Replies to post #550897 on Tornado Alley (PROG)

[brooklyn13]

The bullshit in your post is strong.

Currently the American government subsidizes various industries such as agriculture, energy, defense, infrastructure, and some manufacturing, all with your tax dollars. We are, in fact, a Democratic (actually Republic) Socialist country, like it or not

And when Trump takes a direct government stake in companies like Intel, MP Materials, Lithium Americas, Trilogy Metals, US Steel, that's nascent Communism.

Marx and Lenin believed what you do, that Socialism is a transitional stage leading to Communism, but, in the real world, from Gemini:
"Most contemporary socialists seek a balance of market capitalism and strong social welfare systems, without the intention of moving toward the abolition of all private property, a one-party state, or a classless, stateless society." (Communism)

So, you're a Marxist, deal with it.

[blackhawks]

The short answers as to why socialism will not lead to communism here range from not necessarily to not bloody likely. However we have the necessary predicate to continue with a mixed economy and democratic political system.

The Trump example of authoritarian ass-hattery, loyalty appointments and hiring's, a weakening economy, a gov shutdown moving toward catastrophic economic, healthcare and nutritional consequences and the very likely continued electoral repudiation of all of that shit will lead to a recovery of the country from this RW authoritarian bender.

And just because you don't know about any of this doesn't mean that the Dem Party is equally ignorant.

Historical and Political Context: Western European countries never fully adopted communist rule, opting for social democratic or democratic socialist models instead, featuring mixed economies and democratic political systems. The negative legacy of authoritarian communism in Eastern Europe and the Cold War ideological divide contributed to this outcome.

Current European countries are not communist mainly due to the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union between 1989 and 1991. Several factors explain this:

1. Historical Collapse: The communist governments that ruled Eastern Europe (satellites of the Soviet Union) were swept away by revolutions and popular demand for political democracy and economic liberty. Many countries transitioned to multiparty democratic systems and capitalist economies after years of authoritarian control under Marxist-Leninist regimes. This collapse was influenced by reform attempts in the USSR under Gorbachev, widespread protests, and the failure of communist states to address economic problems and political repression effectively.[1][2]

2. Shift Towards Democracy and Market Economies: After the fall of these regimes, former communist countries established democratic governments, with free elections and market economies, joining the European Union and aligning with Western Europe's democratic capitalism. Public opinion in these countries has generally favored democratic political systems and market-oriented economies over communist governance, despite some ongoing dissatisfaction with economic inequality and political issues.[3][4]

3. Historical and Political Context: Western European countries never fully adopted communist rule, opting for social democratic or democratic socialist models instead, featuring mixed economies and democratic political systems. The negative legacy of authoritarian communism in Eastern Europe and the Cold War ideological divide contributed to this outcome.[5][6]

Thus, current European countries rejected or moved away from the Marxist-Leninist model of socialism as a transition to communism due to the historical collapse of authoritarian communist regimes, societal demand for democracy and economic freedom, and integration into a broader European democratic framework.[4][2][1]

In short, the reason Europe today is not communist is because the Marxist-Leninist socialist transitional phase did not lead to its intended communist goal but ended with the collapse of these regimes and a democratic capitalist transformation.[2][1]

Perplexity.ai

[fuagf]

dbergh, Update: Ranking sites aside, i'd say your USA, at least under Trump, could fairly be classed as the capitalist country with the least empathy for minorities.

Like i said your psychological fix, umm, guessing because we are not into subsidization as much as you are Australia is listed, in this one .. https://www.globalcitizensolutions.com/most-capitalist-countries/#top-10-most-capitalist-countries .. as being more capitalist than your USA.

I'd tend to disagree because we have a much better health system in which a majority of Australians can see a GP for free ..
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-31/bulk-billing-changes-medicare-gp-incentives/105953126 . That's for one.

We also don't subsidise our farmers nearly as much as you do ..
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/trade/analysis-of-government-support-agricultural-producers

though i guess that's one reason why we could be ranked as more capitalist.

Whatever, it seems our two countries are relatively close on any capitalism - socialism scale.

We do have a more comprehensive safety net.

Bottom line, as i said and as brooklyn13 rightly agreed with, you do have a detrimental wrongheaded psychological fix against socialism.

PS: Hmm, here your country is down to #16 ..

The Most Capitalist Countries in 2025 – Economic Freedom Rankings
https://www.savoryandpartners.com/blog/top-capitalist-countries-world .