Your political views

[spartak]

Originally posted by red_jon


Ah. I just had a really funny mental image of you calling him a b**ch

[Giancarlo]

A funny mental image, redfern? I don't even want to know the details.

[Giancarlo]

Spartak, enough of this. Let people discuss and don't ruin anymore threads.

[spartak]

Originally posted by Fez
Spartak, enough of this. Let people discuss and don't ruin anymore threads

Since you asked so nicely...

Originally posted by Fez
And there is a problem with that? I don't see you *****ing at the communists at this forum for their beliefs.

Oh Fez - there aren't any more communists left. Command economies simply don't work when you are faced with a ruinous arms race against the largest economy in the world. By 1980 the USSR was spending a quarter of its GDP on defence. Now would the USSR have gone to the dogs so quickly and decisively if that expenditure had been spent on peaceful improvements to the economy? Up to the late 60's the economy of the USSR had shown itself to be remarkably resilient compared to western Economies and the USSR pretty much survived the great depression of the 30's unscathed.

So why have you got such an anti attitude to those that would prefer a more command lead economy? The Free Market isn't the only system to run you know....

You don't have a monopoly on being right and just because others diagree with you doesn't make them wrong and nor does it mean that you need to respond to them in such violent means.. The term communist in your sentaces has a very pejoritative tone that I don't think you have any right to use.

There. Is that more on topic for you?

[Az]

Spartak, Spartak

[Giancarlo]

The free market has proved to be the only system that works. And I got to say this: Nearly 20 million people died during Stalin's regime, so the USSR did suffer.

[Az]

So ? Stalin sucks. people didn't die from hunger AFTER stalin.

[Bereta_Eder]

Medium Left - Socialdemocratic.

[Giancarlo]

Originally posted by Azazel
So ? Stalin sucks. people didn't die from hunger AFTER stalin.

Food shortages were rampant after Stalin died. And were rampant even when the Soviet Union died. Finally, the Putin adminstration is doing work to help improve agricultural efficicency. Because the efficiency of the Soviet agricultural system sucked.

[Verto]

Economic Left/Right: 1.88
Authoritarian/Libertarian: 2.00

[Kramerman]

Well, I voted I was middle. And i took that little test, and was surprised. Though I am quite sure I am for alot of capitalism with a little bit of socialism, the test gave me a rank of -1.38, meaning I am more socialistic then capitalistic. And I found myself, though seemingly libertarian on some topics but then authoritarian on others, and yet middle on others, to average out to be about middle overall. But according to the test I am quite abit more libertarian, with a score of -2.77. But Ill stick with my vote that I am middle, despite the test result, thought the test was close to what I thought of myself.

Kman

[Dinner]

Were I come from Communist is a dirty word and socialist is little better.

[spartak]

Originally posted by Fez
The free market has proved to be the only system that works. And I got to say this: Nearly 20 million people died during Stalin's regime, so the USSR did suffer.

Originally posted by Fez
Food shortages were rampant after Stalin died. And were rampant even when the Soviet Union died. Finally, the Putin adminstration is doing work to help improve agricultural efficicency. Because the efficiency of the Soviet agricultural system sucked.

Oh Fez, Fez, what illiterate idiot did you pick these particular gems of wisdom from?

As usual you miss the point and hide behind grand sweeping statements... no-one disagrees that command economies are inefficient and fail to provide the same degree of wealth creation as a free market system. What you miss is that they also provide a degree of security and protection for the workers that can be preferable to the do or starve elements of the free market. Unchecked greed is both discusting and ruins just as many lives as the eveils you rail against.

You did read my earlier post where I pointed out that a quarter of the USSR's GNP was dpent on defence by the dying days of the Soviet Union? Maybe the lack of investment in agriculture contributed to to the situation in those days. Also if I am not mistaken the years after Stalin's dealth were not actually years of shortage thanks to tehr reforms of agriculture made by Krushchev. If you actually checked your facts properly before spouting off you would know that the great famine in the Ukraine that caused most of Stalin's victims actually happened in the 1920's and early '30s when the soviet economy was rebuilding after the revolution and civil war and as a consequence of collectivisation.

Now I'm not defending that but would you defend the Enron and Worldcom scandals which represent some of the worst excesses of the Free Market or would you defend the exploitation and theft of oil from the Ogoni people of Nigeria? Or perhaps you would defend the environmental catastrophes that GM crops potential represent? Do you like the idea that GM companies deliberately design the seeds to be infertile so a poor farmer pressured into accepting the crops can't keep the seeds after he harvests to replant as normal but has to stump up more cash to the companies? I hope not but that doersn't mean that we just denounce the Free Market as monstrous and castiagate anyone who supports it do we? No it means that we recognise that extremes are bad and work for a middle course of whatever system we have.

Now I am afraid that you Fez are a very extreme and agressive individual and I hope that one day you will learn to take a more measured and reasonable approach. You debating skills leave much to be desired and if I can only give your last two posts -10/10. More reasoned arguments are needed and less hot headed denounciations.. OK?

[spartak]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Were I come from Communist is a dirty word and socialist is little better.

And what parts are those partner? In parts of Northern Ireland being a catholic means that you are spat upon and threatened by the Protestants. Just because its where they are from. Do you defend that? And is your denounciation of communists any less bigoted or wrong?

[Bosh]

the great famine in the Ukraine that caused most of Stalin's victims actually happened in the 1920's and early '30s

Also at this time Ukraine was exporting food to the rest of russia and people trying to bring food to feed ukrainians were arrested. It wasn't because of stupidity or bad management that the famine existed it was a political effort to crush Ukraine. Now if you want an example of gross stupidity resulting in a famine, try the Great Leap Forward...