losthighway wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:07 pm ^ Yep. The nordic countries we look to for models of strong socialist democracies are WAY less regulated than the U.S. The law makes progressive governance too slow and expensive to achieve.

Just a correction. Social Democracy is not a Socialist Democracy. Social Market models are still capitalist in nature, it's just there is generally a larger roll for unions and the state in the economy resulting in an increase in economic democracy. Socialism would imply collective ownership of the means of production, meaning full economic democracy. That is most definitely not the case in any European country.

Gramsci wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 1:00 pm

losthighway wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:07 pm ^ Yep. The nordic countries we look to for models of strong socialist democracies are WAY less regulated than the U.S. The law makes progressive governance too slow and expensive to achieve.

Just a correction. Social Democracy is not a Socialist Democracy. Social Market models are still capitalist in nature, it's just there is generally a larger roll for unions and the state in the economy resulting in an increase in economic democracy. Socialism would imply collective ownership of the means of production, meaning full economic democracy. That is most definitely not the case in any European country.

Point well taken. A small difference in wording but a major gap in politics.

losthighway wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 1:04 pm

Gramsci wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 1:00 pm

losthighway wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 12:07 pm ^ Yep. The nordic countries we look to for models of strong socialist democracies are WAY less regulated than the U.S. The law makes progressive governance too slow and expensive to achieve.

Just a correction. Social Democracy is not a Socialist Democracy. Social Market models are still capitalist in nature, it's just there is generally a larger roll for unions and the state in the economy resulting in an increase in economic democracy. Socialism would imply collective ownership of the means of production, meaning full economic democracy. That is most definitely not the case in any European country.

Point well taken. A small difference in wording but a major gap in politics.

I was being. a little (well, maybe a lot) pedantic, but I think when discussing US politics I see the word "Socialist" bandied around quite a lot and it almost never is actually socialism. In practice I vote and am appeased by fairly moderate social democracy, which has unfortunately become ever more "radical" as the centre has shifted right... but in theory I'm literally a communist, in the purist sense of the word. But good quality public services funded by progressive taxation and labour laws that put their thumbs on the scale for workers and I'm sated.

Gramsci wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 3:39 pm

losthighway wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 1:04 pm

Gramsci wrote: Sun Nov 23, 2025 1:00 pm

Just a correction. Social Democracy is not a Socialist Democracy. Social Market models are still capitalist in nature, it's just there is generally a larger roll for unions and the state in the economy resulting in an increase in economic democracy. Socialism would imply collective ownership of the means of production, meaning full economic democracy. That is most definitely not the case in any European country.

Point well taken. A small difference in wording but a major gap in politics.

I was being. a little (well, maybe a lot) pedantic, but I think when discussing US politics I see the word "Socialist" bandied around quite a lot and it almost never is actually socialism. In practice I vote and am appeased by fairly moderate social democracy, which has unfortunately become ever more "radical" as the centre has shifted right... but in theory I'm literally a communist, in the purist sense of the word. But good quality public services funded by progressive taxation and labour laws that put their thumbs on the scale for workers and I'm sated.

And again you're not wrong. Most of my fellow citizens would unanimously say that I'm a pinko while I'm actually anti-communist. I'm a radical American, but a moderate European as context falls.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnew ... io-prison/

This drew immediate scrutiny as all inmates would rather be shanked than read this piece of shit.

Hegseth withdrawing funds and support for the Scouts or whatever they are called now pretty much defines his ability for thought. Jesus, what a turd.

enframed wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:34 am Hegseth withdrawing funds and support for the Scouts or whatever they are called now pretty much defines his ability for thought. Jesus, what a turd.

I'm all for kids learning to make a camp and shooting squirrels or whatever I thought they did, but I never realized they were a military recruitment organization that received federal funding to mold highly motivated, civic-minded kids they can tap for their ranks. I'll file this under accidental wins. See also the ivy league schools that are quietly making deals with MAGA to continue their funding now that the AIPAC furor has died down.

Hegseth wants his warriors smooth and oiled.

zorg wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 11:33 am

enframed wrote: Wed Nov 26, 2025 9:34 am Hegseth withdrawing funds and support for the Scouts or whatever they are called now pretty much defines his ability for thought. Jesus, what a turd.

I'm all for kids learning to make a camp and shooting squirrels or whatever I thought they did, but I never realized they were a military recruitment organization that received federal funding to mold highly motivated, civic-minded kids they can tap for their ranks. I'll file this under accidental wins. See also the ivy league schools that are quietly making deals with MAGA to continue their funding now that the AIPAC furor has died down.

well, don't you want a highly motivated civic minded military? it's better than the alternative.
woke scouting was necessary to avoid bankruptcy and public backlash following the abuse scandals. the mormons have distanced themselves too.
this is just more foot stomping from hegseth. what a crybaby.

Lest you think I've been overly critical of the guy, I should mention that Mamdani has just removed 179 City Hall staff members, many appointed by the previous mayor, Adams. Not a terrible idea.

That said, it still makes no sense that he's keeping Adams's police commissioner and is pissing off the City Council (many members of whom are aren't so much more "radical" than Mamdani, but who have way more experience getting things done and navigating the city's intense complexity) b/c he's promising to develop (ie sell out) public spaces sans considering actual community needs and voices.

But still, cleaning Adams's very dirty house is the first smart move of substance that Mamdani has made since winning the election. So I'm hopeful for that. Bravo. Nice work, there.

(Cautious disclaimer: Two mayors ago, De Blasio also got rid of Bloomberg's appointees in a similar fashion. I was psyched but ultimately, well, nothing earth-shatteringly good really came of that. Largely b/c of corruption scandals, the state refusing to play ball, and the real estate industry getting its hooks into our boy Bill.)