You dont want a system that is based completely and absolutely of capitalism though , because what are you going to do when those who have nothing turn to crime and revolution to get what they want ? and you with your wealth and assets are the direct target of that ? I have no idea where you are located. Here in the U.S., it is extremely unlikely that a "revolution", such as you describe would ever take place. Why? Because revolutions are created by those who have nothing, and therefore, have nothing to lose.
The people here are collecting too much from the federal government already to risk losing it. However, I will answer your question honestly....if it ever came to an armed conflict, then either they will die, or I will die, but rest assured, I will never live under a Socialist/Communist regime.
I have long believed that you cannot have a system that is based absolutely of socialism or capitalism ,unfortunately due to the way society is constructed in the 21st century You have to have capitalism in order to make the bulk of the wealth that the rest of the state then relies on ,in order to fund innovation and development and in order to make a successful rich and powerful ruling class. In the U.S. we do not live under a pure Capitalist system. We already have Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Insurance, Social Welfare programs, Food Stamps, thousands of government regulations, government sponsored social grants, hundreds of government issued "loans", that are never paid back. Under our current President, we have corporate bail outs, banking bail outs, government sponsored programs that will give you money to buy a new car, if you buy the one the government approves of. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. As far as I'm concerned, we're already too far to the left.
However you need to tax this wealth generating public sector in order to provide education , essential services and socialist measures such as the welfare state to provide for those who cant provide for themselves the most vulnerable people in society. Perhaps you're not aware of the fact that the wealthy already pay a totally disproportionate amount of taxes. They are already paying a "penalty", for their success. Approximately 51% of the people in this country pay no taxes at all....none! Our President is constantly promoting class warfare with the phrase, "the rich should pay their fair share, to pay down the debt". Give me a freakin' break. Do you know that if every single wealthy person, ($250,000 a yr. income and up, according to Obama), were to be taxed at 100%, it wouldn't even make a dent in the 16 trillion dollar debt these people have run up. Think about that! A 100% tax that would literally take away all the wealth, of all of this country's wealthiest people, wouldn't pay down more than 5% of our debt. OurSure some people take advantage of the welfare state provisions but there are lots of people out there who cant work not because they dont want to or because there isnt a job but because they are disabled for example , The state has to provide for those people ,the state also has to provide for people at times when the private sector cannot provide them with jobs otherwise as I previously mentioned they turn to crime because they have no alternative . I have no issue with helping those in need, and I never have. My issue is the fact that there are not "some" people taking advantage of the welfare system as you say. There is an incredibly large percentage taking advantage. Government assassistance, is supposed to be just that, "assistance". We have many thousands of people that are now 3rd generation welfare recipients. Did you know that? Think about yourself on welfare, your children going on welfare, then their children on welfare. Hundreds of billions in fraud every year, and still the Liberals are always calling for more social welfare programs. I praised Bill Clinton, and voted for him because he made a tremendous contribution to welfare reform. Most of which Obama, has already undone.
If you let the free market reign supreme you would have much much deeper class divisions than you currently have amongst other things , it might even be reasonable to suggest a completely unregulated free market would result in slavery of some form is that something that you would want to see ?
I do believe you are taking Margaret Thatcher slightly out of context with that quote, No I'm not, here's her actual quote..." The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money – Margaret Thatcher,
Prime Minister of Great Britian it was accurate then, and it's just as accurate now. and lets face it she wasn't the most popular prime minister this country has ever had . It would be more accurate to say that she wasn't very popular with that segment of British society that wanted handouts. During her reign she did not completely abolish welfare state provisions and in fact spending on things such as the NHS increased in real terms during her time in office ,some say perhaps that was for limitations imposed on her by the constitutional structure of the UK but who knows , one thing is for sure her policies where influenced by monetarist thinking , and her response to the recession in the early 80's was informed by her economic beliefs , how surprising that a few years later unemployment peaked at 12.5% of the workforce , Now despite having inflation "under control" you have a massive number of unemployed who you have to provide for at considerable cost
I think one of the most shocking things for me that i am seeing as a result of this recession is the masses of unemployed young people who could possibly end up being a generation on the scrapheap unable to get anywhere in their lives because they have started of in their adult life without a job , how are they to have any aspirations of job experience both of which are required to progress and climb the career ladder
Answer this , what do you propose is done to provide for those who are unable to provide for themselves in your completely capitalist view of how things should be ? I don't have a "completely Capitalist view". I believe in Social Security, I believe in a form of collective government assistance to those who are truly in need. I believe in a better path to American citizenship than our present system now provides. You'd probably be amazed at just how much government social support in which I do believe.
However, we need a strict enforcment of our current laws to put an end to Medicare fraud, Welfare fraud, Food Stamp fraud, thousands of government entitlement programs. Our thinking needs to be restructured so that people once again take responsibility for their own actions. You buy a house that's worth $150,000, and you pay $325,000, with a 2% interest only mortgage with an escalation clause to 15%, you own it! Don't expect the government to step in and pay for your stupidity.
What do people like me get for living within their means? What do folks like me get for taking a 30 year fixed conventional mortgage, and making every payment on time for 30 years? What do people get who make well thought out, reasonable decisions in their lives? How are people compensated by the government for playing by the rules all their lives?
I'll tell you what they get...they get nothing, nada, not a thing....oh yes, wait, they do get something, they get to pay for every one else who didn't.
There's really no point in continuing this. A Liberal is a Liberal, and a Conservative is a Conservative, and neither will change the other's mind. But, it's been a nice civil chat.