Dude, you are not making any sense. If we are on the verge of a socialist revolution it is because hardly any body in elected office has stood up to it. We tolerated a little bit here and a little bit there and then we let a true Marxist get elected after years of socialism-lite brought about an economic collapse and he went to town accelerating the process.
If there had been enough elected conservatives holding the line all this time we would not be here.
If we are on the verge of a socialist revolution, your ideology will only hasten it.
Thank you for getting to the topic at hand. But you're not seeing what I'm saying. I don't think socialism isn't present right now. But when this crisis really gets in full swing, it will be a serious force in politics. I'm not talking about social democracy. I'm talking about a revolution. I'm talking about one in three people being unemployed and millions without basic necessities. Since we're so used to prosperity, it'll be hard on people, and some will turn to socialism.
Second, socialism lite isn't the cause of this depression. First, on economic issues, both Republicans and Democrats over the past few decades are much more free-market oriented than they used to be. LBJ would look like a socialistic by our standards, and Nixon would look like a Democrat. Second, recessions and depressions happen every once in a while. It's part of the business cycle, and you'll find this in any standard econ textbook. This one was caused by a variety of complex global economic factors that are too complicated to get into now, although I go more into in my blog. In one sentence, giant, unsustainable asset bubbles were blown in the post Bretton Woods economic regime of the neoliberal era (1980s-2000s), with floating exchange rates, free trade, easy credit, and the growth of the financial sector and transnational capital. Anyways, we have depressions about every 60 years, one in the 1870s, one in the 1930s, and in the post WW2 era, one in the 2000s.
in fact, japan did poorly economically UNTIL they westernized. and that includes western religion.
If you think Japan is a Christian nation than you don't know much about Japan. Anyways, since this was a part of the 'only Christian nations do well economically' debate, than I guess you're with Mrs. Smith? You think that only Christian countries do well in a capitalist economic system? I guess you don't have a lot of faith in capitalism then, do you. Also, the comments on the cars are funny in light of the American auto sector. If their products are so terrible, why are there so many Japanese cars in the US? I think it's because our best and brightest are too busy playing with numbers on Wall Street instead of producing real goods, like cars and computers.
Japan routinely ignored international copyright and patent laws. Many of the engines used to power their post-war civilian and military vehicles were originally used under license from Chevrolet and BMW.
OK. But what does that have to do with Japan of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s? Does it change the fact that they had the highest growth rates in world history? And why are you in on this discussion? Are you with the Mrs. Smith crowd, that thinks capitalism only does well in Christian countries? I guess you don't have much faith in capitalism then. So then, what about all of these non-Christian countries? Should they give up on capitalism? Do you think they should turn to socialism?
indeed, I did. and it was nothing like the place that he describes.
And when were you there? The 1980s? Everyone that I've talked to that's been there since then has painted a completely different picutre than you. But I guess you don't think it's a successful country. So tell me, what are your standards for an economically successful country? Or do you think it's a Christian country? Because from all your debating, I'm assuming you're with Mrs. Smith. Why else would you quibble with small facts that don't have anything to do with my real arguments.
