I know it's all doom and gloom but what can be done about it?

Rotor

Nice post Sazza; I would just add that "true socialism" would need to be a totalitarian regime or the workers who toil harder than average ;and who doesn't believe they work harder than average, will vote to keep more of the rewards for their toil ; I.E move back to capitalism
( yes I know everyone can't work harder than average but all can BELIEVE they do; just as most think they are better than average drivers)
So goodbye democracy hello socialist dictator

John_Pierpoint

The_White_Horse wrote: »

the real problem is the public sector. too large. too inefficient.

i am all for capitalism, but there is no point in having a market where none exists. for example trains. I can only use my local line. I can't decide to use another - unless i move. Therefore, it is pointless. The Govt should be running the trains cheaply and efficiently. Not wasting money on gay inclusion officers and bovine divesity carers.

there was a placard at the rally at the weekend to "save" the nhs. it said "not one cut ever". and there lies the problem. these people are idiots.

europe is dead because of its huge public sectors.

Trains compete directly with buses, planes and indirectly with cars and tele-conferencing.

bendix

It's not all gloom and doom here in Asia. On the contrary. Economies are booming, people have good lives. Governments have struck the balance between providing a social welfare net without creating a welfare dependency culture.

Here in HK, you can find work if you want it, and when you do you pay 15% tax. If you don't want to work, no problem, but don't expect holidays and flatscreen tvs to be paid for by the state - you'll get a roof over your head and enough food to fill your belly, and that's it.

As such, governments have no debt to speak of, and people are incentivised to better themselves.

Frankly, I've never had it so good.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Rotor wrote: »

Ah - the old ' true socialism has never been tried' line.
You seem very confident it will work considering it has never been tried. I think it has been tried and fails each time because of human nature. Most people won't work at there very best level if they personally see little or no benefit from it, especially when they see others getting the same rewards for doing far less.
It brings about equality of poverty not equality of wealth

Totally agree.
When I was young and going through the "lifes unfair,we should all be equal" stage I thought socialism was the only way to go too but we're human and by our very nature we would make it fail.
Human nature makes us want better,we don't want to be equal there's no point in trying to excel if thats all we get.

John_Pierpoint

"If you are not a socialist when you are a young man - you have no heart.
If you are still a socialist when you are an old man - you have no head".