Election Thread

[kandrathe]

Is there a country in the world where everyone is fed, clothed, and housed? I would add, where they are also given adequate medical care, and a chance to educate themselves?

Not many, I'd wager. Certainly not Canada. Certainly not the United States.

-Jester

Let's put it another way. There is no reason why it should not be that way without requiring socialistic or communistic redistribution strategies. People may be suffering in the US or Canada, but its in spite of all the social programs and safety nets. The problem I would venture is not in that there is not enough socialism, but that the socialism we have is not working for some small percentage. One problem now is that people EXPECT the government to take care of them, and as with every other social entitlement bureaucracy, it eventually fails some people. Adding in health care is difficult, because it is dependent on many factors, such as, the persons commitment to their own health, the availability of trained medical staff, regional uniqueness, geographic dispersion, poverty, crime, culture, nutrition, etc. A chance to educate themselves is also a bugaboo. What is acceptable? In the early 1900's getting a majority of the people through an 8th grade educations was considered a great accomplishment. People wanted to go to school, and you considered it a privilege. Now it's taken for granted, shrugged off, or expected to be offered as another free carrot.