Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site sdccsu3.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdccsu3!za16ao From: za16ao@sdccsu3.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: part of what's wrong with socialism Message-ID: <1356@sdccsu3.UUCP> Date: Thu, 1-Dec-83 14:25:38 EST Article-I.D.: sdccsu3.1356 Posted: Thu Dec 1 14:25:38 1983 Date-Received: Sun, 4-Dec-83 07:58:48 EST Organization: U.C. San Diego, Computer Center Lines: 38 .. First of all, I agree with rabbit!jj - socialism does encourage slack and uncaring. And something more; it encourages people to stagnate in every way. No one will bother to learn or grow; it's not only not necessary, it is discouraged by the system. After all, you get nothing from it; and, darn it, people want some sort of reward for their work - what's wrong with that? Socialism discourages progress, and, while capitalism encourages people to be as good as they can possibly be at what they do, socialism encourages mediocrity. Grr. Socialism, like pure democracy (which is rather like socialism in the long run), assumes that the bulk of people combined is more intelligent and capable of decision-making than a smaller group. This is kind of like having a committee bake a souffle. (In the end they will probably end up throwing eggs at each other...) I *don't* think socialism would work if people were "equally intelligent and well informed." Then they would just all be equally bored. BTW, I also agree with jj's semi-suggestion about setting up a checkmate with our weapons (such that if Russia were to try and destroy us, they {and everyone else} would blow up too...). I DON'T like nuclear weapons, but they are here - they cannot be ignored! And to quote someone in the administration whose name I've forgotten - "The only reason we must have nuclear weapons is to make sure they are never used." Too true! Conservatives *don't* want war - we're just being painfully realistic! (Although - the Soviets may just be nutty enough to blow themselves up...) not afraid to be (yes) conservative (!), -- -=< Lady Arwen >=- ...sdcsvax!sdccsu3!arwen