The last improvement what we got here is that we can fully set off our healthcare dues from our annual adjustment of income tax.

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Guess who i will see soon live in action.

Andreas, may I ask what is socialism to you?
I agree that word does get thrown around and meaning of what it applys to.
Why is social medical care not socialism?

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Will try to give you an explanation: part of our present societies is the competition. Not only in the job you do, here (for instance) is it wide-spread to show what you have or seem to be, to show the neighbourhood what a kind of perfect life you have, that you have "reached something". No matter what kind of benchmark you have, i talk only about the principle.
Now try to imagine a society where all humans and things in life are really equal, no matter what the people earn or have or can afford. Food and other important things (for your life) would everywhere cost the same. Maybe you know that feeling from a small village where everyone knows everyone (and all his relatives ). Imagine this feeling for a whole country. The only thing what counts is your character. No-one inside such a society can have an existential problem, everyone has a shelter, food and medical healthcare if needed. Try to imagine this and you will have a small feeling what socialism means.
To be honest, because the competition is missing, that´s why such a society can´t really develop further itself. It means that it would be in the nature of things, that not the market but rather an authority has to decide about economical progress. There is simply no competition. The conclusion is that you would have better and sincere relations not only in your closer neighbourhood, it´s easier possible to become sincere and honest contacts to new people, because they all are a kind of equal. Maybe i can´t find the right words, but believe me: in that context are our societies a bit poor, especially when all is about the money. The lack of such a society are the limited capabilities to have a life responding to your own wishful thinking. This is why socialism will ever fail.

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What i forgot to mention, when you wanna compare what socialism and non-socialism is, ask this question: who is the owner of the majority of the means of production. Is it the society (the state) or are it private persons or private companies. Due to that question will you see whether competition can exist or not. It´s not the question of the healthcare system to decide whether a society is socialistic or not, it´s the question about the ownership of the means of production.
I wouldn´t argue that western european or some other countries would be socialistic only because they have a progressive healthcare system. It might be the case that America is nearest to pure capitalism, this could be a real difference. The question is whether it´s good or not.

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First Thank You for your explanation.

I agree, I would not argue either, as to a W-Euro or some other country being socialistic, only due to having a progressive H-Care system.

Confusing to me is, there is capitalism w/in socialism. Isn't socialism just another mode of production? Who has control over the product?

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Peanut, the main differences are: who owns the means of production and what is the sense of a production.
Normally we experience that a company develops and produces items to earn some money, that´s the foundation of the capitalism. A company is coerced to produce items which will find buyers, otherwise the company will get a problem. That´s the foundation for competition and progress.

A socialistic system works different. The means of production are in the societies hands, in other words in the states hands, that´s why not the competition and progress decide about the needs of production. This decision is made by a societies authority and the reason therefore is not forced by economical necessities. The question is what the population really needs for a life and what is not necessary (therefore). Normally do you such a decision for yourself (when you are shopping). Now you can see a major difference to your own present society, not yourself, other people decide what kind of life you can have. This is a foundation of a socialistic system, you will find it in many aspects of your life when you live in such a system.

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Andreas, America is not near pure capitalism, there is no such thing, never existed.

I was always of the thought, never put all your eggs in one basket. That is so very true.
Capitalism bring's freedon of choice, does not stifle individuality and allows freedom to be of any value. Not just monetary either.

In a Market System, individuals make the choice,on whats purchased. In the US the Gov has set rules and regulations to provide, price supports, enviormental , health and retirement services, most are left to the free markets.
As far as health care and some other issues we are facing is due to we need more checks and balances, more accountability, so to speak, some caps placed etc, complicated but, possible.
I believe to tweek what we have, to bring health care back to standards it should be, are very possible. The method should not be complex for the individuals seeking it, nor should financial be a burden for them.

The truth is no one is equal, as to what they may be given by birth/circumstances, or what to work with, but all should have the right to medical and food shelter and what is takes to live and be the best one can be, and pursuit of happiness..

Accomplishments may vary, but the human right for each individual should never be lesser, whatever class.
That is what we strive for.

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Peanut, you described very right and fine, why a capitalistic society (in which we live) needs rules. It´s important to build a balance between the nature of the capitalism (it´s all about the money) and the needs of the societies members (the human needs). What will happen otherwise can we see at the present world economic crisis. For a balanced economic system do we have in Germany a name: social market economy. I´m convinced about the possibility America has to rebuild it´s own social and healthcare systems to become more fairness.

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The US medical system really scares me. I'm on a couple of anti-convulsants, and I worked out that if I was in the US, and didn't have insurance to cover it, I'd be handing over upwards of $1,000 a MONTH for that alone. I participate in a couple of forums, and I see the stress some people have to go through because they can't afford those same meds, or have had to come off them because their insurance ran out or they lost their job. It breaks my heart.

I think that you can find bad things about any political system, be it socialistic or capitalistic. IE: Compare the ills that we used to hear about socialistic Russia, with the ills that we have just seen on Wall Street.

But, to simply declare that a National Health Care System is "bad" (such as the AMA and insurance industry does) because it appears to be socialistic, is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Just as Andreas has said, the real question is whether or not it is good. Why do the AMA and insurance industries say it is bad? It is because they stand to lose some of the fantastic, and unfair, profits that they are getting. In the meantime, elderly people are having to decide whether to eat or get their prescription filled and many others are not getting the medical attention that they need. THAT is the question. Are we more concerned about corporate profits than we are about the quality of life, in America? I don't think that either system, socialism or capitalism, is OK, in it's purest form. But, we have to get over the knee-jerk objections and try to find a system that will work for everyone.

As the parent of a daughter, afflicted with hydrocephalus, I am so grateful that I had good insurance, when I needed it. And, my heart goes out to those who must watch a loved one, perhaps their child, suffer and die, because they can't get the care that they need.

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Cowards are cruel, but the brave love mercy.