Bill Maher: Let's Not Romanticize Socialism The Way Conservatives Romanticize Capitalism

[ancianita]

The new generation and Santaism...

[Pharaoh]

1. Well bill sounds just like a 1 percenter now

he does shift in the wind. Just like his new buddy Hillary.

[ancianita]

2. Yep. Cuz America's 1%'ers DO call what EU socialist countries have Santaism.

He could have made his point with a fairer look at what Millennials and Bernie think could be workable taxation numbers, but no, he had to indulge his specialness and vanity by claiming the double standard of quality of life for everyone else.

If we need oligarchs to run this country, we need to borrow them from Northern European nations.

[ChiciB1]

12. I Think The Word He Wanted Is Santa-nism! n/t

[ancianita]

16. Nah, he doesn't believe the religious narratives. At all.

[passiveporcupine]

31. Exactly,

I'm a boomer. Six years older than him, and I went to a free/almost tuition free university. That doesn't mean it's free. You still have to come up with books and materials and living expenses (or dorm) on your own. He went to a private college (Cornell University). He was raised (I believe) comfortably upper middle class, and could afford it (his parents probably paid for it).

It's a shame to see someone push for progressive ideas one day and then shit on them the next. And he does not even take into consideration how much welfare we give to the corps, wall street, and the MIC...much of which should and could be going to improve the lives of our citizens, and education for everyone, which would make our economy stronger and safer. Yes, let's make our lives safer by raising people out of poverty and end so much of the crime and cost of prisons in this country.

He sounded just like a republican in that rant.

I used to look forward to his shows, but if he keeps this up, I'm done.

[Moostache]

3. Look at this graphic...then explain to me again why we can't make better spending choices.

https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1484

What is this sorcery? Is that government spending on free stuff? Are those giveaways to lazy, entitled kids?

Of course not, its the bloated US military budget.

We could reduce spending by 75% and STILL be outspending the Chinese AND Russians.

To anyone who believes that "socialism" is "free stuff", shove it up your ass and stare at the priorities of "capitalism" in that chart for a while, then get back to me to explain why we would need a military greater than the next 14 countries COMBINED???

Could it possibly be that we use that military around the world to get free stuff for the oligarchs?

[ancianita]

4. I hear ya. We spend that money abroad, build "embassies" and lily pads (naval bases on oceans) to

control the perimeter so that the labor can't redistribute its gains to others to compete with the oligarchs.

Our spending also generates the engines of other countries' economies.

Yep, looks like we do the procuring for the world's oligarchs, don't it.

Do you think the mass of people in America care about that?

[Moostache]

6. I think the masses BELIEVE its necessary...

There is so much fear in America that it drives everything...

Fear of lost income
Fear of lost jobs
Fear of "the other"
Fear of who is using which goddamn bathroom stall!

The masses are ignorant, and the media keeps them that way intentionally.
The real question is "Are Americans stupid as well as ignorant?"

My own fear is that en toto Americans are both these days...

[appalachiablue]

35. Rand freak, Fed Chair, RR, Clinton, Bushes; Alan Greenspan believed in 'greater worker insecurity'.

Last edited Sat Jun 11, 2016, 11:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Monstrous and key to age old patriarchal dominance.

[ChiciB1]

11. Thanks For The Graph... It Is Easier To See Reality... I'm Not

one who spends enough time with all the "techy" stuff, easy or not. I've always worked and am a "house wife" which means I know enough to connect and post my views, but my free time is limited.

[LS_Editor]

5. That is bullshit, Bill. Most of the country has been in a recession for over two decades.

[ancianita]

17. Yes. How dare Millennials look around at the higher quality of life elsewhere and get all uppity.

[cstanleytech]

18. I think you are missing his main point which is that

we need to avoid falling into the trap of putting one system (socialism) on a pedestal above any other.

[LS_Editor]

21. He ignores economic realities and blames a generation that had nothing to do with them.

If it was about balance, he wouldn't dismiss and mock a generation that will likely have a lower standard of living than their parents had. He attacks investing in our future. Easy when his generation was in school or trying to build their futures when there was far more government support.

He has no clue.

[passiveporcupine]

32. No, that was not his point at all.

[cstanleytech]

34. Well I could be mistaken of course *shrug*

[David__77]

7. There are various strains of socialism.

The socialism that I would support would be aimed at concentrating resources for technological advancement and development of productive capacity. There are also strains of socialism that are more aimed at providing social guarantees. Social guarantees must be backed up with production. Distribution of resources (wages, wealth); that said, I think the primary matter is ensuring a continuous and high rate of economic expansion.

[snort]

8. I like Bill the Comedian.

Bill the Intellectual not so much, he's not that bright.

[geardaddy]

9. Bingo.

[ancianita]

15. Yeah, he's not. But I'm with him on his issue priorities.

[ChiciB1]

10. Haven't Watched Him For A While, BUT Back When He, As A

BOOMER was ready to leave the "nest" MOST people could AFFORD the rents, electric/gas bill, internet costs that are a MUST for so many reasons, ESPECIALLY if they're attending school, the costs of ANY type of entertainment such as a movie maybe, the higher costs of food (think cereal & milk) and much more. If they have been lucky enough to get a GOOD job after going to college WITH student loans, they probably will have to "dress" properly which means NEW clothes that aren't cheap! Just a starter list of what they face!

The ratio of income to the cost of living from back then has actually declined and doesn't even exist on an equal level. Income to the cost of living hasn't even kept up, it's declined!

I have 2 grand kids, one who finished college and one who still attends. Both of them were required to work while attending college if they wanted anything extra. AND, we are WHITE people!

DID YOU DO ANY RESEARCH BILL?? They KNOW what Bernie is trying to do and THEY KNOW we aren't going to snap our fingers and these changes will suddenly be available! These are issues that will take time and not ALL will be attainable easily. They DO UNDERSTAND that this is what this country MUST work toward to help our society close the HUGE gap between them and the "Greedy Bastards!" It seems that YOU really don't understand what it means to be part of the 99%! Not EVERYONE can be a comedian or actor. When you went to college are you working at the job that you majored in??

Almost every program, SUCH AS YOURS actually costs money to subscribe to... maybe YOU MIGHT BENEFIT financially if more people could afford pod casts and HBO! I don't know how much these things cost, but I do know that many shows I would like to view aren't things even I can afford! They're probably much more tech savvy and know how to get SOME things for free, but BILL it's just NOT THAT EASY for millions of YOUR fellow citizens!

WOW, you DO sound like you're much higher up on the PEDESTAL than those BENEATH YOU! But, hey... it's what so many LIKE YOU seem not to understand! How much do YOU pay for Mary Jane these days????

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. The sad thing is he doesn't know how out of touch he is.

[Pharaoh]

14. bottom line is

Old bill just doesn't want to pay higher taxes..

[cstanleytech]

19. Ha, most people dont want to.

Of course anyone who is honest knows that the ones with the money are the ones who can honestly afford to pay the most, its simple math.

[notemason]

20. Condemning millenials for "wanting free stuff"

seems a bit insincere from a man who had all the "free stuff" in college he wanted by selling illegal drugs.

[Bucky]

22. Yes, socialism can lead to market inefficiencies. So can capitalism.

It's a matter of finding a good balance between what costs are shared in the public sector, what are left to the free market, and what factors are primarily in the market but subject to regulation. It's just a matter of finding the right balance.

Honestly, I don't even recall being on Maher's front lawn in the first place, so why is yelling so loud for me to get off of it?

[JDPriestly]

45. Right.

[liberalnarb]

23. What the fuck, Bill?

[liberalnarb]

24. When did Maher go conservative?

[rpannier]

40. He's a libertarian

Even though he no longer claims to be one, he still is

[liberalnarb]

41. I remember when he was a libertarian, but he wasn't an economic libertarian.

It was mostly about things like government surveillance for him.

[liberalnarb]

42. Also

[SmittynMo]

25. And bullshit on the Baby Boomers

I'm a boomer, and I totally disagree with him. We too want a better life for our children/grandchildren, not communism's gay cousin. Yeah I know it was a joke, but dayum. Not funny to us boomers.

I thought he was all for Bernie, and now it seems like he's loving throwing his ass under the bus. And yes the millennials are still living at home because the opportunities and jobs are not there like they were when I was their age.

I just see a different Maher, now that the tides have turned. Sad!!! And he thinks it's funny.

He's really becoming a prick.

[tonyt53]

26. Just remember, Maher is a comedian.

[nationalize the fed]

37. Except he hasn't been funny since Princess Diana's Mercedes drove into a tunnel

Actually, he never left High School. An excellent poster-boy for Boomers. Good thing he (supposedly) didn't reproduce.

[tirebiter]

27. Former member of the SDS here

And I found the bit hilarious. Porn doesn't just happen, people.

[Trajan]

28. I would appreciate it ...

... If Bill would now go back and add up each day of pubic schooling - every mile he's driven on pubic roads .. Every police call ...Every fire call .. Every library book he's ever checked out ...

ANYTHING he received without payment from the Democratic Socialist state known as the United States of America ...

Please submit your check to the United States of America ASAP, Bill, you fucking hypocrite ..

You fucking owe us ...

[Hoyt]

29. Maher endorsed Sanders, but said last night he wasn't espousing Socialism, more like Santaism.

Maher contributed to Sanders, had him on at least twice this election, has said supportive things, etc. But when he speaks the truth about right now, Berner's will throw him under the bus.

[ancianita]

36. If he hadn't asked BS earlier how he'd pay for socialism, Maher's being disingenuous and silly.

He's catering to the Obama and party majors for Hillary.

[Hoyt]

38. No, he's speaking truth to those who think the world will be better if they don't vote for HRC.

[ancianita]

39. But Santaism is the wrong sell. Socialists have this pro-lap band guy on their side.

:large

[JDPriestly]

46. Maher has no children in their 40s still repaying student debt.

He doesn't have kids who don't marry because they have to repay student debt at 1990 and 2000 and 2010 something tuition and fees on a 1970s income.

He does not know what he is talking about.

The truth is that much of the housing we have today exists only because the federal government under the FHA or the VA administrations underwrote it and gave in the case of the VA administration, nothing down loans. Back when those loans were available (and I might add funding for veterans' university education was also available to many young people), the economy was booming. We weren't importing such a large portion of our consumer goods. We actually produced them ourselves. (Kids under 35 don't know what that is like. They were still young or not yet alive when NAFTA was signed by Bill Clinton.)

Maher does not apparently realize that the University of California charged some fees but not tuition in the 1960s back when you could actually buy a decent house on a middle class salary even in a city.

Times have changed, but Maher's understanding of our economy, and the understanding of the economy of many wealthy Americans has not.

That's the problem here.

[DesertRat]

30. Under the bus he goes! nt

[BumRushDaShow]

33. That bus needed monster tires to fit all those folks under it

[svpadgham]

43. What's the problem with staying at home?

Aren't there a lot of cultures where people stay in the house they grew up in, and keep the household going? Isn't the whole moving out on your own an invention of the 50's and 60's US? Keep that economy rolling to keep the war machine turning.

[ancianita]

44. I see nothing at all wrong with the frugality of millennials who keep their money in the family,

do their part in maintaining their household as an adult member and pursue interests that might or might not lead to financial independence.

The economic system isn't their grandparents' system and they can't be blamed for coping with it pragmatically.