Bring it On - Capitalism and Prosperity v. Socialism and Poverty

CabinetMaker

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Going back to my days in high school history class, and boy has that been a minute! I have noticed that many states that call themselves socialists actually align far more closely with fascism. There a a several countries in the world that have deeply socialistic policies such as the Nordic countries. They pay very deep taxes but they also routinely rate as some of the happiest countries in the world.

I think that America would benefit from socialized medicine. This would keep all American's healthier and healthy populace is a good thing. It wouldn't be free, the cost would be born by the tax payers which is really no different than what is happening no if you think about it. That said, who would administer it? The federal government has repeatedly demonstrated that they are terrible managers of medical stuff? A private, for profit company? Some combination of government and private industry? In my estimation, converting the US medical system to a socialized system would be painfully expensive and reduce our already limited efficiency.
 

JudgeRightly

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Going back to my days in high school history class, and boy has that been a minute! I have noticed that many states that call themselves socialists actually align far more closely with fascism. There a a several countries in the world that have deeply socialistic policies such as the Nordic countries. They pay very deep taxes but they also routinely rate as some of the happiest countries in the world.

I think that America would benefit from socialized medicine. This would keep all American's healthier and healthy populace is a good thing. It wouldn't be free, the cost would be born by the tax payers which is really no different than what is happening no if you think about it. That said, who would administer it? The federal government has repeatedly demonstrated that they are terrible managers of medical stuff? A private, for profit company? Some combination of government and private industry? In my estimation, converting the US medical system to a socialized system would be painfully expensive and reduce our already limited efficiency.

Socialism (including socialized medicine) is wrong because it violates God's enduring command, "You shall not steal."

Robbing Peter to pay Paul is wrong.

If someone wants healthcare, they should pay for it themselves.

The reason why no one can afford to do so currently is BECAUSE of socialist programs, and because the government has its fingers deep in the proverbial pie of the medical industry.

Get the government out of healthcare, and everything else that it is not specifically responsible for as defined by God's word, and those prices (along with the cost of everything else) will plummet.
 

CabinetMaker

Member of the 10 year club on TOL!!
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Socialism (including socialized medicine) is wrong because it violates God's enduring command, "You shall not steal."

Robbing Peter to pay Paul is wrong.

If someone wants healthcare, they should pay for it themselves.

The reason why no one can afford to do so currently is BECAUSE of socialist programs, and because the government has its fingers deep in the proverbial pie of the medical industry.

Get the government out of healthcare, and everything else that it is not specifically responsible for as defined by God's word, and those prices (along with the cost of everything else) will plummet.
Socialism is not stealing. It is a tax like any other tax and taxes are biblical. You would pay a tax and in exchange, you would receive healthcare. And taxes are biblical.

love your neighbor as yourself Matthew 7:12

The reason nobody can afford insurance is because of insurance companies themselves. Even the insurance industry knows this. Also, isn't medicare the only "socialist" medical insurance in this country? Does receiving government assistance for health insurance make it socialist? Is receiving food assistance from the government socialist? As Christians, are we not supposed to care for those in need (Luke 14:13-14)? Does not the government derive their ultimate authority from God? Wouldn't that mean that a government is responsible for caring for people when help is needed? Seems like the government would have smaller social welfare requirements if the Church was doing a better job of caring for those in need.
 

JudgeRightly

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Socialism is not stealing.

Yes, it is.

It is taking money by force from someone who earned it, and giving it to someone else who did not.

It is literally legalized plunder. It destroys the rule of law by sanctioning theft.

It is a tax like any other tax

Socialism isn't a tax. It USES taxation to fund it, yes, but it isn't a tax itself.

and taxes are biblical.

So what? God says a 10% or greater is tyrannical. God expects us to pay the taxes that are due, but it doesn't necessarily mean that those taxes are justified.

God has given the government certain responsibilities.

Taking care of its citizens is not one of them, and to the extent that the government does things that it is not supposed to do, to that extent it will do the things it should be doing less efficiently and effectively.

You would pay a tax and in exchange, you would receive healthcare.

The problem is that it's not the responsibility of the government to take care of people from cradle to grave.

And taxes are biblical.

Supra.

love your neighbor as yourself Matthew 7:12

That is a command for individuals, not a governmental command.

Guess which we're talking about?

The reason nobody can afford insurance is because of insurance companies themselves.

And there is upwards pressure applied to them BY THE GOVERNMENT, because the government..... wait for it.... TAXES THEM!

The government has their fingers in so many proverbial pies that no matter what you do, there's a tax on it.

Buy a house or car? Property tax
Want to drive your car? Fuel tax, and tolls
To the store? Sales tax
Want to insure your house or car? More taxes on the transactions of every payment you make.
Running a business? Business tax.
Want to ship something to your door? Sales tax from you, fuel tax from any company that picks it up and delivers it (and possibly tolls), taxes for everything the people running it do, such as buy groceries for themselves, make car payments, mortgage payments, property taxes, etc., etc., etc., etc....

The government taxes ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.

All to fund the socialist programs we already have, and it's STILL not enough.

No, the solution is not MORE taxes.

The solution is the elimination of taxes (except for a personal increase tax, and that at a maximum of 5% of one's income), and ALL unnecessary government-run programs.

Even the insurance industry knows this. Also, isn't medicare the only "socialist" medical insurance in this country?

Medicare and Medicaid are both socialist programs.

Does receiving government assistance for health insurance make it socialist?

Yes. It is theft by receiving.

Is receiving food assistance from the government socialist?

Yes. Theft by receiving.

As Christians, are we not supposed to care for those in need (Luke 14:13-14)?

Not what we're talking about.

Reminder, we're talking about governmental responsibility, not what Christians can or should do.

Does not the government derive their ultimate authority from God?

Yes, that doesn't give them carte blanche authority to do whatever they want.

As I mentioned above, the government has certain God-given responsibilities it MUST do. If it tries to do other things, it will not be anywhere near as effective as it should be, and the people will suffer.

Those responsibilities are criminal justice (both foreign and domestic), and maintaining and building infrastructure.

That's it.

There is nothing else it should be doing.

Wouldn't that mean that a government is responsible for caring for people when help is needed?

Only in emergency situations, such as natural disasters, and for restoring infrastructure and maintaining public order through criminal justice.

Otherwise, no, the government is not responsible for caring for people.

Seems like the government would have smaller social welfare requirements if the Church was doing a better job of caring for those in need.

That doesn't justify socialism.

The "from my hand to yours" giving should be the norm.

When the government meets emergency needs (on a personal level, that is), family and friends do not.

Welfare checks replace fathers. Food stamps replace neighbors.

It's easier to live with a welfare check than with a man.

Many welfare recipients, such as prostitutes, get paid for having sex outside of marriage.

An ungrateful recipient of charity is destroyed by that gift, and especially so with welfare.

And again, "You shall not steal" is violated by the welfare state. John Smith on the other side of the country does not have any right to the money I make unless I myself give it to him. What the government does currently is take my money, that I earned, bite off a portion for themselves, and then give what they don't take of it to Mr. Smith, some to his neighbors, and some to everyone else.

That's theft, and it makes everyone in the country co-conspirators to it through receiving it.
 

Idolater

"Foundation of the World" Dispensationalist χρ
Now do the American founders. Here's my top handful:

1. Murica
2. Germany & Japan
3. the UK
4. France, Spain, Italy
5. Israel
6. Canada and Australia and New Zealand
7. South Africa
8. Belgium & Switzerland
9. Russia
Don't forget we've been dumping free money into Ukraine and they're still not even in the top ten.
 
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