<p>Um, yes I’m sure on both of them. Take a look at middle class GDP numbers if you’d like.</p>
<p>“Plus, the common American lives a much better life than the common (fill in any other nationality here).”</p>
<p>What is the source of your information/claim? Please give a link to the data you used.</p>
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<p>It already is. The biggest difference between the US and Europe is that their national health care programs cover more people. It’s a big stretch to call one capitalist and one socialist.</p>
<p>Great. Now let’s define the term “middle class”. Of course our Socio-economic concept of the “middle class” would entirely be different from that in let’s say- The People’s Republic of China, or Liberia. And what exactly is the American middle class? Is it a numerical income bracket, or is it a set of values?</p>
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<p>This has nothing to do with helath care. I believe in universal health care as well. I’m talking about the insane tax rates you see in Europe.</p>
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<p>25-75th percentile. That’s how it is compared to other countries.</p>
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<p>Spending is at a similar level, the US just hates taxes and goes into debt instead.</p>
<p>“I’m talking about the insane tax rates you see in Europe.”</p>
<p>Whereas we here in the U.S. rely on deficit spending to subsidize unrealistic low tax rates. We paid $367,837,472,521.29 in the past year in interest on the national debt.</p>
<p>[Government</a> - Interest Expense on the Debt Outstanding](<a href=“http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm]Government”>http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm)</p>
<p>the problem with socialism, is that is exlpoits 99
% of the people and enriches the 1%. the 99% have no chance whatsoever to to imporve their lives. to wit: Cuba, Russia, East Germany pre-Berlin, Czch. ect. and socialism is anti intellectual and is devoid of an appreciation of art, beauty, knowledge, spirit. It seeks to eliminate human differences. see China. If you want to read a really good book on how destructive socialism is read The 3 Swans. also, socialists are the most power hungry, envious people on earth. whatever people say about rebulicans, statistically as a group they no mater what their econominc status give more to charity and serve their communities than democrats. Socialism forces others - again the 99% to “help their fellow party members” in dictatorial ways. Capitalism says people need to give based on their personal choice. </p>
<p>We had an exchange student from the Czch. repulic ( 2002) and growing up before the communies left, she was forced to learn Russian and her history was not taught but the Russia history was and the allegiance was to the Russian party leaders.
A good movie I watched about East Germany preBerlin was “The lives of others” that’s what it is like to live with socialism. Cuba is like that 2.</p>
<p>“that’s what it is like to live with socialism”</p>
<p>Not socialism; that was dictatorial communism. Huge difference. Western Europe lives very well with socialism. </p>
<p>See [Mercer</a> Quality of Living global city rankings 2009](<a href=“http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.htm?idContent=1173105]Mercer”>http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.htm?idContent=1173105)</p>
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<p>Exactly. There needs to be a differentiation between humans. Because, let’s face it, some people are smarter than others. Some people are stronger than others. We aren’t the same.</p>
<p>Socialism is Darwin’s worst nightmare.</p>
<p>Nobody brought out the Margaret Thatcher quote yet?</p>
<p>I don’t understand this "survival of the fittest’ bs
isn’t everyone entitled to a certain quality of life
shouldn’t everyone have healthcare, an education(including university), and be taken care of in old age?
socialism protects the weak, and still lets the strong move forward. Sure, they have to pay higher taxes, but in the end they do better than us. </p>
<p>In the US, we pay like, what? 40% in taxes on average(feel free to correct me, i know for my minimum wage job i get taxed like 16%)…and what do we get? not a lot if you ask me</p>
<p>Yet, in Scandinavia, there are countries who pay like 60% in taxes( i know this figure is in the ballpark) and get SOOO much for their money. They don’t have to shell out 13k/year for healthcare(average for americans)…</p>
<p>In the end, who does better?</p>
<p>That’s the thing, nobody has full socialism where everyone makes the same amount of money. They have capitalism with varying degrees of socialism on top. Successful people get rich everywhere (except for North Korea which really doesn’t have any capitalism).</p>
<p>…but you would have to live in Scandinavia</p>
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<p>You say everyone is entitled to stuff. Who is the one providing these rights? Where do these rights come from?</p>
<p>from each according to his ability, to each according to his need
that’s my answer</p>
<p>You didn’t even answer my question. Who is responsible for providing these “rights”? </p>
<p>And do you honestly believe people NEED university education? That’s absurd. You don’t NEED any education. The only things you NEED are projects and food stamps.</p>
<p>The government should provide these rights. If we all work, and contribute, it(the gov’t) should dole it out
and yes, people need this. People deserve opportunity…which right now america doesn’t provide</p>
<p>The american dream as it once was is completely dead</p>
<p>Hatersunite, Darwin’s theory of the survival of the fitters refers to what happens in nature. Humans no longer live in nature. We have chosen to care for our young and our old, of our sick and crippled etc…</p>
<p>At any rate, your comment about the US middle class being better off than the middle class anywhere else in the world is completely incorrect. I have worked in the US for 4 years and in Western Europe for 3 years and I have seen little difference in the standards of living. The main difference is that in the US, the top 20% are wealthy (compared to the top 5% in Europe) and the bottom 20% are poor (compared to 5% in Europe). That’s what socialism does, it redistributes wealth.</p>