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@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding of what "socialism" is, and what the end goal here is, because destroying the nation sure isn't it, (@Steve_1911). We're looking at the current state of many Scandinavian countries, whose economic model works very well...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 The aim is simply an extension of what we already have in place for things like firefighters. Nobody is too poor or too rich to call 911 if their house is on fire, both bc everyone deserves that much, and bc that fire is a risk to other houses nearby...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 Another example is the roads in your town or city. Anyone can drive on them, right? The people driving on them may have an old beater or a new sports car, depending on their income, but the roads are there to be used by everyone. That's socialism.
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 Other examples are public libraries, public schools, public parks, and every branch of the military (we all get the benefits of having a military to protect us from an invasion). All of those are examples of the socialism, also called democratic socialism, that we want.
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 What were do not want is what is happening in Venezuela, which is in the state is in today because of two things: an autocratic ruler, and a severe drop in oil prices. Bc oil had been almost their only export, when the oil boom ended, they had no more money coming in...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 And Venezuela could not provide for itself without that money. They didn't have the ability to produce on their own what they had been importing with oil money, basic things like food and toilet paper. And the democratically elected president chose to respond by printing more...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 money, causing massive inflation, and consolidating his power by reducing the power of the legislative branch that was meant to be a coequal branch of gov. That's why Venezuela is in chaos and crisis today, not because of dem socialism...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 which is actually one of the reasons for high taxes on the rich. If the money regular people make in good economic times dries up suddenly, as has happened to people in coal mining towns, the gov needs to have money on hand to help them survive, help set up a new industry...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 that they can make money from, or help them relocate to an area with more jobs. (You can't sell a house for what you paid for it in dried up coal mining towns. No one wants to buy it.) That's what we want, for the gov to be able to help people when they're out of work...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 *and* to help them return to work again. The idea has never been to make it so everybody has the same income, whether they work or not, but for there to be a UBI (universal basic income) that people can count on when they need it. A floor for nobody to fall beneath...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 so everyone can basic necessities, whether they're too old or sick to work, or there's just no jobs in the area. We don't want anybody to be unable to access what they need to get by. But having a job would still mean that you get the income you earned...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 and be able to buy things you want with that money, things that those without jobs couldn't afford. But just like today, some of your money would be taxed to help out your neighbors, and to help out you if you ever need it. It also makes it possible for a parent to be able to...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 not need to work while raising their children, if they want to. Today, most families need two incomes to be able to get by, and can't afford to have one parent stay home with their children. With a UBI, even a stay-at-home parent would have enough income for food and housing...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 without having to try to earn enough money at work to feed themselves and multiple children. What it really comes down to is two basic ideas: 1) That everybody deserves food, housing, healthcare (and job training!), even if they're old, sick, raising kids, or even working...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 on starting a new business that isn't making any money yet. Having a UBI makes that all possible. And 2) That few ppl would want to quit working altogether just to subsist on a small UBI. Most ppl want to work, to earn more money than that. I know I sure do...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 even though I can't at the moment. If you don't believe these two things about people, that they all deserve food and housing, and that they want to work, then I don't know how to convince you...
@SocialismStench @MarthaNewsom4 @Lrihendry @Steve_1911 But *please* believe that that is all we want, for ppl to live better lives. Not for the gov to take over and make it so everyone has the same income, that you can't earn more money even if you try. That is not our goal. We just don't want ppl to live in crushing poverty. Fin.
