Comments on: Socialist Webzine: Rasmussen Poll Indicates American Shift Toward Socialism http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/ Covering America's third parties and independent candidates since May 2008 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:50:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Melty http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56455 Melty Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:58:13 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56455 One intelligent response to "Which system do you prefer- capitalism or socialism?" is "The question lacks sense." Rasmussen often words its polls in such false dichotomies (for another example: "Which do we need more of now- liberty or security?") and 100% of responses must all fit into a few little boxes. In this case, 53%+20%+27%=100%, so my response, I suppose, would be marked down as "not sure." Socialism's a sort of "system" but how is capitalism, freedom of trade, a "system?" and how are they in a trade-off relation as if diametrically opposed? The question is as false as the all-inclusive one-dimensional Right/Left continuum, and this poll question intentionally frames in that mindset. Thanx for the reason.com link on Somali, Paulie! One intelligent response to “Which system do you prefer- capitalism or socialism?” is “The question lacks sense.” Rasmussen often words its polls in such false dichotomies (for another example: “Which do we need more of now- liberty or security?”) and 100% of responses must all fit into a few little boxes. In this case, 53%+20%+27%=100%, so my response, I suppose, would be marked down as “not sure.” Socialism’s a sort of “system” but how is capitalism, freedom of trade, a “system?” and how are they in a trade-off relation as if diametrically opposed? The question is as false as the all-inclusive one-dimensional Right/Left continuum, and this poll question intentionally frames in that mindset.

Thanx for the reason.com link on Somali, Paulie!

]]> By: paulie http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56442 paulie Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:52:03 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56442 Have you read this yet? http://www.reason.com/news/show/132942.html Have you read this yet?

http://www.reason.com/news/show/132942.html

]]> By: derkel http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56439 derkel Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:49:37 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56439 "Somalia should more accurately be compared with nation states which surround it, not with the US." Yeah, that makes sense. Even by African standards, Mogadishu is a violent place. Although comparing a state with no government to the other states with a barely functioning government are about the same. “Somalia should more accurately be compared with nation states which surround it, not with the US.”

Yeah, that makes sense. Even by African standards, Mogadishu is a violent place. Although comparing a state with no government to the other states with a barely functioning government are about the same.

]]> By: paulie http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56384 paulie Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:07:18 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56384 derkel, Somalia should more accurately be compared with nation states which surround it, not with the US. derkel,

Somalia should more accurately be compared with nation states which surround it, not with the US.

]]> By: derkel http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56379 derkel Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:56:13 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56379 I find it amusing anarchists continually point to Somalia as some sort of shining example for the world. Now lets compare the quality of life in Somalia to the quality of life we currently enjoy. Not that our system is perfect, but believing a quasi-anarchic state like Somalia is something we should model ourselves after is funny. I find it amusing anarchists continually point to Somalia as some sort of shining example for the world.

Now lets compare the quality of life in Somalia to the quality of life we currently enjoy. Not that our system is perfect, but believing a quasi-anarchic state like Somalia is something we should model ourselves after is funny.

]]> By: Libertarian Joseph http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56294 Libertarian Joseph Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:21:25 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56294 the government should also never create a socialized currency. leave the mediums of exchange to the free market. look at Somalia; they use a mixture of their old currency and private currencies. ZERO INFLATION. There is siply no usefulness for the government to control the currency, unless you're a statist that likes government monopoly. the government should also never create a socialized currency. leave the mediums of exchange to the free market. look at Somalia; they use a mixture of their old currency and private currencies. ZERO INFLATION. There is siply no usefulness for the government to control the currency, unless you’re a statist that likes government monopoly.

]]> By: Libertarian Joseph http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56293 Libertarian Joseph Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:17:58 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56293 you can't just "try it" it requires a total restructuring of the economy from freedom to artificial and aristocratic. the result will be failure and everyone will be equally poor. socialism doesn't create prosperity, capitalism does. the welfare states in the european union are just living on the capitalism they have left in tact to live off of. they use it to fund their failed government programs. capitalism is superior in every area. working is voluntary you negotiate your own wages you disagree with your working agreement? you stop working. you don't need price fixing on labor. that destroys jobs and always keeps some segment of the economy unemployed. you can’t just “try it” it requires a total restructuring of the economy from freedom to artificial and aristocratic. the result will be failure and everyone will be equally poor. socialism doesn’t create prosperity, capitalism does. the welfare states in the european union are just living on the capitalism they have left in tact to live off of. they use it to fund their failed government programs. capitalism is superior in every area.

working is voluntary

you negotiate your own wages

you disagree with your working agreement? you stop working. you don’t need price fixing on labor. that destroys jobs and always keeps some segment of the economy unemployed.

]]> By: Libertarian Joseph http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56292 Libertarian Joseph Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:11:22 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56292 they might think socialism is good. but they won't like it once we try it ha. they would be begging for food they might think socialism is good. but they won’t like it once we try it ha. they would be begging for food

]]> By: Steven R Linnabary http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56203 Steven R Linnabary Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:32:16 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56203 <i>Well, at least 20% of the country has above-average intelligence.</i> Well, by definition, at least <b>50%</b> of the county is above average. :-) PEACE Well, at least 20% of the country has above-average intelligence.

Well, by definition, at least 50% of the county is above average.

:-)

PEACE

]]> By: jason http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56195 jason Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:06:34 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56195 Well, at least 20% of the country has above-average intelligence. *cue the libertarians with their street-corner preaching about how great the free market is* Well, at least 20% of the country has above-average intelligence.

*cue the libertarians with their street-corner preaching about how great the free market is*

]]> By: Thane Eichenauer http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/04/socialist-webzine-rasmussen-poll-indicates-american-shift-toward-socialism/comment-page-1/#comment-56139 Thane Eichenauer Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:29:28 +0000 http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/?p=8050#comment-56139 The fact that Americans still favor capitalism over socialism 53% to 46% is a testament to the fact that socialism is a very bad idea and it doesn't take much thinking to realize that. Even so people should learn more about capitalism (and socialism for that matter). Democrats and the MSM will respond to any economic or social problem by claiming "capitalism has failed". Republicans and Libertarians will claim "soclialism and high taxes are strangling American prosperity". I hope that those who are worried that capitalism scores "only" 53% to teach their friends and family about capitalism. Mises.org makes George Reisman's book Capitalism without charge: http://blog.mises.org/archives/000406.asp The fact that Americans still favor capitalism over socialism 53% to 46% is a testament to the fact that socialism is a very bad idea and it doesn’t take much thinking to realize that.

Even so people should learn more about capitalism (and socialism for that matter).

Democrats and the MSM will respond to any economic or social problem by claiming “capitalism has failed”. Republicans and Libertarians will claim “soclialism and high taxes are strangling American prosperity”.

I hope that those who are worried that capitalism scores “only” 53% to teach their friends and family about capitalism. Mises.org makes George Reisman’s book Capitalism without charge:
http://blog.mises.org/archives/000406.asp

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