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I don't think that Socialism has ever (or can ever)come to terms with the increasing prevalence of "Intellectual Property" and a "Knowledge-based" Society.

How would be spread that "Wealth" around equitably?

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 at 05:00:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
They (the gov't authority) will reach into your pocket, remove a Euro and give it to Freddy, who doesn't have one.

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark." Cheyenne
by maracatu on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 at 05:37:05 PM EST
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You're talking about Income. I'm talking about the Means Of Production, although I guess I should have said so...

Redistribution of Income doesn't get us very far, does it?

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 at 05:50:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I think Europeans cast the threshold at a different point than do North Americans, no?  I mean, "socialism" in America is understood to encompass public ownership of the means of production (even if partial) while excluding the redistributive nature of taxation, while Europeans would include both, no?  Furthermore, I don't think Americans would consider Social Security as "socialist".  Anyway, my overall impression is that Americans have this aversion to "socialism" that the Europeans don't have.

"Beware of the man who does not talk, and the dog that does not bark." Cheyenne
by maracatu on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 at 06:11:35 PM EST
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I think that perhaps the defining feature of the North American / "Western" model is the attitude to individual "ownership" and private property rights.

More than any other aspect. And this appears to me to be entirely consistent with what you say.

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 at 06:35:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, you are right that socialism is an ideology that emerged in a society were commodities were touchable.  In todays society when knowledge/education and service is an ever increasing "commodity" some would say that this makes some of the old political ideologies irrelevant. I do not think so.  As long as knowledge and services can be converted into money and hard currency the old rules still apply.  One aim, is the equal and free distribution of education, another is to redistribute the tax revenues the state gets to the lesser fortunate in society.  

As long as knowledge generates money they can be redistributed.  

Bitsofnews.com Giving you the latest bits.

by Gjermund E Jansen (gjans1@hotmail.com) on Tue Jul 17th, 2007 at 06:54:51 PM EST
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