What does the word "socialism" mean to you?

[alexey]

Please share.

[DGreenistheBest]

Socialism refers to a broad array of ideologies and political movements with the goal of a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community.[1] This control may be either direct—exercised through popular collectives such as workers' councils—or indirect—exercised on behalf of the people by the state. As an economic system, socialism is often characterized by state, worker, or community ownership of the means of production, goals which have been attributed to, and claimed by, a number of political parties and governments throughout history.

Democratic socialism advocates socialism as a basis for the economy and democracy as a governing principle. This indicates that the means of production are owned by the entire population and that political power would be in the hands of the people democratically through a co-operative commonwealth or republic as a post-state form of self-government.

In its broadest sense, democratic socialism could refer to any attempts to bring about socialism through peaceful democratic means as opposed to violent insurrection. This can sometimes include social democracy.

Social democracy is a political ideology that emerged in the late 19th century out of the socialist movement.[1] Modern social democracy is unlike socialism in the traditional sense which aims to end the predominance of the capitalist system, or in the Marxist sense which aims to replace it entirely; instead, social democrats aim to reform capitalism democratically through state regulation and the creation of state sponsored programs and organizations which work to ameliorate or remove injustices purportedly inflicted by the capitalist market system. The term itself is also used to refer to the particular kind of society that social democrats advocate. While some consider social democracy a moderate type of socialism, others, defining socialism in the traditional or Marxist sense, reject that designation.

[ncsuapex]

[Mass_SkinsFan]

In my mind "socialism" is a philosophy where the interests of the group are put before the interests of the individual. A philosophy where one takes from those who have to give to those who don't without the consent of the ones who have.

[portisizzle]

To me socialism means communism WITH the pretense of individual freedom.

Pretense being the operating word.

[hokie4redskins]

It's a euphemism for "communism."

[DGreenistheBest]

It's a euphemism for "communism."

Communism is a political system. Socialism is an economic system. They are not codependent.

[endzone_dave]

To me, socialism is measured by the amount of benefits that poor people receive that middle class people don't. Examples are food, housing allowance, health care (coming soon), certain education benefits. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I just think it's easy to measure.

[hokie4redskins]

Communism is a political system. Socialism is an economic system. They are not codependent.

Keep telling yourself that.

:thumbsup:

[portisizzle]

Communism is a political system. Socialism is an economic system. They are not codependent.

So are you saying it is possible to have a capitalist communism state? :laugh:

[GoSkins561]

Socialism is the first step to becoming a communist state, where everyone is equal, it doesn't matter if you sit home and scratch your nuts every day or run a bank, everyone is equal.

[DGreenistheBest]

So are you saying it is possible to have a capitalist communism state? :laugh:

Yes. They call it China.

[portisizzle]

Yes. They call it China.

:laugh: naive much?

[VASkins540]

Yes. They call it China.

:applause: :laugh:

[GoSkins561]

Yes. They call it China.

:laugh: Yeah it means, the most profitable, well ran business' give more money to the government.

[DGreenistheBest]

:laugh: naive much?

Deny all you want, but China is both capitalist and communist. You can pick up a text book and see for yourself if you want.

[portisizzle]

Deny all you want, but China is both capitalist and communist. You can pick up a text book and see for yourself if you want.

"text book"? :laugh:

[GoSkins561]

Deny all you want, but China is both capitalist and communist. You can pick up a text book and see for yourself if you want.

:laugh:

How many millionaires does China have?

[DGreenistheBest]

"text book"? :laugh:

Yeah, those things you carried around in school and were supposed to open when the teacher told you to.

[VASkins540]

:laugh:

How many millionaires does China have?

China has 345,000 millionaires: study

Oct 17, 2007

BEIJING (AFP) — China had 345,000 millionaires by the end of last year, the second-most in Asia after Japan, according to a new study by US investment bank Merrill Lynch.

The number of Chinese US dollar millionaires was up 7.8 percent from the year before, helped by a stock market that saw its value soar 130 percent over the 12 months, according to the study, co-authored with consultancy Capgemini.

"The Chinese economy turned in another year of strong performance in 2006, driven by surging exports and rising domestic consumption," Merrill Lynch executive Francis Liu said in a statement released Wednesday.

"Returns from the stock market also gave a lift to the number of China (millionaires) and their holdings."

China also has 4,935 extremely rich people, or "Ultra-HNWIs" (Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals), defined as those with financial assets of more than 30 million dollars, the statement said.

"China's rapid economic growth is reflected in a high concentration of Ultra-HNWIs," said Dirk Chanmueller, a Capgemini executive. "The country is home to more than 28 percent of the Ultra-HNWIs in Asia Pacific."

The survey was released a week after two annual "China Rich" lists emerged, showing an explosion in the number of very wealthy people.

China now has 106 billionaires, up from 15 a year ago, according to one of the two lists, published by Shanghai-based Hurun Magazine.

The latest data was published just as the elite of China's Communist Party were gathered in Beijing for their five-yearly Congress, with the growing wealth divide among the top agenda items.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ixQlU1GeghWewhn1PFb2nZwzEPPg

[DGreenistheBest]

:laugh:

How many millionaires does China have?

http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/gyzg/t140116.htm

EDIT: VaSkins540's article is more recent than mine.

[HOF44]

:laugh:

How many millionaires does China have?

Forbes List of Wealthiest Chinese

[portisizzle]

Yeah, those things you carried around in school and were supposed to open when the teacher told you to.

I stay away from people that are book smart. Thank you very much.

At least be intellectually honest with yourself for a moment. "MAYBE" China is temporarily disregarding true Communist principals in order to gain sway in the world community. And in its place the "MAY" be presenting the illusion of private business making a profit.

But don't dumb down this discussion by telling me that China is both Communist AND Capitalistic. :laugh:

[HOF44]

To me a capitalistic society with no redistribution of wealth will fail. The revolt will come from the poor masses. So the real question is how much wealth has to be re-distributed to keep the masses placated? To much and you are a socialist country, not enough and you end up with a revolt.

[portisizzle]

China has 345,000 millionaires: study

Oct 17, 2007

BEIJING (AFP) — China had 345,000 millionaires by the end of last year, the second-most in Asia after Japan, according to a new study by US investment bank Merrill Lynch.

The number of Chinese US dollar millionaires was up 7.8 percent from the year before, helped by a stock market that saw its value soar 130 percent over the 12 months, according to the study, co-authored with consultancy Capgemini.

"The Chinese economy turned in another year of strong performance in 2006, driven by surging exports and rising domestic consumption," Merrill Lynch executive Francis Liu said in a statement released Wednesday.

"Returns from the stock market also gave a lift to the number of China (millionaires) and their holdings."

China also has 4,935 extremely rich people, or "Ultra-HNWIs" (Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals), defined as those with financial assets of more than 30 million dollars, the statement said.

"China's rapid economic growth is reflected in a high concentration of Ultra-HNWIs," said Dirk Chanmueller, a Capgemini executive. "The country is home to more than 28 percent of the Ultra-HNWIs in Asia Pacific."

The survey was released a week after two annual "China Rich" lists emerged, showing an explosion in the number of very wealthy people.

China now has 106 billionaires, up from 15 a year ago, according to one of the two lists, published by Shanghai-based Hurun Magazine.

The latest data was published just as the elite of China's Communist Party were gathered in Beijing for their five-yearly Congress, with the growing wealth divide among the top agenda items.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ixQlU1GeghWewhn1PFb2nZwzEPPg

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,442552,00.html

China's communists have long since given up on true communism. In the interests of profit and wealth, property is respected more than human life and workers are exploited more than in any other country. Their cheap labor is an attack on our civil societies.