Whenever I get into a debate about socialism versus capitalism, one of the things that it is almost impossible to resolve is the difference between basic ideas.

My premise is that the problems and miseries that result from a centralized government approach to economics and services is inherent in the very concept. Von Mises, Hayek, and many others have come to this same conclusion.

The faithful leftist believes that the problems are simply the result of not having done it exactly right, that somehow there is a formula where you can thwart the laws of the market and get away with it. Kind of like the medieval inventor who thinks that the only reason he hasn't been able to develop man-powered flight is that he hasn't come up with the right design for the wings to strap to his arms.

I've never been able to close this gap in perception. Most leftists thing that economic laws are just a matter of opinion anyway.

There are two kinds of socialist systems, when dealing with health care or any other commodity: those that have gone down the crapper and those that are on their way. The socialist medical systems of the world largely feed off of advances that the private system generates. When that stops, then what?

Try and imagine new drugs being developed under the same process that the government is currently using to develop fusion power. A lot of scientists employed by the state. Not many results.