Centralized socialism is working pretty good in the countries that exercise some discipline by living within their means and where the people save instead of spending like (somebody help with a simile here; the two most obvious are politically incorrect and worn out). Germany is socialist and healthier than anybody else. The Scandinavian countries are in pretty good shape. It is the southern european PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain) that are stinking up the joint. People on hedonistic tears are gagging, the more restrained are doing fine. A friend from Minnesota told me that their welfare system was generous and efficient and not widely used until some migrants decided to put down roots there. That's why the farmers up there now hate to see Texas plates.
Even the pilgrims understood the free rider problem. Free riders are what kill socialism. Teamwork is great when everyone is working together. Lazy asses are what ruin it for everyone and is why you need more free market than socialism. Reagan mentioned the "truly needy" back in the 80's. If you are truly needy then society can try and help. However if you are from a different country there will likely be limits to the help. That might not be fair but it is reality. How hard is it to migrate into the countries mentioned above as the bastions of socialism? (trust me it is very difficult unless you have proven skills that they need) The frustrating thing to me is californians move from their failed scenario then try and turn Texas into their failed plan. Mexicans are similar. Why not embrace what is working, embrace the place you moved to because of the success and not try and bring your failed ideas. I have Russian acquaintances that emigrated here that talk about how ****** the USA is. It is astonishing.
Horn6721: exactly my point; at the point where the program becomes economically unsustainable, the smart people change the program. In less disciplined countries they keep up the same program and go broke. Germany is not going to abandon social programs, it is going to continue them but in a way that allows them to remain solvent.
