General Discussion

d_r

(6,908 posts)

27. In my view

Sun Aug 5, 2018, 11:15 AM

Aug 2018

Labels like "socialism" and "communism" and "capitalism" aren't real things. They aren't objective things like a rock or water, they are things that people made up and only exist because we agree about what they mean. When the industrial revolution happened, there was easy to get to energy and natural resources that built wealth. These terms came from ways of distributing that wealth and didn't really make sense before that time. I think we are getting to the point where we are after that time and the labels aren't really meaningful in terms of best ways to move forward. The best way to love forward is some sort of hybrid combination of things that used to go into the various labels.

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Are Nordic countries really socialist? [View all] yardwork Aug 2018 OP

If it makes you feel better to label whatever Voltaire2 Aug 2018 #1

Just to clarify, I didn't write the article. I posted it here for discussion. yardwork Aug 2018 #5

They do capitalism very well hack89 Aug 2018 #47

Yep. nt SunSeeker Aug 2018 #64

Whatever "makes you feel better". Cha Aug 2018 #65

Now let's turn our attention to conservatives who call Obama and school shooting survivors socialist ck4829 Aug 2018 #2

What makes you think we never want to talk about them? nt stevenleser Aug 2018 #49

I think many like to use that word for ... NurseJackie Aug 2018 #3

"I think I'm purer than you" is a message we've all heard. yardwork Aug 2018 #6

You're correct, it's a liability... NurseJackie Aug 2018 #38

Agreed. The "shock value" and "hey look at me" is strong in some circles. brush Aug 2018 #13

I agree! yardwork Aug 2018 #22

Not only aren't they "socialist", but they're tiny countries (population-wise)..... George II Aug 2018 #4

Exactly. It's harder for capitalists to divide people there than here ck4829 Aug 2018 #8

And I see the opposite! Capitalism in its pure form is focused only on profits. yardwork Aug 2018 #10

Is it? ck4829 Aug 2018 #11

I agree. It can go either way. yardwork Aug 2018 #15

Capitalism has very little to do with the divisions you're talking about. Those are intrinsic.... George II Aug 2018 #14

I read once a few years back. Blue_true Aug 2018 #53

That gets at an underlying issue in the U.S. - racism. yardwork Aug 2018 #9

You make a good point. Blue_true Aug 2018 #50

"Socialism" is a term that has come to mean whatever people want it to mean. Willie Pep Aug 2018 #7

"'Socialism' is a term that has come to mean whatever people want it to mean." brer cat Aug 2018 #17

I think the negative connotations are decreasing. Willie Pep Aug 2018 #31

It has already come up in the GA gubernatorial campaign. brer cat Aug 2018 #35

Yep. moondust Aug 2018 #40

Yes. Your post is such a no-brainer I just don't get why the democratic... brush Aug 2018 #45

I think the leaders do get it. GulfCoast66 Aug 2018 #51

IMO, not that smart to label oneself as such since the word has... brush Aug 2018 #57

Well, I disagree with you. Honesty is respectable. GulfCoast66 Aug 2018 #59

Why do you say you disagree with me when we both agree he can't win? brush Aug 2018 #66

Oh, I only disagree with your not that smart label. GulfCoast66 Aug 2018 #67

Yes, you're right. He's been an avowed socialist for years. I still don't think it was smart... brush Aug 2018 #69

Good info. The lesson needing to be learned here is "socialism"... brush Aug 2018 #42

K&R betsuni Aug 2018 #12

Libertarian propaganda... Wounded Bear Aug 2018 #16

Generally I agree GulfCoast66 Aug 2018 #20

As my friends in Sweden say: "inte alls!" DFW Aug 2018 #18

Thank you for that information. yardwork Aug 2018 #24

I met my first Swedish friends in 1969 DFW Aug 2018 #25

There are a few linguists who think English isn't a west Germanic language, The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2018 #28

I agree with them DFW Aug 2018 #30

No, they aren't. As I've posted repeatedly... Garrett78 Aug 2018 #19

Shhhh! What are you trying to do here? DFW Aug 2018 #26

It would be even better for them to label themselves Democrats... brush Aug 2018 #43

The ones I know do not claim they are socialist GulfCoast66 Aug 2018 #21

Exactly. yardwork Aug 2018 #23

In my view d_r Aug 2018 #27

Social constructs, though, have real consequences. Garrett78 Aug 2018 #33

What i mean to say is d_r Aug 2018 #34

I get it. And as I said... Garrett78 Aug 2018 #37

Good points. Their naivete in describing themselves as socialists, though well meaning... brush Aug 2018 #44

You would think a US Senator would know better, but... Garrett78 Aug 2018 #46

Bernie's history is more of a socialist than social democrat. Blue_true Aug 2018 #58

Yes. K&R brush Aug 2018 #70

They practice Social Capitalism. CentralMass Aug 2018 #29

It's a mixed economy, like all modern economies marylandblue Aug 2018 #32

I think it's interesting that these countries are some of the most "happy" people mitch96 Aug 2018 #36

Is any country really capitalist? Major Nikon Aug 2018 #39

excellent question. it blows the whole dumb argument up ProfessorPlum Aug 2018 #41

The article, if you read it closely, was a hit job on ALL progressives. Blue_true Aug 2018 #48

Well, it is Forbes, so.... yardwork Aug 2018 #72

All of the nordic countries have capitalist economies with social services brooklynite Aug 2018 #52

Forbes lost me.... Xolodno Aug 2018 #54

Extra side note; Xolodno Aug 2018 #55

This drives me insane. Blue_true Aug 2018 #60

I didn't say the government owns anything... Xolodno Aug 2018 #80

You are conflating "socialism" with regulated capitalism... Wounded Bear Aug 2018 #68

Enough "regulated capitalism"... Xolodno Aug 2018 #81

So, you're right and I'm wrong... Wounded Bear Aug 2018 #82

Well... Xolodno Aug 2018 #83

Well, maybe Turbineguy Aug 2018 #56

They are Social Democracies Fiendish Thingy Aug 2018 #61

A little socialism can be a good thing as we see in the Nordic countries. ... spin Aug 2018 #62

K & R SunSeeker Aug 2018 #63

Author's bio melman Aug 2018 #71

The author's point of view is pretty transparent, but where are his facts wrong? yardwork Aug 2018 #73

Seems like all over the place...like lefties love for Castro and Madura...and when it JCanete Aug 2018 #75

So you disagree with his opinions, I get that. yardwork Aug 2018 #76

I don't just disagree. He literally contradicts himself by defining socialism the way he has in the JCanete Aug 2018 #77

I'm railing? yardwork Aug 2018 #78

How about contributing to a railing against the term. Also, you've indicated agreement with this JCanete Aug 2018 #79

They are mixed economies, just like ours. Are we really Capitalist? That label seems to be JCanete Aug 2018 #74

Edit: They're actually quite capitalist in some respects. I guess it's a hybrid BUT JHan Aug 2018 #84

Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2018 #85