Interesting view on Socialism

[Dubble_D]

An email I received recently:

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".. All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that.

Remember, there IS a test coming up. The 2012 elections.

These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

[Grover]

:nod:

Couldn't have said it bettter!

[rovr4on]

good example, but few factors here that need to be considered,

1. all these kids who participated live in an individualist society, where all they have known is capitalism and therefore have grown up in an environment of competition.

2. If you were to get a group of kids from a socialist/communist backround to take the test im sure all would excel far greater than the example, as these kids are taught how to work together to benefit all.

Im not pro socialist, but think that test isnt an accuarate analogy of why socialism and why it wouldnt work...

[Dubble_D]

good example, but few factors here that need to be considered,

1. all these kids who participated live in an individualist society, where all they have known is capitalism and therefore have grown up in an environment of competition.

2. If you were to get a group of kids from a socialist/communist backround to take the test im sure all would excel far greater than the example, as these kids are taught how to work together to benefit all.

Im not pro socialist, but think that test isnt an accuarate analogy of why socialism and why it wouldnt work...

Good point.

However, it is an example on why it may not be easy, if even possible, in western societies such as New Zealand. For in fact, to change an individualist society into one where individuals serve the greater good of society, such as China, will be a tremendous undertaking at the least.

[rovr4on]

good example, but few factors here that need to be considered,

1. all these kids who participated live in an individualist society, where all they have known is capitalism and therefore have grown up in an environment of competition.

2. If you were to get a group of kids from a socialist/communist backround to take the test im sure all would excel far greater than the example, as these kids are taught how to work together to benefit all.

Im not pro socialist, but think that test isnt an accuarate analogy of why socialism and why it wouldnt work...

Good point.

However, it is an example on why it may not be easy, if even possible, in western societies such as New Zealand. In fact, to change an individualist society into one where individuals serve the greater good of society, such as China, will be a tremendous undertaking at the least.

agreed, an enormous undertaking would need to take place. I think that such will never happen until there is a shift in consiousness where we all are forced or come to the conclusion that we need to work together to preserve the species, and until then there will be no such shift. Once we all recognise we are all part of one organism we can then work, not for rewards but for the greater good of society and preserving our species.

Haha far out suggestion but I believe it to be true 8)

[Jigga]

oh lawdy

[rovr4on]

my comment was a tad off topic :roll:

[Jigga]

.

[Dinahlady]

This isn't how socialism works....

[Jigga]

This isn't how socialism works....

[Mike Zero]

good example, but few factors here that need to be considered,

1. all these kids who participated live in an individualist society, where all they have known is capitalism and therefore have grown up in an environment of competition.

2. If you were to get a group of kids from a socialist/communist backround to take the test im sure all would excel far greater than the example, as these kids are taught how to work together to benefit all.

Im not pro socialist, but think that test isnt an accuarate analogy of why socialism and why it wouldnt work...

Good point.

However, it is an example on why it may not be easy, if even possible, in western societies such as New Zealand. In fact, to change an individualist society into one where individuals serve the greater good of society, such as China, will be a tremendous undertaking at the least.

agreed, an enormous undertaking would need to take place. I think that such will never happen until there is a shift in consiousness where we all are forced or come to the conclusion that we need to work together to preserve the species, and until then there will be no such shift. Once we all recognise we are all part of one organism we can then work, not for rewards but for the greater good of society and preserving our species.

Haha far out suggestion but I believe it to be true 8)

Never going to happen, just sayin'

Socialism is only viable when we become advanced enough so that we can sit on our arses all day and not have to do any form of work, see: Wall-E

[Dinahlady]

Socialism is give according to your ability, take according to you needs.

It's about give and take not just you sit there and get everything given to you if you cba to study.

The analogy is just another form of expropriation.

anyway. the analogy has many holes.

[hhhh1]

it would be more fair and better IMO if when people died their wealth/assets went to the state rather than to their childeren or whatever (others could subsequently purchase assets of govt at market value). but apart from this capitalist. that way wealth within a country would be distributed more evenly and hard work/innovation/spending would be encouraged. i actually think this could work...

[holdenman]

it would be more fair and better IMO if when people died their wealth/assets went to the state rather than to their childeren or whatever (others could subsequently purchase assets of govt at market value). but apart from this capitalist. that way wealth within a country would be distributed more evenly and hard work/innovation/spending would be encouraged. i actually think this could work...

Wouldn't people just give there stuff to their kids before they died then?

[Dubble_D]

Slightly of topic but related to human nature and more of an environmental perspective. We have evolved into what we are today. Good luck changing our biology and thus the way we interact and exploit our environment. Its all related.

'HOME' Trailer:

Full Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU&feature=player_embedded

[hhhh1]

it would be more fair and better IMO if when people died their wealth/assets went to the state rather than to their childeren or whatever (others could subsequently purchase assets of govt at market value). but apart from this capitalist. that way wealth within a country would be distributed more evenly and hard work/innovation/spending would be encouraged. i actually think this could work...

Wouldn't people just give there stuff to their kids before they died then?

make it illegal to do so with harsh penalties to those caught. ie shoot a few to make an example and keep doing it until people stop. it is a radical idea and would need radical means to be implemented. think pol pot

[Mike Zero]

it would be more fair and better IMO if when people died their wealth/assets went to the state rather than to their childeren or whatever (others could subsequently purchase assets of govt at market value). but apart from this capitalist. that way wealth within a country would be distributed more evenly and hard work/innovation/spending would be encouraged. i actually think this could work...

notsureifsrs

[hhhh1]

it would be more fair and better IMO if when people died their wealth/assets went to the state rather than to their childeren or whatever (others could subsequently purchase assets of govt at market value). but apart from this capitalist. that way wealth within a country would be distributed more evenly and hard work/innovation/spending would be encouraged. i actually think this could work...

notsureifsrs

i dont think it would ever be implemented in the near future, just that it could work, but only under a brutal regime (which i would gladly give my support to if it existed).

I will try to spend every bit of my money I earn before I die. you only live once so might as well enjoy it. if i ever have kids they will get nothing from me and can make their own money if they want money

[karm015]

it would be more fair and better IMO if when people died their wealth/assets went to the state rather than to their childeren or whatever (others could subsequently purchase assets of govt at market value). but apart from this capitalist. that way wealth within a country would be distributed more evenly and hard work/innovation/spending would be encouraged. i actually think this could work...

notsureifsrs

i dont think it would ever be implemented in the near future, just that it could work, but only under a brutal regime (which i would gladly give my support to if it existed).

I will try to spend every bit of my money I earn before I die. you only live once so might as well enjoy it. if i ever have kids they will get nothing from me and can make their own money if they want money

you srsly rather give your money to the state than to your own kids? you have that much trust/faith in them?

btw emboldened text points out flaw in your idea that "could work" - ppl would blow all their money out of spite

[two_phat]

Gotta agree with Dinahlady - that is an extremely poor analogy of how socialism is meant to work.

Not disagreeing regarding the fact that socialism probably isn't the answer, but the alternative is the status quo; capitalism.....that's not really working either is it?

[hhhh1]

notsureifsrs

i dont think it would ever be implemented in the near future, just that it could work, but only under a brutal regime (which i would gladly give my support to if it existed).

I will try to spend every bit of my money I earn before I die. you only live once so might as well enjoy it. if i ever have kids they will get nothing from me and can make their own money if they want money

you srsly rather give your money to the state than to your own kids? you have that much trust/faith in them?

btw emboldened text points out flaw in your idea that "could work" - ppl would blow all their money out of spite

of course people would spend their money. why would it be a bad thing if everyone spent heaps rather than hoarding? if everyones spending it jst means theres more opportunity to aquire wealth for everyone. its not like the money just dissapears into thin air

[tomsammce]

it would be more fair and better IMO if when people died their wealth/assets went to the state rather than to their childeren or whatever (others could subsequently purchase assets of govt at market value). but apart from this capitalist. that way wealth within a country would be distributed more evenly and hard work/innovation/spending would be encouraged. i actually think this could work...

fair and better for who exactly? rediculous suggestion

[nate225]

Did I see hhh camped out in Aotea square?! :pfft: :pfft: :grin:

[tomleegolf]

With socialism, everyone just ends up being equally poor except the guys at the top. Look at Communist North Korea, one of the poorest countries in the world while South Korea has the 12th economy in the world.

/capitalismbrainwash

[rovr4on]

With socialism, everyone just ends up being equally poor except the guys at the top. Look at Communist North Korea, one of the poorest countries in the world while South Korea has the 12th economy in the world.

/capitalismbrainwash

you quote an extreme example of socialism where those at the top play much more of a role in dictating, than that of a shift from a capitalist society! worse example than the topic test haha