A plug for socialism

[HomerJS]

Ok I'm not advocating we adopt socialism in this country. Besides most people don't really know what it is. Just getting my foot in the door. This is an analysis of the plight of the middle class and why a little sharing of the wealth would be good for this country. Using the example of the National Football League, a highly sucessful organization that most people consider a 100% all American patriotic product.

Cleverly executed by Bill Maher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Paf9h3F25s

Now I know I'm asking for the impossible but I'll do it anyway. Comment on the content of what Bill said and try not to devolve into name calling.

 

[xj0hnx]

The NFL isn't a country.

 

[Genx87]

The NFL is a private organization. What does it have to do with socialism? Because they have revenue sharing???? Think of the owners as shareholders. Would you consider each owner of a corporation recieving a dividend socialism?

That said it is funny you mention people dont really know what socialism is and you present this crap. Clearly Maher doesnt either.

 

[wuliheron]

Bill Maher may make light of the situation, but it isn't really a laughing matter. The latest surveys show that socialism is growing in popularity in the US and is now about tied with the Tea Party (36% vs 35% approve). That's 70% of the population with radically different ideas about what direction we should be taking and a lot of hatred being expressed.

Just as the old Soviet Union rose to power and glory as an empire by promoting communism the US rose to power and glory as an empire by promoting capitalism. Such dreams of power and glory die hard and the political ideologies behind them can die even harder. For the Soviet Union it took a complete collapse of their economic system to compel a transition to a less radical government.

In the US, the great depression inspired a similar transition to a less radical government and now we've come full circle again. We allowed our government to deregulate markets to such an extent that we are once again facing economic disaster. While the extremists try to paint a picture of socialism verses capitalism, the truth is the majority of the world's thriving democracies today are moderately socialist. That is, they have some elements of both socialism and capitalism just as the US does today with the major distinction being that a "socialist" government is usually defined as one where the state actually owns some of the means of production. Otherwise it is usually referred to as a "welfare" state. Ancient Rome was one such welfare state where at one time 1/3 of the population was on the dole or "welfare".

 

[sao123]

salary floors and caps would seem to have much value to our current society.

 

[Patranus]

Socialism in sports make sports flat out suck.

You end up with owners who put crappy products onto the field year in and year out because they make money regardless of a teams performance.

 

[Genx87]

Bill Maher may make light of the situation, but it isn't really a laughing matter. The latest surveys show that socialism is growing in popularity in the US and is now about tied with the Tea Party (36% vs 35% approve). That's 70% of the population with radically different ideas about what direction we should be taking and a lot of hatred being expressed.

Just as the old Soviet Union rose to power and glory as an empire by promoting communism the US rose to power and glory as an empire by promoting capitalism. Such dreams of power and glory die hard and the political ideologies behind them can die even harder. For the Soviet Union it took a complete collapse of their economic system to compel a transition to a less radical government.

In the US, the great depression inspired a similar transition to a less radical government and now we've come full circle again. We allowed our government to deregulate markets to such an extent that we are once again facing economic disaster. While the extremists try to paint a picture of socialism verses capitalism, the truth is the majority of the world's thriving democracies today are moderately socialist. That is, they have some elements of both socialism and capitalism just as the US does today with the major distinction being that a "socialist" government is usually defined as one where the state actually owns some of the means of production. Otherwise it is usually referred to as a "welfare" state. Ancient Rome was one such welfare state where at one time 1/3 of the population was on the dole or "welfare".

Besides repealing glass stegall over a decade ago. What other deregulation has occurred to cause our problems?

 

[bamacre]

I think if you're going to make a call for socialism, I advise against using a username and avatar based on a cartoon character well-known for utter laziness and stupidity.

On second thought, never mind. Please proceed.

 

[Jaskalas]

Socialism in sports make sports flat out suck.

You end up with owners who put crappy products onto the field year in and year out because they make money regardless of a teams performance.

Pride counts for nothing, it can only be greed?

 

[wuliheron]

I think if you're going to make a call for socialism, I advise against using a username and avatar based on a cartoon character well-known for utter laziness and stupidity.

On second thought, never mind. Please proceed.

Hey, it worked for Raygun and Bush.

 

[DesiPower]

There is a reason US is the undisputed leader in innovation in practical every front.

 

[wuliheron]

Besides repealing glass stegall over a decade ago. What other deregulation has occurred to cause our problems?

Ask Alan Greenspan, he's the one who ran the markets and apologized after the collapse for going too far with deregulation and insisting the markets could regulate themselves. It only takes one bullet to kill someone and obviously he forget the gun was loaded.

 

[boomerang]

Fuck Bill Maher. Now that the name calling is out of the way...

If it sounds so good to you, share your wealth. Nobody is stopping you. That's how it works anyway, because over time you'll become the wealthy. So share now, sleep well at night. It's a good thing - right?

And since you feel that most don't know what socialism is, please share with us its meaning.

 

[Patranus]

Ask Alan Greenspan, he's the one who ran the markets and apologized after the collapse for going too far with deregulation and insisting the markets could regulate themselves. It only takes one bullet to kill someone and obviously he forget the gun was loaded.

The markets could/would have deregulated themselves if companies were allowed to fail.

 

[TheSlamma]

The NFL is a private organization. What does it have to do with socialism? Because they have revenue sharing???? Think of the owners as shareholders. Would you consider each owner of a corporation receiving a dividend socialism?

That said it is funny you mention people don't really know what socialism is and you present this crap. Clearly Maher doesn't either.

As much as I like a lot of Maher's stuff I agree with GenX87, there is nothing socialist about the NFL. As Genx mentioned it's privately owned and all the teams are franchises and many of the historical teams are now defunct, teams can still fold and be sold.

There is huge competition between NFL football teams, where is the competition in Social Security or in Medicare?

Also Goodell is a big time republican who donates thousands to republican campaigns along with most of the team owners.

And another great comment in this thread.. "The NFL is not a country"

 

[RedChief]

Bill Maher is an idiot and this video proves right. First, lets ignore that the NFL isn't socialist but is a private origanization that does profit sharing. Lets instead focus on his ripping on Baseball for being capitalist and leaving small marekts on their own.

Baseball, on the other hand, is exactly like the Republicans, and I don't just mean it's incredibly boring. I mean their economic theory is every man for himself. The small market Pittsburgh Steelers go to the Super Bowl more than anybody - but the Pittsburgh Pirates? Levi Johnston has sperm that will not grow up and live long enough to see the Pirates in a World Series. Their payroll is about $40 million, and the Yankees is $206 million. They have about as much chance at getting in the playoffs as a poor black teenager from Newark has of becoming the CEO of Halliburton. That's why people stop going to Pirate games in May, because if you're not in the game, you become indifferent to the fate of the game, and maybe even get bitter - that's what's happening to the middle class in America. It's also how Marie Antoinette lost her head.

Ok, there several issues here but lets focus on just the revenue sharing (or what Maher calls Socialism). In the NFL, the profit sharing is about even among all the teams and when combined with a salary cap of $85m per team, the profits end up being about the same. But MLB also has revenue sharing, but it is not evenly distributed. All teams pay ~30% of their local revenues into a pot that is then evenly split. But the pot from the national broadcasts is not evenly split, smaller revenue teams get a higher amount then larger revenue teams. The result is the Yankees pay out 75+m while small market team (and 2008 AL Champs) Tampa Bay Rays receive $30+m.

 

[piasabird]

Departed after seeing the name Bill Maher. . . .

He can start by donating his money to the poor.

 

[BoberFett]

Hahahaha, the NFL is socialist? I suppose, if you consider that the NFL siphons massive amounts of money away from the taxpayer and awards it to themselves in the form of free stadiums, then yes it is socialist.

 

[Zebo]

Socislaism is workers control and own the means of production. They vote for the boss (if there is one) . etc .. NFL not socialist. Redistributive yes.

 

[Zebo]

I think if you're going to make a call for socialism, I advise against using a username and avatar based on a cartoon character well-known for utter laziness and stupidity.

On second thought, never mind. Please proceed.

LOL

 

[wuliheron]

The markets could/would have deregulated themselves if companies were allowed to fail.

These companies own the government and to pretend otherwise is to deny the very premise of your own argument. They did regulate themselves, at everyone else's expense.

 

[boomerang]

Young Madison Socialist Reveals Popular ‘Noodles & Company‘ Restaurant Is Actually Harsh ’Dictatorship’

Read and then watch the video to get an inkling of what is facing us. This is the generation that will be calling the shots in a couple of decades. Those of us still walking this earth had better hope this generation wises up or failing that, that there is another country where we can seek sanctuary.

This is what happens when you don't teach children history as it really occurred. This is the entitlement generation. This is the generation that was raised to believe that 'everyone is a winner'. This is what passes for a work ethic amongst this crowd. Our leaders want their votes.

The article states it, but for those not prone to reading, the lunacy starts at 3:38. There is also a warning regarding graphic language.

 

[matt0611]

Young Madison Socialist Reveals Popular ‘Noodles & Company‘ Restaurant Is Actually Harsh ’Dictatorship’

Read and then watch the video to get an inkling of what is facing us. This is the generation that will be calling the shots in a couple of decades. Those of us still walking this earth had better hope this generation wises up or failing that, that there is another country where we can seek sanctuary.

This is what happens when you don't teach children history as it really occurred. This is the entitlement generation. This is the generation that was raised to believe that 'everyone is a winner'. This is what passes for a work ethic amongst this crowd. Our leaders want their votes.

The article states it, but for those not prone to reading, the lunacy starts at 3:38. There is also a warning regarding graphic language.

My god, that kid lives in a dictatorship, his boss tells him what time to come to work! We need to start a revolution ASAP!

 

[werepossum]

I think if you're going to make a call for socialism, I advise against using a username and avatar based on a cartoon character well-known for utter laziness and stupidity.

On second thought, never mind. Please proceed.

Although a post based on the wisdom of Bill Maher is not materially different from one based on the wisdom of Homer Simpson - except Maher exhibits none of Simpson's better qualities.

 

[boomerang]

My god, that kid lives in a dictatorship, his boss tells him what time to come to work! We need to start a revolution ASAP!

Pretty fucking amazing isn't it? I hope that I've just sensationalized it and that his way of thinking is only representative of a minority.