What exactly is an appropriate response?

[jaguar]

Socialism now seems to consist of 14 year olds with cuban flags painted on running around chanting slogans waiting till they can get their morgages and MBAs..

I think people found they prefered having porches and aircon to equality.

Khmer Rouge? Wouldn't relaly call them socialist, after being there i'd just call them evil.

As for Russia, that wasen't Marxism, that was Lenism, Marx wanted a democracy of sorts, Lenin wanted a dictator. Yes i know this is a very old line.

[elSicomoro]

Originally posted by jaguar
Now THAT is interesting. Igorence is bliss comes in. You could argue that if people no nothing better then they will be happy, which is very orwellian. WIsh i had itme to continue this now but homework is calling.

I'm arguing nothing of the sort. I proposed a quandary of the human mind. If people see Western culture, they can decide whether they want more of it or if they just abhor it. As I said though, if you see others joining in, and it looks so great...not to mention if you're being told how bad it is by your leaders...gullibility can come into play.

[jaguar]

Sorry I didn't mean to say you were, its just a train of thought that came out of that statement, in that people *innately* want to be free. My lovely habit of going off on odd tangents rears its ugly head again.

You have a point, I know at least one Fundamentalist Christian sect a bit like the Amish who let their kids go explore the world for a year when they turn 18 then let them choose whether to return or not, which if you ask me is a pretty good system, depending on how brainwashed they already are and stuff I spose.

I saw the best cartoon today. It was this general standing in front of rows of shiney missles, tanks, planes lined up, warships along the dock. A soldier comes up to him and goes "wouldn't it just be cheaper to eradicate poverty?"