6 ms·

Umm socialism works pretty great in most of Europe where it's a much nicer place to live than the US. All the talk of immorality and corruption is justified wh

Umm socialism works pretty great in most of Europe where it's a much nicer place to live than the US. All the talk of immorality and corruption is justified when aimed at Soviet style communism. But that's not the only way. When a balance is sought however it works really great. Much better than the unlimited capitalism as in the US. My boss recently asked me if I wouldn't move to the US lol. I wouldn't think about it. What I care about in life is not having the ability to make unlimited amounts of money but having safety, both on the street and in terms of a social and healthcare safety net. We have all this. We can also call in sick when we're actually sick (no limit to 'sick days'). Can't be fired at will, we get a month of holidays per years plus extras, and our cities are a nicer place to live in with fewer cars and better transport. This kind of left wing doesn't even exist in the US (even Bernie is more right wing than us). So I can imagine Americans thinking that the only socialism is the way the USSR did things. I don't really understand how people think the system works so great when so many Americans struggle to pay rent, healthcare bills, student loans etc. I don't pay out of pocket for healthcare at all here. I just gave a government card that allows me treatment when I need it.

jalapenos 1y ago
Out of interest, what do you believe your future looks like? Also do you own anything?
- wkat4242 1y ago
  My future? More like this. And green and healthy. The city has become much greener over the last years. Socialist places tend to value the environment more. And yes of course I own things. I don't own a car because I don't want one, I hate driving. And I don't have to because public transport is so great and cheap (22€ per month for an unlimited pass). That won't even buy half a tank of fuel. I don't own a flat but I could, I'm looking for the right one. I'm just fussy. And I own all my stuff, I hate renting or leasing stuff. In fact the dogma "You will own nothing and you will be happy" comes from the WEF which is basically all the big capitalist billionaires thrown in one room. It's funny how Americans think socialism is such a hellscape. And then come to Spain and love it. Spain is very socialist even by European standards. Like I said: socialism, at least as we know it here isn't really communism. It's much more of a balance.
  - jalapenos 1y ago
    They come to Spain and love it because they bring their own money, they spend that in Spain, and Spain supplies the chill culture and weather and costs of living (much like Thailand). I appreciate your sentiment and I don't think it comes from a bad place. I also hate driving, it's an unpleasant experience in total. But I also think you're young. Please, just for yourself and those around you, keep a keen and dispassionately analytical eye to the surroundings of all these things and the future.
    - wkat4242 1y ago
      But what's so bad about the future? I don't really understand. Spain has been very socialist ever since the fall of fascism in the 70s. Now that was bad. Things have only improved a lot since. We in Spain live totally fine too :) I have more than enough money to buy what I need. We always go for lunch in a restaurant when I'm at the office, it's not like we don't have two pennies to rub together. All the restaurants have cheap lunch menus. Everyone goes for lunch there in Spain, so much so that we don't even have a real canteen in the office. And no I'm absolutely not young lol, I'm 50+. I've also lived in many countries (4 in total) including ones with much higher wages. And much more capitalist ones like Australia. But Spain is by far my favourite. I think the country is doing great and the system works really well. I would definitely not want to live in the US. Even if I could make 3 or 4 times as much money there. Which, realistically, is probably how much more I'd make in silicon valley (including stock bonus, which tbh I don't want, I prefer real money) In fact, a FAANG offered me a job there just before the pandemic. But looking into the cost of living around their fancy office I'd still have had to live tens of miles away from the office in some dopey town (San Francisco wasn't possible either financially) and they wanted in-office presence every day. Here I just take a 15 minute subway ride. I'm supposed to be at the office regularly but I don't actually bother to go there often (another thing about Spain, rules generally aren't enforced very much). Anyway, I declined due to quality of life. I love living in a big city that is also quite compact. And have no worries. I'm not very ambitious, I just want to enjoy my life and work is but a means to that. Money really isn't everything. Especially as you get older, having good and free (well, tax-paid) healthcare is a huge plus. Same with all the other benefits like job security, state pensions. In the US I'd have to cover all that myself, be dependent on my employer for healthcare plans and have a lot less rights as an employee. Another thing that's important because an employer can easily consider you 'too old' and it's very hard to find something else at my age. One of my friends has been on a (genuine and pretty bad) long-term sick leave of over a year and has had no worries due to the illness benefit. This kind of worry-free life matters a lot. It's bad enough when you get a serious illness, having to worry about being able to live is not something you'd wish on top of that. I don't mind a large portion of my taxes going to such things, because it means it's there for me too if I ever need it. The one exception is the housing market which is a bit crazy here (but nowhere as crazy as in the US). But the problem is not the socialism, it's that it's too much of a free market. They are bringing in more restrictions like a rent price limitation and longer mandatory contract terms. And banning AirBnBs all over the city so we don't have to compete with tourists paying 100-200 euro a night anymore. They never should have allowed those in the first place, but anyway... But the idea that the American model is the only one that could work is just not true. If your goal is to get lucky and become a millionaire/billionaire and be one of that sweet 0.001%, then yeah, sure. For the rest of us it works way better like this. Also, America is tearing itself apart right now. Here things are mellow, as LGBTIQ+ we are respected and welcomed, rather than be considered a 'political ideology'.

jalapenos 1y ago

Out of interest, what do you believe your future looks like? Also do you own anything?

wkat4242 1y ago
My future? More like this. And green and healthy. The city has become much greener over the last years. Socialist places tend to value the environment more. And yes of course I own things. I don't own a car because I don't want one, I hate driving. And I don't have to because public transport is so great and cheap (22€ per month for an unlimited pass). That won't even buy half a tank of fuel. I don't own a flat but I could, I'm looking for the right one. I'm just fussy. And I own all my stuff, I hate renting or leasing stuff. In fact the dogma "You will own nothing and you will be happy" comes from the WEF which is basically all the big capitalist billionaires thrown in one room. It's funny how Americans think socialism is such a hellscape. And then come to Spain and love it. Spain is very socialist even by European standards. Like I said: socialism, at least as we know it here isn't really communism. It's much more of a balance.
- jalapenos 1y ago
  They come to Spain and love it because they bring their own money, they spend that in Spain, and Spain supplies the chill culture and weather and costs of living (much like Thailand). I appreciate your sentiment and I don't think it comes from a bad place. I also hate driving, it's an unpleasant experience in total. But I also think you're young. Please, just for yourself and those around you, keep a keen and dispassionately analytical eye to the surroundings of all these things and the future.
  - wkat4242 1y ago
    But what's so bad about the future? I don't really understand. Spain has been very socialist ever since the fall of fascism in the 70s. Now that was bad. Things have only improved a lot since. We in Spain live totally fine too :) I have more than enough money to buy what I need. We always go for lunch in a restaurant when I'm at the office, it's not like we don't have two pennies to rub together. All the restaurants have cheap lunch menus. Everyone goes for lunch there in Spain, so much so that we don't even have a real canteen in the office. And no I'm absolutely not young lol, I'm 50+. I've also lived in many countries (4 in total) including ones with much higher wages. And much more capitalist ones like Australia. But Spain is by far my favourite. I think the country is doing great and the system works really well. I would definitely not want to live in the US. Even if I could make 3 or 4 times as much money there. Which, realistically, is probably how much more I'd make in silicon valley (including stock bonus, which tbh I don't want, I prefer real money) In fact, a FAANG offered me a job there just before the pandemic. But looking into the cost of living around their fancy office I'd still have had to live tens of miles away from the office in some dopey town (San Francisco wasn't possible either financially) and they wanted in-office presence every day. Here I just take a 15 minute subway ride. I'm supposed to be at the office regularly but I don't actually bother to go there often (another thing about Spain, rules generally aren't enforced very much). Anyway, I declined due to quality of life. I love living in a big city that is also quite compact. And have no worries. I'm not very ambitious, I just want to enjoy my life and work is but a means to that. Money really isn't everything. Especially as you get older, having good and free (well, tax-paid) healthcare is a huge plus. Same with all the other benefits like job security, state pensions. In the US I'd have to cover all that myself, be dependent on my employer for healthcare plans and have a lot less rights as an employee. Another thing that's important because an employer can easily consider you 'too old' and it's very hard to find something else at my age. One of my friends has been on a (genuine and pretty bad) long-term sick leave of over a year and has had no worries due to the illness benefit. This kind of worry-free life matters a lot. It's bad enough when you get a serious illness, having to worry about being able to live is not something you'd wish on top of that. I don't mind a large portion of my taxes going to such things, because it means it's there for me too if I ever need it. The one exception is the housing market which is a bit crazy here (but nowhere as crazy as in the US). But the problem is not the socialism, it's that it's too much of a free market. They are bringing in more restrictions like a rent price limitation and longer mandatory contract terms. And banning AirBnBs all over the city so we don't have to compete with tourists paying 100-200 euro a night anymore. They never should have allowed those in the first place, but anyway... But the idea that the American model is the only one that could work is just not true. If your goal is to get lucky and become a millionaire/billionaire and be one of that sweet 0.001%, then yeah, sure. For the rest of us it works way better like this. Also, America is tearing itself apart right now. Here things are mellow, as LGBTIQ+ we are respected and welcomed, rather than be considered a 'political ideology'.