Comments on: Is the U.S. on the Road to Socialism? (Part 2) http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2008/10/29/is-the-us-on-the-road-to-socialism-part-2/ Citizen Economists is an online economics magazine written by citizen journalists. These ordinary citizens provide reports and commentary on the current events affecting the economics of the fields they work in. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:44:52 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Foxwood http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2008/10/29/is-the-us-on-the-road-to-socialism-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-6286 Foxwood Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:50:19 +0000 http://citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=365#comment-6286 It's starting to look more and more like it's coming to fruition. I'm saddened that we want a new "New Deal", and teach in school that it was such a good thing, and by the definition of insanity, we try it again. The new deal is the first step, socialism the second... and now children ask parents, 'what's wrong with socialism?'. I never would have asked that when I was growing up because I was taught better. It’s starting to look more and more like it’s coming to fruition. I’m saddened that we want a new “New Deal”, and teach in school that it was such a good thing, and by the definition of insanity, we try it again. The new deal is the first step, socialism the second… and now children ask parents, ‘what’s wrong with socialism?’. I never would have asked that when I was growing up because I was taught better.

]]> By: MannyfromNYC http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2008/10/29/is-the-us-on-the-road-to-socialism-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-3045 MannyfromNYC Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:39:37 +0000 http://citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=365#comment-3045 Pentad, Just wondering...which socialist country are you referring to? I took a course on planned economies (with an emphasis on eastern Europe) last semester, so I guess I fall under the"academic analysis" category. However, the economist teaching the course was born and raised in eastern Europe during communist rule and even completed her economics degree there-before coming over and finishing her master's and Ph.D in the United States. So I guess she would have to be knowledgable about the socialist economic system-having experienced it first hand. At any rate, it was not surprising to learn that what ultimately brought down the system was its gross inefficiencies-not its lack of political freedom. When you speak of "free" healthcare or education, we shouldn't harbor the illusion that these services are really "free." The government may be providing them at no cost to the recepients, but there are real costs involved which the government has to shoulder-and that does not go away-no matter what the government wants. Pentad,

Just wondering…which socialist country are you referring to? I took a course on planned economies (with an emphasis on eastern Europe) last semester, so I guess I fall under the”academic analysis” category. However, the economist teaching the course was born and raised in eastern Europe during communist rule and even completed her economics degree there-before coming over and finishing her master’s and Ph.D in the United States.

So I guess she would have to be knowledgable about the socialist economic system-having experienced it first hand. At any rate, it was not surprising to learn that what ultimately brought down the system was its gross inefficiencies-not its lack of political freedom.

When you speak of “free” healthcare or education, we shouldn’t harbor the illusion that these services are really “free.”
The government may be providing them at no cost to the recepients, but there are real costs involved which the government has to shoulder-and that does not go away-no matter what the government wants.

]]> By: Pentad http://www.citizeneconomists.com/blogs/2008/10/29/is-the-us-on-the-road-to-socialism-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-3028 Pentad Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:21:40 +0000 http://citizeneconomists.com/blogs/?p=365#comment-3028 I lived and worked as a Registered Nurse in a socialist country for 18 years (although grew up in Seattle in a Republican family). The US ain't even close, and we will never be. For example: We address the best ways to cover health insurance for people, and we want more affordable college education. In a socialist country, you won't find any conversation about insurance, and the Universities are "free". The government pays for you from birth until death. US citizens are ill-informed as to what a socialist system means, and how it operates, and are therefore dependent on the "academic" analysis. I've been there. I know. I lived and worked as a Registered Nurse in a socialist country for 18 years (although grew up in Seattle in a Republican family). The US ain’t even close, and we will never be. For example: We address the best ways to cover health insurance for people, and we want more affordable college education. In a socialist country, you won’t find any conversation about insurance, and the Universities are “free”. The government pays for you from birth until death. US citizens are ill-informed as to what a socialist system means, and how it operates, and are therefore dependent on the “academic” analysis. I’ve been there. I know.

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