Tornado Alley (PROG)

[F6]

dickmilde -- re your first question -- it isn't a question of my definition of socialism -- the first two offerings at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/socialism are workable enough:

"a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole."

"an economic theory or system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned by the community collectively, usually through the state. It is characterized by production for use rather than profit, by equality of individual wealth, by the absence of competitive economic activity, and, usually, by government determination of investment, prices, and production levels."

a more complete discussion in the full Encyclopædia Britannica article at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/551569/socialism -- and further to the content (linked) in http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=55887185 , from that article note in particular:

"Fascist oppression, in fact, was a major problem for communists and socialists alike, not only in Italy but subsequently in Spain under Francisco Franco and in Germany under Adolf Hitler. Socialist parties had drawn enough votes in Germany, Britain, and France to participate in or even to lead coalition governments in the 1920s and ’30s, and in Sweden the Swedish Social Democratic Workers’ Party won control of the government in 1932 with a promise to make their country into a “people’s home” based on “equality, concern, cooperation, and helpfulness.” Wherever fascists took power, however, communists and socialists were among the first to be suppressed."

mere regulation and taxation of privately owned and operated businesses and of (activities in) the markets in which they operate are not socialism -- neither, absent much broader government/collective ownership/control (as in direct operating control) throughout the major/strategic industries/sectors of the economy, are government policies/programs instituted to provide needed benefits and services not provided, effectively or at all, by privately owned and operated businesses through the markets

and re your second question -- it appears you're correct that that one time I jumped on was your first; my mistake, my memory traces re who's posted what on the board are usually pretty good, but failed me that time; sorry about that -- at least now you acknowledge that you did do it that time -- . . .