Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site tty3b.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!microsoft!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!ariel!hou5f!orion!houca!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!we13!otuxa!tty3b!mjk
From: mjk@tty3b.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: What is Socialism
Message-ID: <214@tty3b.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 16-Sep-83 17:35:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: tty3b.214
Posted: Fri Sep 16 17:35:19 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 17-Sep-83 18:59:41 EDT
References: <1823@allegra.UUCP>, <1065@utcsstat.UUCP>
Organization: Teletype Corp., Skokie, Ill
Lines: 20

Laura, let's be clear on the difference between democratic socialism and
an authoritarian one-party communism.  Unless you want me to demolish your
ideals on capitalism based on examples like Chile and South Africa.

No one I know considers Poland "socialist".  The socialist countries we're
talking about really exist only in transition in Western Europe: countries
such as Sweden and France are making the transition from social democracy
to democratic socialism.  What's the difference?  Primarily in control.
Social democratic countries conceed that privately-owned corporations should
make the important economic decisions and occupy themselves with distributing
benefits of economic growth more equally.  Socialist countries do not accept
that any body not subject to public control should have any significant role
to play.  The difference is more than just that, of course, but that's the
gist.

Please let's get this "I know people who say how terrible the USSR is and
why anyone would want to live there..." BS and concentrate on a substantial
discussion.

Mike Kelly