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Re:Why Socialism? Albert Einstein (1949) by rumanator on Tuesday October 29, 2019 @05:01AM (#21385229)
The author also appears to have focused on hypothetical/desired consequences of a theoretical system working under ideal conditions (i.e., if X works then everyone will be living an awesome life) while turning a blind eye to how socialist systems actually work: leave just enough scraps on the table for the masses to subsist and amass the bulk of the fruit of their labour for the socialist elites to waste on unrelated activities.

For example, check Venezuela's regime and how an oil-rich country forces it's population to live in abject poverty while the glorious socialist leadership lives a luxurious life.

Given the choice, I much rather have a fighting chance against living in abject poverty than being forced out of any alternative by a system designed to steal what I and everyone produced.

Re:Why Socialism? Albert Einstein (1949) by CrackerNews on Tuesday October 29, 2019 @09:28AM (#21386851)
Socialist planned economies usually provided food, housing, employment, education, and medical care for free or at a subsidy. Socialist elites did live better lives, but they tended to be more modest compared to the ultra-rich excesses under Western capitalism.

Chavez's terms over Venezuela proved to be very popular with the poor people of the barrios because he used state resources to raise their standards of living. He also managed to convert them into a real political force that would support him and Maduro against the richer people in the same country who want to see Chavez's and Maduro's policies reverted. Chavez certainly did mismanage the economy in the long-term by his over-reliance on oil and currency trading oil for resources, so the oil price drops devastated the economy and ground it to hyperinflation.

It is also important to note the distinction between Socialist Planned Economy under Marxist-Leninist Communists and the "21st century socialism" of Venezeula that is a mixed market economy where it's effectively half state-managed nationalized socialism and half free market.

Re:Why Socialism? Albert Einstein (1949) by rumanator on Tuesday October 29, 2019 @02:54PM (#21390743)
> Socialist planned economies usually provided food, housing, employment, education, and medical care for free or at a subsidy. Socialist elites did live better lives, but they tended to be more modest compared to the ultra-rich excesses under Western capitalism.

This is patently false. Socialist regimes pay lip service to public services while keeping them in a disfuncional state where they exist only in name only.

> Chavez's terms over Venezuela proved to be very popular with the poor people of the barrios because he used state resources to raise their standards of living.

This is patently false to the point you surely are being disingenuous. I have relatives living in Venezuela and since Chavez and his cronies took over not only are they desperate to make a living but also the whole nation has been forced to fight for survival by any means necessary. One family member of mine died due to lack of medical care because the hospital couldn't even access drugs or medical supplies, and his immediate family is scrambling to get out of the country as soon as possible. Before you speak about the delights of socialist economies first get your facts straight.