Religion and Ethics and Health BBS

Religion and Ethics and Health BBS
[ Religion and Ethics and Health BBS ]

It can easily be argued that the reason

Posted by observer on September 21, 2026, 12:46 pm

why Progressives are being effectively challenged by their Socialist counterparts is that what they have to offer politically
amounts to nothing more than “emotional salve”, very expensive emotional salve. Typical is the language mangling they perpetrate in an attempt to mollify the harsh reality of truth. A primary and obvious choice is unhoused instead of homeless, but the more serious ones try to redefine biological sex et al, in an attempt to change reality itself. It’s still true that you can fool some of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

The Socialists, otoh, brazenly go for the jugular (ignoring the fact that it has never succeeded) and suggest that everything belongs to everyone; you should have no sovereignty over anything: not your wealth, not your home, not your children, family. Everything belongs to us - the government.

Current Conservatism, still imperfect because there is no perfect government - but best yet, is hard to take (in spite of its obvious benefits) because it goes for extreme surgical action going after corruption, illegal aliens, illegal voting, crime, et al, the destructive
proclivities designed to destroy Western Civilization ( rather than improve it), and in particular the family, the necessary building block to guarantee freedom.

Never succeeded?

Posted by KR on September 21, 2026, 2:16 pm, in reply to "It can easily be argued that the reason"

Take a look at most of Western Europe. Remember, that is what progressives mean by "socialism". Universal healthcare, guaranteed parental leave, etc.

Not "Socialism" but incorporate SOME Socialist ideas. There has still NEVER been a successful

Posted by DFM on September 21, 2026, 6:55 pm, in reply to "Never succeeded?"

Socialist Government.

Not all ideas that originated from Socialism are bad. But a total socialist state has never succeeded.

"Who is wise? One who learns from every person" is a famous teaching attributed to the sage Ben Zoma in the Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers 4:1), an ancient Jewish ethical text.

Correct, and no one is proposing actual socialism here either.

Posted by KR on September 22, 2026, 5:26 am, in reply to "Not "Socialism" but incorporate SOME Socialist ideas. There has still NEVER been a successful "

Democratic socialism is exactly what you described.

Democratic Socialism is IMPOSSIBLE.

Posted by DFM on September 22, 2026, 8:26 am, in reply to "Correct, and no one is proposing actual socialism here either."

In Socialism, the State owns EVERYTHING, including the communications media, which introduces automatic censorship.

You do understand the idea of blending concepts and approaches

Posted by trish on September 23, 2026, 7:19 am, in reply to "Democratic Socialism is IMPOSSIBLE."

Once the media are under governmental control, there is ZERO freedom.

Posted by DFM on September 23, 2026, 10:25 am, in reply to "You do understand the idea of blending concepts and approaches"

Blending? Such as Progressive Communism?

Posted by Cheap Seats Shaman *= on September 23, 2026, 8:18 am, in reply to "You do understand the idea of blending concepts and approaches"

"A rose by any other name..."

That is an oxymoron. Communism is regressive and oppressive to the extreme.

Posted by DFM on September 23, 2026, 9:40 pm, in reply to "Blending? Such as Progressive Communism?"

" In Socialism, the State owns EVERYTHING"

Posted by 7:77 on September 22, 2026, 1:07 pm, in reply to "Democratic Socialism is IMPOSSIBLE."

You're conflating socialism with communism.

Even in so-called "communist" nations......

Posted by Mondo Fuego™ on September 23, 2026, 10:21 am, in reply to "" In Socialism, the State owns EVERYTHING""

... the state doesn't own everything.

There appear to be different degrees of communism. Russia and China seem far less "communistic" than NoKo.

China is basically a hyper-capitalist nation governed by a nominally communist ruling party.

Posted by 7:77 on September 23, 2026, 10:40 am, in reply to "Even in so-called "communist" nations...... "

They self-describe it as a "socialist market economy," which probably overstates the "socialist" part a bit (although the central government exercises strategic-level control over key industries: energy, telecommunications, banking, and major infrastructure) and they mandate a number of social benefits. The party, basically, wields considerable power and influence over China's business community, but in practice those corporations have a pretty free hand.

A tyrannical dictatorship.

Posted by DFM on September 23, 2026, 7:41 pm, in reply to "China is basically a hyper-capitalist nation governed by a nominally communist ruling party."

In many ways, yes.

Posted by 7:77 on September 25, 2026, 8:03 am, in reply to "A tyrannical dictatorship."

I wouldn't trust Xi any farther than I could throw him (and I'm not physically strong!)...

Our multi-level governments

Posted by Mondo Fuego™ on September 23, 2026, 4:49 pm, in reply to "China is basically a hyper-capitalist nation governed by a nominally communist ruling party."

... attempt somewhat ineffective tactical-level control over key industries: energy, telecommunications, banking, and major infrastructure.

Corporate America has ~~a tendency~~ an incentive to abuse power, and our Congress, courts and DOJ look the other way as long as they get what they want.

For We the People, power is altogether non-existent in reality. Americans apathetically accept the consequences as they mindlessly stare at CNN and FOX conflicting dramatizations.

Spot-on, sadly.

Posted by 7:77 on September 24, 2026, 7:17 am, in reply to "Our multi-level governments"

Rome's "bread and circuses" have nothing on the horribly effective distractions (and divisions) that keep the American people from rising in fury. We've been a de facto oligarchy for a long time, and I don't think there's a way out that doesn't involve breaking things up into smaller polities.

why is it so hard to focus on Democratic socialism without

Posted by trish on September 23, 2026, 7:18 am, in reply to "" In Socialism, the State owns EVERYTHING""

people jumping into that mindset?

For those intent on criticzing it, the term "communist" carries a lot of (legacy) weight.

Posted by 7:77 on September 23, 2026, 10:42 am, in reply to "why is it so hard to focus on Democratic socialism without"

The term, whether well-understood or not, still carries a lot of weight in the US, particularly of the right.

Considering that the Communists MURDERED tens of millions of innocent persons, no wonder.

Posted by DFM on September 24, 2026, 1:14 pm, in reply to "For those intent on criticzing it, the term "communist" carries a lot of (legacy) weight."

I don't think that there is much difference in practice.

Posted by DFM on September 22, 2026, 4:04 pm, in reply to "" In Socialism, the State owns EVERYTHING""

socialism: a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community [government] as a whole:

communism: a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly [governmentally] owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

Not much difference here in practice. In both cases, economic freedom is absent, means of production, including the media, publishers, etc, are owned by the STATE, and operated by bureaucrats who answer to nobody other than themselves.

Massive difference between "owned" and "regulated."

Posted by 7:77 on September 22, 2026, 4:59 pm, in reply to "I don't think that there is much difference in practice."

The latter is absolutely critical if a society is to avoid the sort of conscience-free actions corporations commit when no such regulatory restraints are in place. And in radically free-market-biased societies in which corporate money all but determines election outcomes, that regulation will virtually always be inadequate to properly protect the public.

I am 100% FOR regulation of business.

Posted by DFM on September 23, 2026, 5:26 am, in reply to "Massive difference between "owned" and "regulated.""

Surely you jest as they’re all not so slowly succumbing to Islam!

Posted by observer on September 21, 2026, 2:41 pm, in reply to "Never succeeded?"

Given time, Western European Socialism will fail. So will your EVs and auto-drives.

Posted by Mondo Fuego™ on September 21, 2026, 2:28 pm, in reply to "Never succeeded?"

Mondo knows.

/SMIRK/

Is anyone twisting your arm to buy an EV ?

Posted by Gustavo on September 22, 2026, 6:15 am, in reply to "Given time, Western European Socialism will fail. So will your EVs and auto-drives."

I will never buy one but for those who buy and like that is their business.

Do you realize that a Cadillac XT4 is boring? But that is your choice.

RIF.

Posted by Mondo Fuego™ on September 23, 2026, 5:09 pm, in reply to "Is anyone twisting your arm to buy an EV ?"

Mine is an XT5 with a strong V6, ample room, excellent styling, dependable, and great gas mileage.

Yes, the X4 knock-off is boring, like all vehicles with the cheap, pathetic I4 engine.

Try to keep up.

XT5

Posted by Gustavo on September 24, 2026, 1:09 pm, in reply to "RIF."

is garbage.

Ummmm ...

Posted by Mondo Fuego™ on September 28, 2026, 9:18 am, in reply to "XT5"

... GFY

It can easily be argued that the socialists are loser have-nots looking for free room & board.

Posted by Mondo Fuego™ on September 21, 2026, 2:14 pm, in reply to "It can easily be argued that the reason"

Since no country currently runs on pure socialism currently

Posted by trish on September 22, 2026, 6:55 am, in reply to "It can easily be argued that the socialists are loser have-nots looking for free room & board."

your point is moot

Your point was moot-er.

Posted by Mondo Fuego™ on September 23, 2026, 10:28 am, in reply to "Since no country currently runs on pure socialism currently"

Since creeping socialism remains a threat, it is hardly a moot point.

Posted by observer on September 22, 2026, 10:02 am, in reply to "Since no country currently runs on pure socialism currently"

It can easily be argued that conservative simpletons are hung up on a word and are too lazy....

Posted by KR on September 21, 2026, 2:17 pm, in reply to "It can easily be argued that the socialists are loser have-nots looking for free room & board."

...and/or stupid to understand the meaning.

NOW YOU KNOW

Oh Wise Sage, please tell us the true meaning of the word 'socialism'.

Posted by Mondo Fuego™ on September 21, 2026, 2:31 pm, in reply to "It can easily be argued that conservative simpletons are hung up on a word and are too lazy...."

Dumbass.

The term “Socialist” is obsolete in today’s world

Posted by Gustavo on September 22, 2026, 6:20 am, in reply to "Oh Wise Sage, please tell us the true meaning of the word 'socialism'."

Any politician who wants to help American Families is deemed a “Socialist.”

You are only allowed to cater to Corporations and Billionaires.

I pretty much cater to my wife, myself and family.

Posted by Mondo Fuego™ on September 23, 2026, 5:14 pm, in reply to "The term “Socialist” is obsolete in today’s world"

Your choices may be limited.

Socialism has destroyed the American family.

Posted by GOG on September 22, 2026, 7:07 am, in reply to "The term “Socialist” is obsolete in today’s world"

One glaring example is Black America.

Black America was “Discriminated against”

Posted by Gustavo on September 22, 2026, 7:26 am, in reply to "Socialism has destroyed the American family."

They were victims of negative treatment including employment, housing, education and access to services which include healthcare pushing them into a situation which you wrongly term as “Socialism.”

Socialism is sociopathic. Therefore the progenitors are sociopaths.

Posted by GOG on September 22, 2026, 4:38 am, in reply to "Oh Wise Sage, please tell us the true meaning of the word 'socialism'."

Everything turns to chaos and crap.

Socialism is an economic and political system

Posted by DFM on September 21, 2026, 8:55 pm, in reply to "Oh Wise Sage, please tell us the true meaning of the word 'socialism'."

where the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned or regulated by the community or the state rather than by private individuals.

Private property is illegal in true socialism.
Freedom of expression is also illegal since the state owns and controls all means of communication.

« Index

[ Religion and Ethics and Health BBS ]