Bill, to socialists the implementation is not nearly as important as the intent.
Ever met a socialist that has a good grasp of economics?
No I haven't. Forthat reason, I am impelled to point out that for a nation to embrace Socialism, it MUST have the natural resources and the industrial base with which to support the ideology. Without those ingredients, the system is doomed to failure, the people suffer as a result through the insideous undermining of their natural ambitions and efforts to "better" their circumstances.
These guys are like the "poor" boy in the crowd who doesn't have the money to buy the "candy" he sees other, more fortunate boys, eating and can't understand why. As a result he becomes jealous and vindictive to the point of justifying his stealing of their candy.
They also don't realize that by taking the money from those who have it and "re-distributing" it that they are removing the life-blood of the economy in that that money "trickles down" to the lowest person on the totem pole, financially, in the form of jobs and infrastructure.
They have "skimmed over" the essentials of gaining an education, of broadening their horizons intellectually and saving for that "rainy day".
I'm convinced that these people are just jealous whiners who will twist words and efforts to fit their own selfish agendas.
I suppose because I had a rough early life (we were poor and the country was in the Great Depresson) and pulled myself up by my bootstraps to a better life that I thoroughly resent such a philosophy. I've seen what "handouts" for nothing done can do to people who are "sheep'. They become slavishly dependent on the ones "handing out" the largess and that destroys their integrity and their souls.
Life has NEVER had any guarantees but these guys are trying to sell an empty dream for their own selfish reasons.
I'll render unto Rome what is due to Rome, but nothing beyond that.
There are a lot of people in NYC who own their own Grocery Store, and they started out pushing a vegetable cart in all kinds of weather for a living. If they cn be successful in such a competative market, why can't others???
Just one example of puling oneself up by his "bootstraps" to success.
Socialism doesn't offer that chance. It's against individual incentives altogether and THAT is my main objection to such a system.
I realize I'm preaching to the"choir", Cobraboy, but others will read this (hopefully) and maybe, just maybe, they'll stop and THINK about my words.
Texas Bill