi-millionare.

[Shiranu]

Then, having been brought so low AND having no government, idiots started saying "this is what a country with no government looks like."

Thank you for proving my point.

[Jason Harvestdancer]

Thank you for proving my point.

Your point, that you didn't have one?

I just gave you this history of the country you think proves you are right, and that history doesn't prove you are right.  You probably think the situation in Somalia is because they have no government and not the other way around.

[Shiranu]

Your point, that you didn't have one?

No, my point that acting like a single failed state somehow proves an entire economic system is broken while disregarding any and every other factor that went into the state failing is idiotic, yet is exactly what pr was doing the entire thread.

I didn't think I could have made the snark any more clearer without putting in bold letters, "THIS IS SNARK". Though I have to admit, I didn't expect to kill two birds with one stone when I posted it...

[Baruch]

No, my point that acting like a single failed state somehow proves an entire economic system is broken while disregarding any and every other factor that went into the state failing is idiotic, yet is exactly what pr was doing the entire thread.

I didn't think I could have made the snark any more clearer without putting in bold letters, "THIS IS SNARK". Though I have to admit, I didn't expect to kill two birds with one stone when I posted it...

Communism has failed because nobody did it right?  Same as fascism failed because nobody did it right.