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In reply to the discussion: Pictures of a desperate people depict the death of a socialist nation (1991) [View all]banned from Kos
(4,017 posts)36. Socialism is the control or ownership of the means of production
The USSR certainly fit that bill.
The police state is a side issue. In a benevolent egalitarian socialist society the police state would be minimal. But in the real world that does not occur.
Unfortunately scarcity will inflict any type system. See the 1930s (when taxes were low) and the current deflation period in the West.
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Pictures of a desperate people depict the death of a socialist nation (1991) [View all]
banned from Kos
Jan 2013
OP
You assume that money is going to the greater population of the former USSR.
Arctic Dave
Jan 2013
#5
GDP is very innaccurate for showing quality of life and does not reflect the people's opinion.
white_wolf
Jan 2013
#6
May as well show a graph of the stock market - most people don't really benefit from that, either.
reformist2
Jan 2013
#10
Good Lord, 1 in 5 American children currently lives in poverty. So if capitalism
coalition_unwilling
Jan 2013
#25
Yep! I've seen deplorable places in the US. If aired constantly it would make the
RKP5637
Jan 2013
#31
Back in the early 80s, my then in-laws visited my ex and me, coming
coalition_unwilling
Jan 2013
#35
The propaganda that we are the best runs far, wide and thick in the US keeping the masses under
RKP5637
Jan 2013
#38
A photo of a prostitute in 1991 in the USSR is a symbol of the failed socialist state.
Brickbat
Jan 2013
#7
Got much worse during the Larry Summers IMF "structural adjustment" period. Much worse.
leveymg
Jan 2013
#39
Not true, a democracy will likely reject socialism in favor of a market system.
banned from Kos
Jan 2013
#27
You can tell a system is crumbling (i.e. capitalism) when its boosters start comparing it to......
marmar
Jan 2013
#19
OK, we have a fundamental disagreement on the definition of "socialism".
banned from Kos
Jan 2013
#42