Socialism fails in 100% of the countries it is implmented. China’s economy is starting to collapse despite the Commies best efforts to hide it. Venezuela is another prime example. The Soviet Union is also a good example. The Scandinavian Countries, Canada, NZ, Benelux, and others will last longer since their economies are more diverse and are smaller but their economies too will collapse eventually.

Socialism is perfect and will succeed in every country it is embraced moving forward

I see why you failed as an educator now.

Did i hear intoxicated educator?^^

Brainbomb is beyond drunk at this point

I mean, I'm not a socialism bull by any means, but it has it's merits. And I'm pretty knowledgeable on the Chinese economy, and I'd stop well short of saying it's failing. And even if it was failing, it's not for reasons capitalism would fix

Jesus absolutely was a socialist

Maybe leon should just find a school that teaches what he likes...

Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's

I mean, not to take that out of context, but that was just whether it was moral to pay taxes in general.

@leon what are you majoring in?

I bet ya read alot a gordon wood huh

Canada isn't even close to socialist is it?

Nah. It sits around 60th in the world for income equality.

I believe their healthcare system puts them pretty close to being North Korea level of soviet

Even the Russians abandoned socialism/communism. How good can it be?

In Venezuela socialism is so great that the government tells the people to hunt rabbits to eat. When they run out of rabbits then rats next.

Leon and brain can move to Caracas and open up a diner and serve rabbits and rats as the red plate special

Single-payer healthcare systems are actually pretty common, and hardly socialist. They're certainly better than the ridiculously expensive American gallimaufry of medical systems.

You learn something new everyday... gallimaufry.

Brad - I think you can easily admit that Venezuela failed for reasons other than "socialism" They gutted industry in their country by nationalizing several industries, and never reinvested any money into their oil industry for decades. Meanwhile that money wasn't being used productively, but was giving huge general subsidies and being hoarded by the elites. Socialism isn't just "Step 1: take all the money from businesses. Step 2: Waste all of said money on corruption while giving just enough to the common folk to improve their lot in life. Step 3: All businesses fail and then society collapses" You can see evidence of it done well in countries like Norway, where they've built up enough of a fund to keep their country prosperous *forever*. Literally, Norway's sovereign fund will never run out, so long as it's managed properly. Non-oil states like Finland have it a little rougher, but they're still doing pretty well.

Any country providing healthcare to its people may as well be communism

What kind of psychotic evil nation would want to tax people to provide basic public health. Talk about fucked up

The only people who deserve free healthcare at the taxpayer expense are the veterans. The people who volunteered to get great salaries and benefits. Those are the only people who deserve healthcare handouts

Don't mix 'socialism' and 'communism'. These are two different concepts :
* in communism, all ressources are put in common -> it failed because it killed personal initiative
* in socialism, the priority of the system is the 'society' we live in and what we all share in common (healthcare but in a way infrastructures, education, ...) -> it didn't fail anywhere particularly. You have wonderful results such as the Norway or Sweden. Japan can seen as another example. The point is that to 'offer' socialism the state needs revenues.
* in [economical] liberalism, the idea is that supporting each to become richer or get fruits of his own work. -> It didn't fail anywhere particularly. US and China may be seen as two examples, one being a liberal democracy and the other one a dictature. The point is that in liberalism inequalities are exacerbated and pressure/agressivity/agression is put on indivudals

In practice there are different steps between full socialism and full liberalism. All countries in the world are at a different level in between.

In my experience, the people who pridefully declare that others are in need of an education in economics have never themselves made it past the introductory courses. :^)

As for the OP, Marx is very popular in universities because he provides a powerful method of analysis for most students (and their professors). Further, he made a lot of contributions to the fields of economics, history, philosophy, and sociology. You'll be studying Marx for a while because he's still relevant and useful, regardless of what you think of his intellectual descendants.

You will also have to endure some big simplifications in your first couple of years. You'll start to get more nuance in your third- and fourth-year classes--and grad school.

And if you really are upset about all the leftism on campus, why not speak up about it? Most of these people could use a counterbalance. Plus, if you can make a name for yourself, you'll have an easier time with letters of recommendation from your professors.

I don't think rocking the boat with professors is a good way to get recommendations. Regurgitate their thoughts on the tests. Let them tell you you are brilliant. Move on with your life.

Spending your college years arguing with people that won't be convinced (any more that you would be) is no more productive than drinking and carousing... and much less enjoyable.

NB: China is *not* a socialist country. China lives an ultra-liberal economical dictature. And it is not collapsing at all. What has happened there for 15 years is just crazy.

The model is [of course] terribly efficient. You have both entreprenorship which brings dynamism and big state companies for ambitious projects. In parallel an extremely strong central power gives efficiency to the system.

The question is the same as for the US. What is the limit in exploiting people ?

Enjoy yourself in moderation, work hard from the start. I think you have to find a balanced way of interacting with your tutors & Professors.. Don't be a silent doormat, but don't be the fiery confrontationalist. "Teachers" will be looking for the students who ask intelligent questions. It's far better, if you don't understand something to ask questions than to stay silent. You are there to learn.
Pick your student colleagues, friends carefully.. Like choosing allies in Diplomacy games.