h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Indeed, the delay is a problem. No one (least of all me) is saying that the alternatives to Western Democracy are the be all and end all of political perfection. Communism and various forms of Socialism have caused irreperable harm to this planet and it's people. Fascism, Dictatorships, and just plain abuse have done so as well.

What would you say of democracies like Iceland, Canada, Norway, etc. though? It is not a question of being the worst, it is a question of what or who is presently the best.

democracy with a degree of socalism. It's obvious that a capatalist Iraq will harm many more than it helps.

Hooray!! Finally someone who can call democracy a possible socialist alternative! I am SO tired of apologists who view Roosevelt as an anomoly! His governership of the US should be viewed as the golden age of US politics.

I'll take your words..democracies that are presently the best.

First to mind is Sweden. rationale: fiscal (OK?) policies and oseas aid.

Second to mind. Tough. Would guess France because of social freedoms and law.

The worst are probably the victors of WWII.

Just to clarify my ethnicity. The closest analogy you'll get. Just think I'm from the coal dist of PA. But born and bred UK north.
Oetz

Is that Pittsburgh?

Nice to see that you understand our biases (great or small). Also nice to see you express yourself.

It's obvious that democracy AND socalism(to a degree) is required for equality or at least an equal start point for everyone.

One of my great regrets is that *Democratic Socialism* was purloined by the Nazis. It seems that that broad brush has tainted *social democracy* along with the high taxes that true social governments must enact in order to achieve their goals. It seems that capitalism has tainted that pool as well.

Yeah thats the same PA. The story behind my family is too big for this contraption. My grandfathers name which itself is unusual is common around Shamokin.

Get your hankerchiefs out guys you may cry! I honestly had for years been hiding from the net because I knew it would bring emotional pain.
I cried a river I can tell you.

I've forgotten the question, hang on one.
Where I live they think I'm a bloody communist and I think they're faschist. But the cultural differences over here are vast, don't underestimate them. Oh yeah I vote left but I think right.

*vote left, think right*



I really believe that is the answer, sort of a socially responsible version of the rampant consumerism and capitalism that is encroaching us now.

Very nice talking to you, I hope we get to do it again soon. (All the rest as well, of course!)



Supper time!

Bedtime for me.
Glad we are reconciled. To all on this thread I'll catch you later.
Regards Oetzi

"along with the high taxes that true social governments must enact in order to achieve their goals."

That's what state owned enterprises are for, or at least they used to be.

In the early 1890s here coal was the one thing that everyone needed, for heating, cooking etc. The problem was a cpmplete free market which meant that coal companies could charge anything they liked. The liberal party started NZ coal which only needed to cover it's own costs, being government owned. It sold coal at a price that people could better afford and at a level that wouldn't drive coal companies out of business but force them to lower prices.

Appy you're right but I must sleep now
Tomorrow we will talk again.
Oetz

Prove it, Oetzi!
Nary a journalist etc among us (oh, well, yes, but only freelance and occasional.)
As for the rest, I am tempted to say cobblers! Or happen, round objects!

THAT IS BRILLIANT!!!

"Your parents were small"...Once upon a time, yes.

I'm sort of a journalist. And I'm pretty sure that cl zoomer qualifies as one too.

Sorry to backtrack a bit, and I know the iceman is asleep, but I have to ask:

oetzi posted "Do you know the method of conclusion from pricipal"

I've read it all but I still don't get it. Maybe all those years of higher education and all those scholarly publications and all that time raising the physically and mentally disabled child while working a full time job as a single parent under a democratic socialist system without taking any government handouts has made me dense, but from what principal, exactly, are you arriving at conclusions, oetzi?

confusing as usual della, which post replies to which?

That was a reply to.... Post: 3895 from Apparition

"it's not the metric system. It's "the" system. Everything else is the archaic tongue.

Metric is older than I am in NZ. My parents were small when it was introduced."

It begs the question How small were they?

well in trhe archaic tongue. One is still only 5'1"