Socialism.. does anyone have a clue.

KoS wrote: Most  American people are moderates, so how is a multi-party system going to work?

most Germans are moderate too, and yet there is a multi-party system here which works very well. currently there are 5 parties in the Bundestag (or rather 6, but one can consider the Christian Democrats and the Christian Socialists as one party, with the Christian Socialists being the Bavarian version of the Christian Democrats. the Chrsitian Democrats exist in 15 of the 16 German states, the Christian Socialists only in Bavaria). the other parties are the Social Democrats, the Liberal Democrats, the Green party and the Left party. the latter is rather new and a spin-off of the Social Democrats when Gerhard Schroeder took a course which for many of the Social Democrats was too employer-friendly. traditionally the Social Democrats are the party of the working class


Edited by BaldJean - March 27 2009 at 23:47

Most  American people are moderates, so how is a multi-party system going to work?

You know, Brian, actually my dad was from southern Italy, and was born in an area of Calabria that is nowadays infamous for its local mafia (which has got a different name). However, he was one of the most honest people I've ever known in my life, as I am myself.

"Raff from the Maff".

Garion81 wrote: Several things to touch on:   Italians immigrated to this country in droves in the late 1800's early 1900's.  They worked hard they carved a piece of their freedom became solid citizens and did their family's proud.  Their heritage is written all over New York (as well as the Irish) They learned the language of their new land and while they adopted their new culture they never forgot their old. In my state the native Latino population were growing grapes and making wines far earlier than they became popular. Their expertise helped the new vineyard owners develop world class wines that rivaled even the French masters.   America owes these two, among many nationalities, a great thank you.  I named these two because one is being demonized as much in this century as the other was in the previous.  Every people have good and bad people but as history will show these two will have way more good than bad.   As for the thread topic.  It isn't that the US practices Socialism in truth but it does borrow from some of its premise in social security, welfare and tax credits such as The earned income credit.  These are all vehicles of the redistribution of wealth one tenant of socialism.  (By saying that I am neither condoning or vilifying the practice just pointing out a fact). There is a segment of our government that thinks we need more of this and another less. Which is right? Is it one extreme or the other or somewhere in the middle?   As for the Obama administration sooner or later the American People will get tired of this direction and move back to the other party looking for "real change". It is inevitable.

Well along with all the decent Italian folks that immigrated, there was also the Mafia.  Still I think one of this country's greatest strengths are all the immigrants, the native folks might not be so approving.


Edited by Slartibartfast - March 27 2009 at 16:04

Life goes on and it's rarely pretty:

Twenty-Five Killed in Suicide Attack on Iraqi Funeral

 Link

 Excerpt:
At least 25 people have been killed by a suicide bomber in the Iraqi province of Diyala, police say.
Dozens of people are also reported to have been hurt in the attack.   It was the second bomb attack 
in Iraq on Monday, with an earlier explosion near the capital. Baghdad, killing at least eight people.

birdwithteeth11 wrote: [Sounds like you're satisfied that the Christians and right-wingers aren't in power anymore thanks to Obama and a Democratic Congress. Yep, those guys and gals have already begun changing stuff.

Yeah, Mitch the Bitch and the rest have totally conceded and are totally out of power...


Edited by Slartibartfast - March 27 2009 at 14:44

Thanks, Martin! My late mom visited Argentina some 10 years ago, and she said it was the best trip she'd ever made. I saw her pics of Patagonia, and still have some of the gifts she brought from there. I remember her telling me that the percentage of people of Italian descent was very high (as I already knew anyway). 

We all can paint amusing stereotypes of any nation, but that is all they are - exaggerated caricatures of the reality. The same is true of ideologies - our preconceptions of socialism, nationalism and most relegions... whatever... are based on distorted stereotypes developed not from experience, but from received wisdom of those whose own perceptions are also based upon inaccurate stereotypes.