So I know politics are usually a bad topic but after a nice conversation with some friends here in the USA, one person (who is a libertarian in US terms) made the statement that the socialism is on the decline becasue everyone in a Socialist country is now voting Conservative cause they are sick of how socialism is failing for them. I had to leave shortly after this topic and did not get any details to post.

I wanted to run the idea by my European friends here and altho I know some metal fans have conservative tendencies (funny how things have changed), I figured a wide berth of opinions would come out of the discussion.

My main question for the peeps across the pond is this:

Do you feel that countries with national services like universal health care are "failing" or voting more conservatively this generation as opposed to 1-3 generations ago?

If so, why?

Any input from real people as opposed to pre-packaged news feeds is what I am looking for.

Thanks!

first off, I really dont understand why americans insist on calling us socialists, we are not(Sweden in my case) and never have been governed by a socialist government. Yes we have universal health care and free education, but theres alot more to socialism than that.

Secondly, yes we have been traditionally ruled by a leftwing party(still not socialists) but we are currently not. At the moment we are governed by a coalition of the right wing parties. It is true that the socialdemocrats (our largest party) has been losing a lot of ground lately.

However, this turnover in governing parties I dont think can be attributed to 'a lack of trust in socialism', a statement wrong on many levels. This new coalition isnt going to touch free health care nor free education, which are, again, our most leftish features.

By and large our conservative parties would still be considered atleast somewhat socialistic by american standards. Thus the entire argument is faulty as we would still, technically, be under socialistic rule.

American media really needs to stop running their mouths about who's a socialist, conservative or liberal. You really place too much emphasis on those labels.

Socialism sucks. I could elaborate, but I'm too lazy right now.

At this moment Brazil and Chile are who's keeping South America from turning into a socialist faggotric party.

Mental Health care sucks here, apparently if I dont take some form of medication I will be removed from the clinic (as of yesterday) plus the guy I've been seeing is due to retire so really couldnt give a fuck, I mean I was talking all kinds of crazy nonsense that I made up just to see if he was paying attention and he wasnt so thats when he admitted, Hey I'm retiring in a few months. fUCK A doodle doo, way to waste my year .

On a side not from my clothing obsessed brain, he loves to wear all one one color, last time
gray shoes, socks, shirt, tie and pants.

Christ that got me hot!

which part annoys you more?

Your sig is awesome, where is it from?

Fuck yeah, NHS.

Dillinger being the first person i've ever heard outside of a trash newspaper critiscising it. It's a national institution, it's definately sticking around for another 50 years or so.

Privatising the railways means they no longer hemorrhage cash, but according to tha numbers and personal experience they are just as/more late/slow/unreliable and a lot more prone to screwing over more remote people.

But Britain is far from socialist. The left wing 'labour' government is basically Conservative-lite, and i think the swing to other partys is a lot more due to manipulative press, easily led voters and anger over the recession/middle east wars than inefficiency on the part of the current government.


There was a really good guardian article that sucked the NHS's dick in response to right-wing american bullshit, but i can't find it. Please enjoy this left-wing american bullshit NHS dick sucking:

låt den rätte komma in

The Republican bashing of "socialist! government hospitals is the most retarded thing ever. Didnt Sarah Palin say her down syndrome child would die in the hands of a NHS death squad or something? And wasnt there another newspaper that said if Stephen Hawking would die if he we english.... Facepalm.

I am from Ireland and we have government healthcare which cares for everyone. Rich or poor. Many people have health insurance which you can use to engage private services if you want.
We pay for some services, which are mostly flat rates.
We also have "The Medical Card" - which entitles holders to free hospital care, GP visits, dental services, optical services, aural services, prescription drugs and medical appliances- is available to those receiving welfare payments, low earners, those with certain long-term or severe illnesses
Now our system is not without faults, there isnt a system in the world that doesnt have cracks, but its a system that tries to make sure everyone gets help if the need, not what they can afford. If you can pay for private services your are free to do so.


The healthcare system in the US is horrendous. I cant fathom how the richest country in the world can leave millions of its citizens with no access to healthcare. Its shameful. If you can afford private health care more power to you but if you cant you should still get help.

That they are throwiing me to the cold.
I need some Psychology or philosophy type books, who can help, Jung maybe?
I feel like theres a war inside me, enemies and I have to do what I dont really want to do , in order to beat them.
Go against my own grain/way to make this post about me/thanks/flame me/My sig rocks and so does Swedish cinema.

Also - The conservative government left a bad vibe with me growing up (and I know all governments do shitty war type things but this is something I felt ) INTERNMENT aka the right to imprison anyone Irish indefinitely without trial just suspicion.

There has been no sign of any British Government having any socialist leanings for a very long time. Any glimmer of hope within in the Labour party died when we went to war. There was never much of a glimmer with the Conservatives but then enough time has passed for people to forget. Politics is all about marketing strategy with little room for policy these days anyway.

The very idea that nationalised healthcare and education are part of a socialist agenda to fuck over the rich is laughable at best. Yes the NHS is far from perfect, and yes there are many area's that need great improvement such as mental health, but fuck me its a hell of a lot better than being left out in the cold because you bought the wrong insurance.

Also an interesting article on why British Socialism isn't riding as high as maybe it should be.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/au...alism-recession

needs more AK47's

My apologies for generalizing "socialism".

I wanted to get my thoughts down after the conversation I had

Here in the states the word is used very liberally (pun intended?) and I often try to explain what is and what is not socialism and now I am guilty of the same label-centric mindset!

Damn you sound-byte culture, DAMN YOU!!

More to come when I have time to post, gotta get some work done. Thanks for all the repsonses so far, keep 'em coming.

Socialism is the new Communism.

It's a fear tactic used here in America to maintain the status quo.



Random question: Is MastoFred still around? I've been gone for some time so I don't know what's happened on the board.

Visit his profile.