So why can't the government do this?

[BayCityProgressive]

In many European countries where Socialist and Social Democratic parties are in the majority, things like healthcare, transportation, hospitals, ect are nationalized. Why cant we here in America have the government set up government run airline industries for example to compete with private owners? We wouldnt tell them they couldnt exist but we could find out if nationalized industry is better. I think if our air travel was nationalized like in many socialist/social democratic countries we could save a lot of money. The service would no longer be for profit and we wouldnt have to give all these huge welfare handouts to the industries. We could simply say "ok, if you as a private owner can compete and run a more efficient business than a nationalized airline you will get the customers." It seems like this way we could let consumers decide and also see how well a nationalized system works by having a trial dual systemwith both private and public enterprise.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

1. because its Socialist!

Boo!

[Kanary]

2. Why can't we? Because we, the people, aren't demanding it.

That's it, in a nutshell.

So, join one of the groups pressing for Universal health care, study the issues so you can talk about it with others, and work to get *that* passed.

Then, we go on to others issues.

Every one of us has to put our hands to this work, if we want to have this.

Kanary

[Bronco69]

3. I hope I say this right...

Because the republican platform is all about private ownership and the belief that competition among private owners will keep prices low. What they don't tell you is that they make it next to impossible for people like you and me to compete. Once they get their money-grubbing hands in something, they just re-write the laws that keep you and me from being able to compete. That's what they do in all of those closed door meetings on capitol hill. Since the republicans control congress and the white house, you aren't going to see that change for a long long time until some of that legislation is overturned.

[Kanary]

4. Unless we, the people, rise up on our hind legs and raise our voices!

WE gotta smarten up.

We really aren't helpless.

We just think we are.

Kanary

[lottie244]

5. Capitalism vs Socialism: the best kept secret...explosive!!!!

There is government subsidy and payouts in both systems. The difference is that in Socialism the subsidies go to people and social programs to assist and help people. In Capitalism the susidies go to big business, corporations, and conglomerates...these are people hiding behind the fog of business but the subsidies benefit only the upper 2% who are the stake, stock, and security holders for the corporations.

"pulling yourself up by your boot straps" and "if you work hard, you can have the American dream" crap is an ideal sold to the masses. A few manage to do that and some of them, when they succeed (like Bill Clinton) are scorned for entering into a class they aren't "entitled" to. Don't fool yoursel, the most of the top 2% never worked for their money and if they did they didn't work "hard" for it. Their wealth is mostly "inherited" or embezzeled wealth. Their "socialism" is know by other names like "legacy appointments" "nepotism" "croynism" "privileged" "contracts" "sub-contracts" "grants"

Think about it!!!