If socialism is so bad....? Why is it that time and time again Canada, Scandinavia are the best places to live?

-graded by the UN, on quality of life, education etc. why is it that pseuo-socialist countries are voted the best places to live? and yet in the US 'socialism' is made out to be a scary word

Public Comments

1. I know. 80% of the people who scream socialism is evil have no idea what socialism actually. Socialism is a great idea for countries with small populations but it wouldn't work for a big country like America though.
2. A vast majority of people in these areas are responible citizens unlike the US where a vast majority of people are on welfare or anything of the other thousand social programs such as Wicc, Medicare, Medicaid, SSD.
3. because the people who don't like socialism aren't actually educated so they don't know what socialism is. to them, it's a big, man eating witch with boils on her face and knives for fingers. aaaahhhhhhhh
4. Probably because it was decided by the UN. Which country are there so many people trying to get in that they have to do so illegally (I'll give you a hint - its not Canada or Scandinavia)?
5. For socialism to work, people must be honest and hard working. US is infected with a large number of cheaters, scammers, and people who want a free ride.
6. Right wingers in America paint "socialism" as a system that rejects all rewards for achievement... where people simply do as the state orders them to do... where individuality and independence is sacrificed. And of course, that's absolutely untrue. Countries like Sweden, France, Canada, England and many others, have a profound regard for individuality, and they certainly reward effort, education and self-motivation. The difference is that capitalism, in those countries, isn't given free reign to dictate what course the society takes. Capitalism is controlled relative to the health of society over-all. It is a tool, not society's master.
7. if it is so perfect, then why do people from canada and scandinavian countries bother coming to the US to look for opportunities? something must be missing.
8. you might also include the rest of the world in that america alone believes that caring for its citizens is called socialism, however caring for its wealthy and its failed corporations is called democracy or something
9. Americans are just fine with socialism as long as they can pretend it isn't socialism. Just call it "public works projects" or "community playground" or "state highway" and they have no problem it. Or go to your local "senior community" and point out that Social Security and Medicare are socialism and watch the conservatives tie themselves in knots trying to prove that it isn't.
10. It's because socialism was associated with communism years ago and nobody wants to let go of it. But on the same hand a lot of people LOVE China and Chinese made goods even though it's very much a communist state and thousands are killed there every year for decent. I'm liberal, but in no way back the communist regime in China because it's a brutal dictatorship far worse than ANYTHING Saddam Hussein ever dreamed of, but we never even gave thought to disrupting that system and in fact seem to promote it. People don't realize that between 1949 and 1970 millions upon millions of Chinese from every walk of life were taken out and shot for such crimes as land ownership, free enterprise ideas and saying anything negative about the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) and it continues to this day. Pseudo socialism is OK, Communism, bad.. I only wish people would learn the difference, but it's also based on greed and disregard for their fellow human being.
11. Its' a question of degree. Its' a lot healthier to live in those countries- at least you get to keep what you have worked for if you should have the misfortune of becoming ill. I wouldn't mind it if those who can afford it paid a few more taxes, not a obscene amount but something that would keep us out of debt and if we didn't spend quite so much being the corrupt policeman of the planet, which is what we have become of late.
12. Capitalist crows roost on the scarecrow of socialism. Canada, Scandinavian countries and other European countries are social democracies. Capitalism (private ownership of the means of production and distribution) exists in those countries but are more regulated than here in the U.S. They do pay more in taxes but they get more of a return for those taxes in the form of social programs, education and health care. But socialism hasn't come into existence anywhere. The former Soviet Union was Communist in name but there really is no such thing as Communism. Totalitarian State Capitalism is the trademark of Leninism in which the Party has full control over the economy. They also dictated how the population should live under the guidance of the Vanguard Party. That's neither socialism nor mythical communism. What could be considered the beginning of socialism is when workers and people in general decide to create an industrial government of labor. This organizational structure would give every person joint ownership of the means of production and distribution. People would elect their representatives to an All Industrial Congress. Socialism needs an "economic" administration because specialized industrial knowledge follows industrial lines. That is, the people who would be the best decision makers about how best to make cars are the workers who do in fact make cars, etc. Of course, people would have to make a political demand to Amend the Constitution of the United States for the economic government to operate legally. Political government, on the other hand, will continue to exist and would be separate from the economic government. Politician are inept in making economic decisions because they know only how to make value and moral judgments. However, political government is useful to maintain civil rights, liberties, freedom of speech, the press, religion, etc. Political government protects people from those who cause physical harm such as rapist, arsonist, murderers, etc. Socialism needs a political administration because not all public issues are based on workers' specialized skill. It would be silly to say that the people who should pass the law against murdering someone with a kitchen knife should be the workers who manufacture silverware.