When I use the term "socialism," it means a governmental system where a centralized authority controls the economic system using the force inherent in a government, with penalties for non-cooperation.
I don't think what you're talking about falls into that category. We have to be careful not to try and combine things that really shouldn't be combined.
Again, collectivist government uses force. Mutual cooperation and voluntary pooling of resources is just another form of freedom of association, and is as free-market as any other voluntary economic activity.
A touchstone: Did anyone who participated in these organizations get forced to do so, or were directly penalized by the organization in some way if they chose not to participate? Or did people sign up just because it was such a good deal?
It's good to remember that the man who said "Let a hundred flowers bloom" ended up chopping millions of them down. The idea behind that phrase is utterly incompatible with collectivist societies, and he knew it when he said it.
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re: Let a hundred flowers bloom.
The whole thread (61 posts)
- Test driving government health care
- We've driven the current system into a ditch for most Americans (n/t)
- What's going to change?
- A Century ago, in Ybor City
- "...before we put everybody in the country in the program"
- Here's the Finance Committee presentation
- Did you READ it?
- Since you love to just throw a link into a post, here's back at ya...
- Great stuff. Send us Part I.
- Non-profit medical
- No offense, but you guys are rather dense.
- All Conservatives need to justify the status-quo is "high profit".
- Great stuff. Send us Part I.
- and leave us with what?
- Since you love to just throw a link into a post, here's back at ya...
- "Are you ever going to put your strawman arguments to rest? "