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Chavez Marches Venezuela Towards Socialism
Chavez lays out collective property plan.
President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that his administration plans to create "collective property" as part of sweeping reforms toward socialism...
Wherever land reform like this has been tried, it always ends up hurting the poor the most. Chavez may honestly believe he's helping the poor with his reforms, but he is only hurting them. There are already
shortages of many essentials such as food.
The leftist leader also plans to slap new luxury taxes on the wealthy and do away with presidential term limits that would otherwise bar him from running again in 2012.
But I suspect Chavez knows full well what he is doing and his goal is not some idealic state of socialism, but a good old fashioned communist dictatorship that in the end enriches only himself and his friends.
Comments
A sure fire plan for disaster
This road has been tried before and it always ends up badly for the vast majority of everyone involved. The only difference is that Venezuela can play around because of the high price of petroleum. When the price comes down, only Chavez and his crew will be any better off.
I just wish others on the left-of-center political types would recognize what happens when an idea gets taken to its extreme. We need to argue for government involvement, but not government control.
typical
Ego-maniacal dictators have been running around smearing the good name of socialism for centuries now. It's too bad - Socialism is awesome, but only when done right and for the right reasons.
Socialism can't be done
Socialism can't be done "right". By its very nature socialism corrupts both those in control of government planning as well was those in the private sector seeking government favors. Power corrupts and this is no less true for socialist systems than it is for any other. Socialism is by its very nature a system that creates incentives for government corruption. The more socialist a system, the more likely it is to be corrupt.
One of the advantages capitalism has is that it pits the private sector against the government, hopefully keeping both a little more honest. But socialism effectively makes the government the only game in town and the net result is almost always a corrupt system even if the intentions of those in power are morally "right".
Sweden, the country often held up as an example of "good" socialism, actually has a very free economy and is not very socialist. 90% of production is by the private sector. For the most part, the government does not get involved in the business sector. Revenues from government owned enterprises is about 6% of GDP, verses 5% in the US. Sweden has high personal income taxes, and a socialized health and education system, but low corporate taxes, a relatively unregulated financial and business sector and very strong private property rights. (It's not surprise then that there is also very little corruption. Of course, a large part of this is could be cultural as well.)
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL
Wrong nature
That's not socialism's nature - that's human nature and more specifically, greed.
Socialism absolutely could be done right. But it won't ever get that chance because there is always someone more interested in themself than the good of the whole and one chink tears it down.
guru - you're definitely on
guru - you're definitely on to something. People are greedy/ self-centered/self-interested. Socialism relies on people being good...that's why it will never work.
In other words, socialism could only work IN SPITE OF human nature.
Capitalism, on the other hand, works BECAUSE of human nature.
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL
Yes and no
Yes, people do tend to have those tendencies. But they don't HAVE to. I know a great many people who would be totally fine living in a socialist society. It's not a guarantee that as a human you are forced to be a greedy, self-centered, self-interested person.
And no, capitalism doesn't "work" all that well, period.
On a small scale socialism works great
I think you will start talking past each other soon. Socialism does work well on a small scale. Communes, tight religious communities and the Kibbutz movement are all excellent examples of socialism working.
However, socialism tends to break down as relationships weaken. I don't want to take from my friends and family, so I'll do my share of the work. However, if it is just some unknown person I'm taking from, then I don't mind as much.
I don't think socialism (whatever that means) is a viable governing philosophy for nation-states now.
Socialism works
on whatever size scale those who are doing it want it work on. If everyone bought into it and committed to it, it could work everywhere. And it would be a lot better than the current situation for about 90% of the world.
Are you ready?
"
GLINDA Are you ready now?
DOROTHY Yes. Say goodbye, Toto.
MS -- Dorothy waves Toto's paw at the Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow -- then speaks to Glinda -- Glinda instructs her --
DOROTHY Yes, I'm ready now.
GLINDA Then close your eyes, and tap your heels
together three times.
MCU -- Dorothy's heels as she clicks them together three times --
MCU -- Dorothy and Glinda -- Glinda instructs her -- waves her wand -- Dorothy closes her eyes -- CAMERA TRUCKS in to a big CU of Dorothy -- she
speaks -- the scene darkens behind her --
GLINDA And think to yourself -- "There's no place
like home; there's no place like home;
there's no place like home."
DOROTHY There's no place like home. There's no
place like home. There's no place like
home. There's no place like home."
And just for Expat, here is the source:
http://www.un-official.com/The_Daily_Script/ms_wizoz.htm
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