Well, in America, all the socialist and communist admirers always refer to how great Cuba's medicine and schools are. They use to say the same things about the Soviet Union. Of course they don't mention that you're not free to read what you want. What good is being educated if you can only read government propaganda?
Have any of you lovers of socialism actually ever been in a socialist country?
I think many of us would not like to live in a country that has no freedom of speech nor a democratic vote. A Socialist system, a Capitalistic system or any other.
Most of the countries in Europe or even the US are a combination of capitalism and socialism.
The socialistic part is funded with tax. People that earn more pay relatively more tax, Because they can afford that, without compromizing their wealth of living.
Because of that the income difference after tax is lowered.
A lot of problems cannot be solved through capitalism alone since there is no direct profit to gain out of many necessary work.
Take firemen (- take failing banks!)- take policemen- take road constructors- they all are paid by tax- in a socialist manner - by the government.
Maybe the Netherlands, where i live, can be called some more socialistic than the USA, but the basis is not that much different.
We pay more tax and get in return better healthcare, roads without holes, etc than countries that pay less tax.
Apart from that it is the quality of the government that counts. Here we have a culture to discuss with all related parties to solve our common problems.
This often result in a compromise that everybody can live with, but is not ideal for any of them. This something special in the Netherlands and has good and bad sides. In this manner we just solved the pension system for the coming years after nine years of discussing with many parties.
Just want to say that Socialism is also a part of how the US is governed as is Capitalism and that is a necessary part.