"But what exactly is democratic socialism other than an oxymoron."
hmmmm -- technically I suppose that's correct - but, pragmatically - why not
why not have 2 terms (or terms that mean as much) --
'social democracy'
'capitalist democracy'
if we renamed them - it would be more accurately called
'care for all equalisation democracy'
'get what you can and stuff everyone else democracy'
probably fairly accurately shows the different sides of the fence
to me - where the system presently fails is (and, Australia is a great example - because of Ozzie culture) - that there are major pillars in society that just don't work towards a social democracy -
eg. the belief though politics and economics about social welfare - treating it as a 'cost' and not treating it as an 'investment'
which points the economic vehicle in a particular direction - it's already pointed somewhere, so - whenever you give it a push - it has to go in that direction - which might actually be the wrong way for a better outcome
Australia has cultural beliefs that are a very very good example of that -
eg. - if you give people money - they will see no point in going to work
ok - millions of Aussies believe that - and, here on HC - you can see that belief every day
but, - in many other nations ------ that's just not true
also - the beliefs in what is valued as 'work'
again - Australia is a truly excellent example - right from bottom to top -
Australians value the job that a plumber or carpenter or factory wiget maker does - but, they don't value an artist - or a philosopher
it's as clear as crystal even in government - you saw it with the latest cost changes of Uni courses.
BUT - the rest of the world doesn't think like that
which is right and which is wrong?
Well, if we throw out being right or wrong and began to think ----- which is 'better' - we would come a long long way down the track and we would perhaps get a much better world
I have always thought that there is a way to make a society a nice place for almost all - ie. the workers, - both blue and white collar, the aged, the retired, disabled, etc etc - and, for those who do things in life that aren't seen as what we believe as 'work' - but, more like lifestyle or hobby --
it's the definition of work that's skewed and it's the definition of value that's skewed - particularly in Australia
from what I see of Australia - it's got the problems of being too young as a modern society - like a teenager -- and, unfortunately one with an attitude - probably brought about because we began from convicts - who probably didn't have the greatest appreciation of the arts etc.
a teenager who is only interested in fixing their car or rocketing around on a skateboard and couldn't care less about the sculpture they drive around on the roundabout or going to the museum to see the art - they consider that of no value - and, income wise - yes, if they could get money for nothing - they would take it and do nothing but, fix the car and drive - and, if forced to work - then, they would do anything just to get enough money - and, because there's a lack of choice in advanced sophisticated society - they dig holes as a drainers lackey
and, it just keeps perpetuating
totally different in other societies ---------- chalk and cheese
if we are to progress at all - we need to reframe and redefine the foundations - what is work, what we value and why, how we pay for it and relook at the whole mechanism of how we get to pay for it - are there better ways
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