Richard-H
Gold Member
- Aug 19, 2008
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What most conservatives do not understand about socialism vs. capitalism is that with a capitalist system every employee must be paid enough not just for their daily expenses but also enough to pay for the major cost centers in life.
These cost centers include housing, education, health care, transportation, retirement etc....
In a socialist system, the employer still pays for these but instead of paying to the employee, the employer pays taxes to the government and the government provides these cost centers to the employees. This means that the employer pays substantially less to each employee.
The question is which is more efficient, an economy where employees pay for these costs centers individually or one where the government supples these.
Generally, I'd say that it is more efficient and cheaper for the government to pay for these, so the employer saves a considerable amount in a socialist system.
But, in a capitalist system not everyone's needs are met. Many people do not receive enough to pay for the major costs of life. Though entitlement programs, paid by taxes make up for a lot.
The other aspect of Socialism, ignored by the capitalists, is that in a socialist society every able bodied person works. There are no 'free-loaders', there is no welfare system. So if everyone works, it's a more productive and therefore wealthier society - which means that employers end up wealthier than in a capitalist system.
Somehow the Swiss bankers are not crying about their socialist state!
The other aspect of Socialism, ignored by the capitalists, is that in a socialist society every able bodied person works.
Ahhhh, yes, we pretend to work, they pretend to pay us.
You should take a trip to Switzerland sometime and see how it really works instead of just making things up off the top of your head.