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Agree with the first point. Disagree with the second. I not sure a Socialist model might not work in some places. Capitalism is not monolithic, and neither is Socialism.

@t1nick If one defines the socialist model according to the classical Marxist interpretation "the means of production should be owned by the government" - this approach misses the human component. This is the reason the socialist government always try social engineering to create the socialist men. Does'n seem working.

@zesty Yes the Marxist model is troubledome. But gorm of government ever operated based on its textbook definition. Socialism is not or need be monolithic. Democratic Socialism is a comprimise that has substantial merit.

@zesty. This sums up my definition I think my friend.

@t1nick Thank you for the definition. I see a huge problem here: "The system is driven by people working together and lifting each other up". How do you get these people? What happens to the rest of the society, people who don't work together and wish to push each other down? Reeducation camps? I think this system could work for me but it is illusorical. I don't want to sound cynical, but it is a very important question.

@zesty Your cynicism is understandable given th etimes we are going through. Its lilke the people who insist "trickle down economics works". They all depend on the better nature of individuals and collectives and histroy shows that this type of altruism and cooperation is in short supply in humans. We can accept the flawed system we have, complain and belly ache or try something different that might work for a loarger segment of our society. Giving 90% of the countries wealth to jus 1% isn't exactly a satisfactory system either.

@t1nick Yes, however history shows that the proposed system may end in a disaster, exactly as happened in all countries trying social engineering.

@zesty Perhaps, but if don't keep trying how we ever get it right. Capitalism is not a natural system either, it is its own form of social engineering.

@t1nick LOL, yes. But capitalism is based on what we are now. Selfish, individualistic and sometimes considerate people. For the system you are proposing to function people must basically change.

@zesty. agreed unfortunately

@t1nick These social experiments are very dangerous! When I was a biomedical researcher working with monkeys (I wrote the code) we paid more attention to the well being of animals than some politicos to the well being of an entire nation.

@zesty. That's not hard to believe.