you must be as confused as twiggs and the average american...
this constant nonsense about 'sliding into socialism' that one hears from america, as well as the naive view that the welfare state somehow only benefits lower classes is irritating and totally at odds with the facts...
the american fear of socialism derives from the cold war, when it was equated with soviet communism. in fact, most of the developed world (all of europe and scandinavia) is determinedly socialist to some extent and their societies are better off for it...
australias welfare state certainly benefits those displaced by rampant capitalist forces and the negative effects of globalization but what most people forget is that most of the middle-classes, and a lot of the business community, in australia are on welfare as well - it's just disguised by government as medicare, public education, tax rebates and subsidies, export incentves, bank guarantees and so on..
socialist ideas of equity and fairness underpin our present society and we are not really a capitalist nation at all... have a look at american society and then see what happens when one doesn't allow a little socialism into day to day life..
