privatize or un-privatize/seize? I think you are saying you think a good percentage of the left would like us to go Chavez Venezuela. I wouldn't. That'd be awful. And wrong.
then explain why star trek captains have more money and far better accommodations than enlisted men if it's a "working for the greater good and material possessions don't matter" economy?
aig was owned primarily by the govt. Citibank was owned primarily by the govt. bank of America, wells fargo, and jp morgan were forced to sell significant stakes to the govt. GM would have survived just fine without intervention. Going bankrupt doesn't mean ceasing to exist. The GM "bailout" was a payoff the unions pure and simple. if that's not communism I don't know what is.
Your inability to understand that one could work for the greater good but still live in a stratified society based on merit is strange to me. All Earth citizens could remain on Earth and live a life where all their basic needs were met. If they wanted more freedom of travel, luxuries, etc, they could work-- and different positions afforded varying degrees of additional luxuries. This is what motivated some to go to new colonies, mine, etc. More opportunities out in the galaxy than in the well-developed home world economy. Similarly, joining star fleet was like joining the military- you get more perks as you advance, and you advance based on merit. Socialism has developed a connotation that doesn't have to be. I could throw myself under a car and then collect welfare if I wanted. I'd rather work and contribute to society. I realize not everyone is like that, but what the Roddenberry future is really imagining is not some amazing economic system, but rather an amazing growth of humanity where the vast majority of people are enlightened enough to want to contribute as much or more as they take to society. A future with virtually no shit heads. THAT is how it works. It doesn't matter to Redshirt Rick that he shares a room with a stinky Bolian while officers get sweet apartments, because he understands that he can work hard and earn a better situation, just like the officers did. Plus he gets the experience of rooming with an alien, learning new cultures, etc. And if he wasn't into that, he could have stayed on Earth and taken a job there, or taken a job anywhere in the galaxy. Money isn't the goal, because his needs will be met to a level of comfort. And he isn't a shit head who would do nothing because of that! It wouldn't work today, but it would in a future without freeloaders. That is the dream. I've said that before regarding work in this country: working any job should be glorified. No one should be mocked for getting up at 5 to work at Burger King, or cleaning officers, or whatever. They should be respected for being willing to contribute even in a humble fashion to the economy. Collecting unemployment for a year and a half waiting for a good enough job to show up should be taboo. Sitting at home with a minor disability collecting checks should be more embarrassing than taking a job at a call center or volunteering to man a desk at a shelter or charity.
Does the government still hold stock in any of those companies? Does the government deal in the day-to-day operations of GM, AIG, etc? I honestly don't know, but I thought they had recouped most of their money and even made some profit off of all the loans.
there will always be freeloaders. in particular in a society where all peoples needs are met without having to do anything. you think we have a generational welfare problem now. imagine if that level of support raised to the point where people can live wherever they want, have whatever possessions they want, and eat whatever they want.
by the pure textbook definition true, but the pure textbook definition of communism has never existed in reality.
I'm not advocating for any "re-education camps" or cleansing. I am just saying THAT is how the Roddenberry economy works: everyone wants to pull their weight, and money/wealth isn't the primary motivator of a human. In Roddenberry's world, this came about naturally and spontaneously in a post-scarcity economy following technological and diplomatic advancements on Earth. Imagine if all the extremists and warmongers faded away, and we had 50 years without a war. And we had enough food, and population was stable. It would be so alien to our current civilization, the effect it might have on people could be surprising.
Is it possible to be a freeloader when you have a fusion reactor in your back yard and a replicator in your house? Who are you freeloading off of?
I can't say for certain that you are wrong, but I do feel like you are dismissing the fantasy too quickly to fully appreciate the possibilities if it were so. Imagine people had all of that freedom, and still made good decisions. Wow! The accomplishments that could be achieved.
