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The problem with socialism
Comments
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Another problem with Socialists is their inability to take any responsibility, and their ability to always find someone else to blame.
I think I can remember another incompetent Socialist who liked to blame everything on a Global Crisis.
Do you have a real point to make? Or are you just dogmatic?Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are incapable of forming such opinions.0 -
There is nothing wrong with socialism much of the developed world has socialist economics and politics.
The problem is that some people who call themselves socialist are extremely stupid and instead of treating the state as an entity which should maximise economic activity productivity technology and wellbeing they treat the state as if it were Robin hood and his merry men0 -
I'm hoping Scotland will eventually settle in the middle, too much of either extreme is not good
I strongly doubt that any man-made "ism" has all the answers and I'm suspicious of anyone who does think that one of them does.There is no honour to be had in not knowing a thing that can be known - Danny Baker0 -
Do you have a real point to make?
Yes.
The inability of Socialism to take responsibility.
It's starting pint is to blame the "plight" of the of the proletariat on the bourgeois.
It then continues ad nauseum.'In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are Consequences.'0 -
Yes.
The inability of Socialism to take responsibility.
It's starting pint is to blame the "plight" of the of the proletariat on the bourgeois.
It then continues ad nauseum.
So you believe socialism (an economic and political theory) does not take responsibility? That is like saying "monetarism" or "capitalism" does not take responsibility, that is a pointless attribute to associate with what is fundamentally a concept capable of numerous interpretations.
However, try and explain without reference to socialism, why you think capitalism takes responsibility or does not?Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are incapable of forming such opinions.0 -
But the Greeks were "govt spending junkies". That's how they got into this mess. And as far as paying tax is concerned, their ship is a leaky old hulk compared to ours.:)
Praising the Greeks for now running a "much tighter ship" is like praising a bankrupt for keeping their spending under control. They don't really have any alternative you know.
All of the above is of course true, but in the context of what should be done about the Greece issue, it is at most a secondary issue. The fact is that we are where we are in respect of Greece, and the challenge now is to find the best way forward from that situation.
As it stands, Greece is indeed very close to running a primary surplus, and is committing to running one for the forseable future (as it should of course). The problem is that the debts created from previous mismanagement are simply unsustainable.
All the threats and bluster in the world from the institutions don't change that simple fact. The choice is therefore to use a combination of reform and write of off some of the debt to make the rest manageable, or to effectively force a default. The Eurogroup and IMF seem to see the latter as the best option despite it seemingly not being in their own best interests. They can't even use the "moral hazard" argument with any credibility, as nobody who has seen what the Greek population has gone through in the past few years cold seriously claim that they haven't been "punished" for their mistakes.
Angela Merkel has described the offer as extremely generous, which at least disproves one negative stereotype about Germans . . . . . .nobody could hear that and suggest she doesn't have a sense of humour, albeit perhaps a twisted one.0 -
is that you always run out of other people's money.
This is so clearly evident from the Greek socialists complete numeric illiteracy.
Let this be an example to the other socialists in Europe.
Spending more than you earn has nothing to do with politics (i.e. Greek state workers pensions). Anyone can decide to retire earlier and pay themselves more than the country can actually afford.0 -
...As it stands, Greece is indeed very close to running a primary surplus, ....
Greece actually did run a 'primary surplus in 2013 and 2014. So far this year (i.e. under Syriza) it has formally run a primary surplus of €1 billion, but only by virtue of not paying suppliers. So things have got worse for Greece.....and is committing to running one for the forseable future (as it should of course). ....
They don't really have any choice. Once you run out of money, you run out of money....The problem is that the debts created from previous mismanagement are simply unsustainable.
That is not an issue in terms of running a primary surplus. Or not, as the case may be. Perhaps you should check the defintion....All the threats and bluster in the world from the institutions don't change that simple fact. The choice is therefore to use a combination of reform and write of off some of the debt to make the rest manageable, or to effectively force a default. The Eurogroup and IMF seem to see the latter as the best option despite it seemingly not being in their own best interests. They can't even use the "moral hazard" argument with any credibility, as nobody who has seen what the Greek population has gone through in the past few years cold seriously claim that they haven't been "punished" for their mistakes.
Angela Merkel has described the offer as extremely generous, which at least disproves one negative stereotype about Germans . . . . . .nobody could hear that and suggest she doesn't have a sense of humour, albeit perhaps a twisted one.
An interesting opinion. I fear that events are rapidly overtaking you.0 -
So far this year (i.e. under Syriza) it has formally run a primary surplus of €1 billion, but only by virtue of not paying suppliers.
How does that work? Surely Greece doesn't use cash accounting.
If I buy some office supplies at work then the value of our stocks goes up and there is a liability to the supplier. If I delay paying the supplier, the liability doesn't go away it just helps with my cash flow.0
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