--- In [email protected], Bhairitu <noozg...@...> wrote: > > ShempMcGurk wrote: > >> BTW, you didn't answer this question the other day: would you let your > >> house burn than have the local fire department put out the fire? > >> > >> > > > > > > ???Why would I do that? I pay my taxes and expect the services. But even > > if I didn't pay taxes I would still expect the fire company to come and put > > out the fire. > > Okay and you would also want to police department to come if you had > someone break into your house. And you would want the potholes in your > streets and highways fixed to keep your car from being damaged. You > probably like to walk in parks that are kept up. > > All these things are "socialistic" programs to maintain the commons.
I disagree with your definition of the term "socialistic". Here is what dictionary.com defines "socialistic" as: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/socialistic so·cial·is·tic   /ˌsoʊʃəˈlɪstɪk/ Show Spelled[soh-shuh-lis-tik] Show IPA adjective 1.of or pertaining to socialists or socialism. 2.in accordance with socialism. 3.advocating or supporting socialism. ...and "socialism" in term is defined as: so·cial·ism   /ˈsoʊʃəˌlɪzəm/ Show Spelled[soh-shuh-liz-uhm] Show IPA noun 1.a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole. 2.procedure or practice in accordance with this theory. 3.(in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles. So I think a better explanation of the paying for and maintaining of a police and fire department through taxes is just that: taxation for the general welfare. But it isn't socialism. > You wouldn't want a privatized fire department who would let your house > burn because you didn't pay them their yearly fee? Or a privatized > police department to tell you to get lost because you didn't pay up as a > burglar with a gun makes his way towards the room you're in. > > And Arizona already has a health care program. You probably avoid that > so you can enjoy paying expensive premiums to a private insurer? > > Nobody is saying everything has to be socialized. It makes no sense for > the family owned corner grocery or gas station to be socialized. The > latter is the mistake some countries made in implementing socialism. >
