If you have used the word "socialism" or "socialist" in the past few weeks ...

[callipygian]

Please look it up in a dictionary so that you can be sure it means what you think it means.

[Automatic Monkey]

I don't need to look it up in the dictionary. I know socialists by what they do...

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_f3-VceaOjXQ/Rk...tika3clear.jpg

[GeorgeD]

Originally Posted by callipygian

Please look it up in a dictionary so that you can be sure it means what you think it means.

Or better yet, democratic socialist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_socialist

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by GeorgeD

Or better yet, democratic socialist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_socialist

Democratic socialism- a political system comparable to 5 coyotes and 4 chickens voting on what's for dinner.

[GeorgeD]

Originally Posted by Automatic Monkey

Democratic socialism- a political system comparable to 5 coyotes and 4 chickens voting on what's for dinner.

With "do not kill" laws on the books and a libertarian principle that protects the minority, I guess they're ordering Chinese. Probably sesame beef and string beans.

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by GeorgeD

With "do not kill" laws on the books and a libertarian principle that protects the minority, I guess they're ordering Chinese. Probably sesame beef and string beans.

Ah, that's a good one! LIBERTARIAN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS! (LDS?)

Only in the Zen Zone!

[GeorgeD]

Originally Posted by Automatic Monkey

Ah, that's a good one! LIBERTARIAN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS! (LDS?)

Only in the Zen Zone!

No reason libertarian socialist can't be democratic.

Libertarian socialism is a group of political philosophies that aim to create a society without political, economic, or social hierarchies, i.e. a society in which all violent or coercive institutions would be dissolved, and in their place every person would have free, equal access to tools of information and production, or a society in which such coercive institutions and hierarchies were drastically reduced in scope.

Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements, tendencies, and organizations, to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation. The term is sometimes used synonymously with 'social democracy'.

[Automatic Monkey]

Originally Posted by GeorgeD

No reason libertarian socialist can't be democratic.

Libertarian socialism is a group of political philosophies that aim to create a society without political, economic, or social hierarchies, i.e. a society in which all violent or coercive institutions would be dissolved, and in their place every person would have free, equal access to tools of information and production, or a society in which such coercive institutions and hierarchies were drastically reduced in scope.

Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements, tendencies, and organizations, to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation. The term is sometimes used synonymously with 'social democracy'.

What you are describing is Jacobin socialism. They used the word "liberty" in their rhetoric but if you exercised an unacceptable (to the leadership) liberty, you faced the guillotine. There is nothing new or creative about this.

Libertarianism (lower case 'l') is a class of political thought that strives to maximize individual liberty through the traditional Western freedoms (free speech/press/religion,) free markets and economic freedom, and the addition of questionable and non-traditional freedoms by abolition of laws regarding drugs and public behavior. Socialism is the control of the means of production by the government, and can only be effected by government control of wages and prices, and unless wages are directly paid by the government this control can only be effected by confiscatory and redistributionary taxation. It is fully incompatible with libertarianism.

How do you propose to get rich people to give up their ostentatious wealth and obscene profits without "violent or coercive institutions?" No IRS? Or will only violent and coercive institutions run by The Party be permitted?

[aslan]

Originally Posted by Automatic Monkey

Democratic socialism- a political system comparable to 5 coyotes and 4 chickens voting on what's for dinner.

I like that! It pretty well sums it up!

[aslan]

Originally Posted by Automatic Monkey

What you are describing is Jacobin socialism. They used the word "liberty" in their rhetoric but if you exercised an unacceptable (to the leadership) liberty, you faced the guillotine. There is nothing new or creative about this.

Libertarianism (lower case 'l') is a class of political thought that strives to maximize individual liberty through the traditional Western freedoms (free speech/press/religion,) free markets and economic freedom, and the addition of questionable and non-traditional freedoms by abolition of laws regarding drugs and public behavior. Socialism is the control of the means of production by the government, and can only be effected by government control of wages and prices, and unless wages are directly paid by the government this control can only be effected by confiscatory and redistributionary taxation. It is fully incompatible with libertarianism.

How do you propose to get rich people to give up their ostentatious wealth and obscene profits without "violent or coercive institutions?" No IRS? Or will only violent and coercive institutions run by The Party be permitted?

You can pretend to [get rich people to give up their wealth] while you afford them tax loopholes or other means to compensate them for going along with your power grab scheme.