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Every day it makes less sense for the 326 million US citizens to remain under a single government. 40% want European-style social democracy, and a different 4
by panarky 8y ago
Every day it makes less sense for the 326 million US citizens to remain under a single government.
40% want European-style social democracy, and a different 40% want radical individualism and severely limited collective action a la the Wild West.
These can't coexist.
- whyonearth 8y agoLet's not be so dramatic, nowhere near 40% of Americans want either of those things. I'd guess 70% want the status quo with a nudge to the left or right, 20% don't give a shit, and 10% represent the extremes (on the US political spectrum) that you mentioned.
- benjohnson 8y agoPerhaps the two could co-exist by making the social programs voluntary. Those that commit to it can, and those that want no part of it can stay out.
- panarky 8y agoMost social programs are like insurance. You pay in when you don't need it, and it's there for you when you do need it. When my kids were young and I was poor, other people paid for their schooling. Now the kids are out of school, but I'm paying for public schools for other kids. If you make social programs voluntary, then people join when they need it and quit when they don't. That's why you can't buy fire insurance for your house only when it's burning. You have to buy the insurance when it's not on fire, or the entire program doesn't work.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]