Since capitalism has been such a miserable failure

[Stargazer99]

How about the government establishing medical, dental, etc services for low income people?
The doctors, dentist, etc don't profit from serving the poor it should not hurt their profits
The capitalist system requires approximately 20% of the population (to be low income) to support it's dynamics-never told that were you?
No wonder the wealthy don't want critical thinking taught in the public schools.
The system is cruel to those least able to defend themselves-amazing how the comfortable rationalizethe agony and misery of their country men and ignore what they would not want to endure.
The gutless comfortable are scared to death they will be next living in the woods...amazing what a pitiful excuse the US has become

[handmade34]

1. ...

[newfie11]

2. Mention socialism and people freak

The brainwashing is complete in America.

[truebluegreen]

13. Mention socialism and older people freak.

The young? Not so much. The Soviet Union bogeyman is pretty far back in history for them.

[olddots]

3. Humans are self destructive animals

I hear you and this is world wide anti logic going on not progress .

[HiPointDem]

4. "requires approximately 20%" = nah, there's no set percentage.

'most of the world is capitalist, and most of the world is poor'

[BOG PERSON]

8. how large is the american surplus population?

it's probably more like 30%

[HiPointDem]

12. i'm not talking about just america. the poverty induced by american & international capitalism

includes plenty of global poverty as well.

india was a relatively rich & developed country before the british got hold of it. the impoverished indian masses were part of the british poor.

[reformist2]

5. Did you see last night's Frontline? It was a study in how capitalism has failed two families.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3212892

[Bannakaffalatta]

6. There is a simple solution:

Separation of all public services from capital. The various levels of government need control of the resources - space, energy, material, equipment, expertise and labour - to administer and supply all the basic needs of all the people - without buying anything from private business.

Industry, enterprise, trade and commerce dealing with non-essential can go on being profit driven.

That way, government officials are neither corrupted by the handling of large sums, nor beholden to financiers.

Obviously, it can't be done (Go ahead, scream it.)

[Blaukraut]

9. Excellent idea. And it could be done - eventually

Probably in increments, over many years, and with lots of hurdles thrown in by special interests. It would have to start with publicly funded elections, though. Once elected officials aren't beholden to those special interests, they might actually pass legislation that favors the many over the few.

[RevStPatrick]

7. Capitalism has NOT been a miserable failure!

In fact, it's been WAY too successful.
That is the problem...

[zappaman]

10. Let's try communism!!!

Let me know when the "We Need Communism" parade is!
Yay!

[Stargazer99]

14. I take it the system has not screwed you over yet, or are you the comfortable

that doesn't give a damn about anyone but yourself