"The Case for Socialism"

[Xicano]

"A world where millions of children die each year because they lack food--while the rich get richer. A world where the living standards of workers and the poor continue to erode, year after year. A world threatened by environmental catastrophe.

The Case for Socialism argues that another world—a socialist world—is possible, one in which people come before profit and working people control society democratically, putting the world’s resources to meeting human needs."

On March 24, 2010 the Burlington branch of the International Socialist Organization hosted a talk and discussion with Sherry Wolf, author of Sexuality and Socialism, on the case for socialism.


http://vimeo.com/10427021

[High_On_Love]

1. One problem with

Socialism is that those get richer, still find ways to get richer even in a socialist nation. Socialism only works in a place free and clear of corruption - and very few places are free of corruption. The rich are just to entrenched, their networks are to hidden. They would destroy the efforts of the workers. We need to fight corruption first, to make way for a fairer world.

[cognoscere]

3. That is the problem with any form of government. Whenever you

have people involved with anything, there will always be corruption. Almost makes you wish the Forbin Project were real. Almost.

[jtrockville]

4. The rich ALWAYS get richer. Only question is: What happens to the poor?

Seems to me, the goal is for the poor to get richer too, or at least have the opportunity to.

[TBF]

10. The idea would be to equalize a bit -

people living according to their needs, to start with. Once we have everyone into a shelter with food and clothing, then we go from there. Everyone has a job (or some sort of income if they are incapable of working), everyone goes to school (according to their ability). After that we go to extras (if there are enough resources).

Kinda like a normal person's budget. As opposed to what we have now - which is the very richest getting whatever they want and the rest of us scraping by and grabbing at crumbs. This doesn't just apply to the US - it applies to capitalistic societies worldwide.

[Starry Messenger]

6. A system of profit-making enables corruption

It's an inherent by-product of created behavior. Expropriate from the wealthy and eliminate the system that they exploited for gain. It's better than the crap we have now.

[badtoworse]

15. " Expropriate from the wealthy" ?

You can tax their income, but seizing their assets is an entirely different matter. How would you get the fifth amendment repealed? I like the Bill of Rights just the way it is.

[TBF]

7. That is not the problem with socialism - you are defining capitalism. nt

Socialism is the workers owning the means of production (as opposed to capital owning them).

[leftstreet]

8. Capitalism IS corruption

We need to get rid of it

[white_wolf]

9. I always say that the exploitation of the USSR

and other nations that claimed to be socialists were a corruption of socialism, however capitalism IS exploitation. That is what its foundations are built upon.

[Taverner]

12. Three words: employee owned companies

[randr]

2. A thread worth reading

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=750075

[white_wolf]

5. I would like to say thanks for the promotion.

[randr]

13. I have spread this article far and wide

Thank you for the post in the first place!!

[Taverner]

11. I agree, but be prepared to face off against incoherence and inanity

I know we need to go Socialist

I know Capitalism is dead - hell you couldn't even call the US Capitalist today!

But the Invisible-Hand-lovin' folks will be here soon to squawk their free market BS sooner or later

Yet the only arguments they can make are "STALIN!! STALIN!!!" or "MAO!! MAO!!!" as if Socialism was was synonymous with Soviet

And they all like to high five each other for their blather...

[white_wolf]

14. Personally I'm waiting for the

"democratic" or "conciseness" capitalism guy to show up.