Comments on: lord of the flies

By: Bobby Revell

Bobby Revell — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:17:07 +0000

America is already a socialist nation. I live the poorest state in America - go through any poor neighborhood in my state and you’ll see people wearing designer clothes, smoking cigarettes, drinking Crown Royal and driving sports cars - all while living on state welfare and paying $75.00 per month rent - leeching from the federal trough.

Socialism is close to communism and will never work in America.

By: Leila

Leila — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:48:18 +0000

I am not surprised that Americans know nothing about Canada, and when you do talk about us it’s usually with disdain (I’m refering mostly to the mainstream media). Cause we are one of the last, great socialists countries. Our current PM is doing his best to dismantle it, piece by historic piece, but we are holding on. Free medicare, affordable education, regulated banking, government-owned or funded industries. We used to think that our motto (law, order and good government) was boring. But now we know just how lucky we are. It’s helped us forge a more compassionate, caring and level-headed country. And okay, a little boring. But, to paraphrase the Chinese curse: may you live in an interesting country.

By: christine

christine — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:18:46 +0000

I think voting for a candidate who most reflects your ideas is the way to go. Vote for Barak. There’s still time to register to vote.

By: meleah rebeccah

meleah rebeccah — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:38:36 +0000

“however this morning,, as i sit here and i think about all the shit that is going on right this moment, the war.. the bailout.. the plunging of the dow.. the failing economy.. the mortgage fiasco,, just to name a few of the events currently garnering front page positions in the news… i can not help but wonder if perhaps a revolution is the only way we will ever regain any form of control over our own way of life…”

I dont know WHAT the answer is…but somethings gotta give already.

By: barbara (b)

barbara (b) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:14:54 +0000

Revolution comes in all forms. War is no necessary. It is changing things in marked ways. The 70’s is a prime example of what can happen with people revolt again war and the type of people that wage it. Youth turned on the older generation that had served in WWII and in Korea. 2008 may be the time when American’s revolt against greed. Just a thought.

By: Epiphany

Epiphany — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:08:02 +0000

Well, I’m going to fail miserably in any attempt to sound truly knowledgeable here. I will say that I do believe that one person, one voice can make a difference. However, I’m sorry to say that I don’t have enough faith in the current population - anywhere - to support any kind of revolution or upheaval led by the “people”. Too much of a mixed bag there. I do whatever I can to help with situations I am made aware of, whether it be in my day to day life or through broader forms of communication. …and I try to live my life in general from a place of true caring and concern for the highest good of everyone. Whatever that may mean in a given situation. Thanks for bringing all of this up for discussion. Awareness, and truly conscious contemplation, is the first step toward any postive change in direction.

By: AnthonyNorth

AnthonyNorth — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:34:09 +0000

A few words about socialism. Following World War Two the UK carried out a huge socialist readjustment. All the major industries were nationalised, hundreds of thousands of homes were built for cheap rent owned by local authorities, the health and education system became standardised for all, and a compulsory national insurance scheme came in to guarantee benefit payments for those out of work or ill, a state pension, and all health care free at the point of use.
The state industries proved a disaster, with unions becoming far too powerful, ending up in the 1970s with powercuts, a three day week and massive strikes. The companies were floated on the stock exchange during Thatcherism and unions curbed. As we see today, the opposite is proving just as disastrous. There must be some sanity in the middle.
Much of the social housing policy led to many sink estates, full of violence and crime. But this was a management problem, with many estates being quite good. They have since been sold off to those who wanted to buy their home, the remainder passed to housing associations.
The remaining socialist changes are still here. The benefit system for out of work and ill may often be abused, but it is an excellent and fair safety net. No one needs to go hungry in the UK. And the automatic pension in old age saves millions from the horrors of private pension plans.
The school system has problems, but this is due to constant government interference. The health service also has problems, but I wouldn’t do without it. Whether you are a beggar or a billionaire, you get the same ambulance and are taken to the same casualty department, where you get the same excellent treatment. If you are ill, your visits to the doctor are free at the point of use, as is any medical treatment you require. If you go on medication, if you can afford it you pay a little towards it, but those who can’t get a lifetime’s medication for absolutely nothing. If you are on low wages, you don’t even have to pay a national insurance contribution to help pay for it.
This is one area of socialist ideology that is marvellous. The rest, I’m afraid, is very worrying.

By: scot

scot — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:25:45 +0000

“Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright”
(from Revolution–Beatles)

By: Sweet Repose

Sweet Repose — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:54:14 +0000

Were there ever any ‘good ol’ days’…when man was not envious of his brother, willing to lie, steal and cheat for the love of stuff and not pure survival. It will never be a Utopian society as long as brothers are so unwilling to pass a smile or a word of hope and a helping hand to one and other. We have greater fears here…a world being buried in it’s own shit…a toxic playground of corporate trash dumped on a Utopian world of beings forming a natural selection. We are a parasite worthy of annihilation…maybe this is the natural selection in process.

sharon

By: Joyce Ellen Davis

Joyce Ellen Davis — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:28:25 +0000

Aside from that, what if they gave every taxpayer in the US a million dollars to pay off his mortgage, to spend rebuilding his flooded or blown away house, to buy a flat screen TV, instead of paying it to the crooks who want it? It would cost the government much less than the 700 billion and solve the homeowners problems, the bank’s loan problems–? And boost the nation’s economy.