Older students and the liberal arts

[OE800_85]

if you read my comments clearly, I was referring to (possibly MA's comment?) about people being detained in China. We're often taught that socialism is run by a totalitarian state, but that's not the case. What you're saying is in support of my argument, that the redistribution of wealth can allow others to have power; it's an indirect relationship, but I agree with you. So, are you implying that "the people" shouldn't have power? That it's best left in the hands of a few, while the general populace has no say? Because that's what capitalism promotes.

Another thing about the tirade quote from the reverend. People often talk about the good 'ol days in America. Do you know what the highest income tax bracket was in the 50s/60s? It was 90 friggin percent. America used to have strong unions, where people received wages that were reasonable, and also had really well subsidized, very cheap healthcare. This right wing "capitalism" is relatively new. Are you saying America's better off now? That it wasn't a great powerful nation in those days? All you see now is a widening of the gap between the rich and the poor, and the destruction of the middle class. Socialist nations are keeping these things in tact, despite the horrible state of the economy now.
Historical Tax Rates by Income Group [NYTimes] — VisualizingEconomics
A great graph showing how tax rates have changed over the years.

Anyways, socialism is often misunderstood. It's not communism. Incentives still exist, people still work hard. People still have freedom of speech and so forth. They just have the added benefit of security should things go wrong.

Another thing I'd like to add, is not that government should necessarily increase spending, but re-allocate spending. It's amazing how much is wasted in the wrong programs.