(April 19, 2017 at 7:14 pm)Jehanne Wrote:(April 19, 2017 at 6:23 pm)pocaracas Wrote: In my experience, socialism is a system that provides the basic needs for its people, basically healthcare, education, law enforcement and providing some subsistence income to those in need, while allowing capitalism to do its thing within a set of regulations which aim to enforce a sustainable future.
For example, I don't think the government should be a car dealer. That's a business that should be in the private sector. The government should set up laws and regulations that allow any car dealer to operate, but with standard market rules (no false advertising, provide some warranty, etc), some sector specific regulations (require the car dealer to have a dealer's license so that he's aware of all the legislation involving cars) and some extra incentives or penalties for people to purchase wisely (higher road tax on more polluting cars).
It isn't working, and it never will. Why? Because with 180 or so countries in the World, there is simply too much temptation for one country to cheat, and soon after, everyone follows. Even with its elite science, the US has not been able to reduce its carbon emissions. Why? Because President George W. Bush summed it up as saying that it would not "be fair" to developed nations to cut their (our) emissions unless developing nations first cut theirs. And, he said this statement during his first term of office and was, of course, reelected to a second term!
It can work... impose a tax on goods from countries with lower environmental standards, thus leveling the playing field within the country that's working on improving those standards.
But, with so many companies outsourcing their workforce (China?), old GW just wouldn't have the courage to do something like that.
I'm also of the opinion that there should be some form of a worldwide government, so that such temptations and also little things like tax havens wouldn't exist. But I'm pretty sure not even my grandchildren will see that.
