"They" feel that Socialism doesn’t work though most developed countries in the world are Socialistic to various extents. And the U.S. is pretty Socialistic as well with programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. I call our system Social Capitalism in which the government doesn’t own most companies (It does own a number, however, even having corporation in the title.*), but contracts with them to run the country. Companies have offices that encircle Washington, D.C., called Beltway Bandits that bid on government contracts.
A major feature of the American political method is an attempt to keep competition alive among private companies because companies will strive not to have to compete. Perhaps the best example is the ACA (Obamacare) that is run by the insurance companies, and they have divided up the country to have only one choice available for health insurance so there is no competition. As to subsidies, a good example is milk that is subsidized 72% of the cost of production by the government. Regulations are needed to keep businesses competing. The word monopoly (like Depression) is no longer fashionable to use so there are other words used now like “barriers to entry” and “a moat.”
Incidentally, Socialistic countries tend to be the happiest. The happiest country in 2017 was Belgium that ranked #2 in 2018; however, it has slipped to #18 in 2019 It also has the highest taxes. Finland is ranked the happiest country in 2019. Belgium has a wide range of welfare benefits such as universal healthcare and subsidized education. It was also ranked the second most Socialistic country in the world after China with Finland in the #3 spot. These are followed by The Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, New Zealand, and Belgium. Others high on the Socialistic ranking of happiest are Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.
Happiest countries 2019** Socialistic Ranking***
? China #1
.....................................................
#1. Finland #3
#2 Denmark #2
#3 Norway #7
#4 Iceland ?
#5 Netherlands #4
#6 Switzerland ?
#7 Sweden #6
#8 New Zealand #9
#9 Canada #5
#10 Austria ?
.......................................................
#18 Belgium #10
#19 United States ?
There are those who say that Sweden is no longer a socialistic country, however, they provide federal pensions, universal health care, unemployment insurance, education through Ph.D., child day care. In addition they provide leaves of absence of 6 mo. to start your own company, and to do education) with 16 mo. of parental leave, with all these at (at 80% of pay.
In contrast, I guess it is obvious America is not a happy country and it does not even crack the top 10. Signs that we are not happy is that we are told voters are angry and elected someone to shake up the country. America ranked 14th in 2017 and 17 in 2018.
STATES There is a 2014 ranking of the most Socialistic states that I find interesting.**** The basis of the ranking measures the amount of the state GDP that is spent by the state government that ranges from 16.8% for Kentucky to 35.1% for West Virginia, even more than Alaska and Mississippi. At least six of these states in the top 10 are "Red" states.
.
Ranking by state % state GDP spent
by the government
_____________ _______________
10. Kentucky 16.8%
9. Delaware
8. Hawaii
7. Vermont
6. New Mexico
5. Mississippi 20%
4. Wyoming
3. Arkansas
2. Alaska
1. West Virginia 35.1%
Basically, conservatives seem to feel that we cannot afford to help the poor and yet we consider ourselves to be Christians where the Savior was all about helping the poor. At the same time, conservatives do things to enrich the fortunes of the wealthy. I think conservatives would like a system where a few people control the money and support varies things to run the country. there should be enough of these people so that necessities would be covered
* The U.S. government owns quite a few companies, for one example the Tennessee Valley Authority. Among others are Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac, FDIC, Amtrack, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Corporation For Community Service (AmeriCorp), Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, and the USPS, among many others (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-owned_enterprises_of_the_United_States) of course many of these are controversial
** https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/03/20/finland-worlds-happiest-country-2019/3221328002
** *http://blog.peerform.com/top-ten-most-socialist-countries-in-the-world/
**** https://www.thestreet.com/story/13275683/1/10-most-socialist-states-in-america.html#5/
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