re: #314 fern01

There is a massive difference between socialism and communism (as we have seen it in operation). I believe in looking after people (after they are born), having safety nets, affordable health care, a place to live and a living wage. I think the unemployed should be supported by government, not having to depend on charity for their next meal. If this is socialism, I am a socialist.

As far as creating jobs, at the current point in time, most of those job creators are inventing ways to produce more with fewer and fewer people. This is not job creation - this is profit making. When I studied economics at university, companies consisted of capital, labor and property. Now someone else owns the property, CEOs & board members get most of the capital and the labor part is considered a necessary evil - or reduced to the level where those employed have no chance of doing the job they are expected to do.

I don’t like to define myself ss either a socialist or a capitalist for my own reasons because I think labels are unhelpful in economics. Most want some form of free enterprise and some forms of socialism. The hard right and hard left present it as you have to be one or the other.