"His counterargument is that corruption is caused by governments given too much power."

What a load of crap. That's like saying crime is caused because the crooked police have too much authority and they take bribes. Look, just because the mechanisms in place to regulate business don't work as well as we'd like them to doesn't mean that the excesses of business can be laid at their feet.

But seriously, why is not embracing gay rights enough to make the GOP evil but not enough to make United Russia evil? Could it be, gasp, that Putin33 is just a hypocrite?

And like a clock you become deliberately obtuse after a couple of posts.

Clocks don't do that.

But seriously, why is a law about minors enough to make United Russia evil but the GOP's Michele Bachman, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, Family Research Council, Pat Robertson, etc, etc, etc isn't enough to make the GOP evil? Could it be, gasp, that Invictus, is just a hypocrite?

If the GOP tried to pass the same law here you'd be screaming your lungs out against it, but since you'll back anything any anti-American autocrat does when it happens in Russia it doesn't bother you. Hypocrite.

Pre-note: have not read a single post outside of the first 3-4.

Socialism at its base is about bettering society (hence social-ism) through the government. The key to the argument between those who like and those who hate it, is the view of government. For pro-socialism people, the government can help and raise up the people. For others, the government is a suppressor and should be viewed with suspicion.

Yes, the government should play some role. Law, judicial systems, defense, etc. But can we really trust the government? I think recent events throughout the world have shown us that government is flawed, not to be trusted, and inherently not in our best interests, especially the higher up you go.

Government-sponsored genocides in Turkey in the First World War. The Bosnian and other Yugoslav wars. Oppressive governments in Asia (North Korea, China, etc). Even "western" governments are not innocent. Look at the NSA and all the spying going on. Look at the UK and it's harsh anti-porn stance.

The larger the government is (in the amount of people it rules), the smaller it should be (in what it does). In the US, I think the federal government is entirely too large and unaccountable. Power to the states, as it should be.

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

10th Amendment. Basically, pretty much everything should be state-level.

"If the GOP tried to pass the same law here you'd be screaming your lungs out against it, but since you'll back anything any anti-American autocrat does when it happens in Russia it doesn't bother you. Hypocrite."

If United Russia passed dozens of anti-gay constitutional amendments across the country you'd be screaming your lungs out about it. But since you're a party hack you'll back anything the GOP does while pretending you care about gay rights when it comes to other countries that get in the way of American expansionism. Hypocrite.

I kind of got off tangent in reference to socialism, but for me, it should be limited to:

- Providing for those who are in difficult situations (recently unemployed, medical disability, worker's compensation, etc)
- Social programs to help education and self-advancement
- Possibly medical options, but no national-level healthcare. Mandate that all states must provide an affordable state-system, such as CHIP in Pennsylvania.

"In the US, I think the federal government is entirely too large and unaccountable. Power to the states, as it should be."

Because that works well.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.adweek.com/files/imagecache/node-blog/blogs/brand-map-hed-2013.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/corporate-states-america-map-shows-each-states-most-famous-brand-150794&h=438&w=652&sz=174&tbnid=4ue8OtXscNj66M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=134&zoom=1&usg=__NV5bPqTymO48pNt5DsQwlw7WTjs=&docid=8Lt8zI32ao1qDM&sa=X&ei=IYl1Uv7gN-vfsASitICgBQ&ved=0CDsQ9QEwAQ

You make opposition to gay marriage the equivalent of the brutal repression Russian homosexuals have to experience under Vladimir Putin. It's a sort of intellectual dishonesty anyone can see right through.

I think you are both a lot like Hitler.

"Because that works well."

Yes, all power to the central planners instead. That's always worked much better.

Putin, I don't see how that map is at all relevant. You seem to be using a flashy image to distract from the real issue.

Welcome to talking to Putin33, Chaga.

"You make opposition to gay marriage the equivalent of the brutal repression Russian homosexuals have to experience under Vladimir Putin."

The anti-gay laws passed in the USA go beyond opposition to gay marriage. You've provided no evidence of 'brutal repression' in Russia. You're a habitual liar who exaggerates everything going on that isn't in the USA, while trivializing everything going on in the USA. Your credibility on gay rights is a joke. You cynically appropriate it just to bitch about Russia. If it was some country you liked you wouldn't say a word about it.

"That's always worked much better."

You would be someone who thinks slavery & segregation worked better than five-year plans.

Why is what the GOP does so horrible but what United Russia does OK? You have to tolerate both or condemn both to be consistent, Putin33.

There are no anti-gay laws in the US, Putin. It is not illegal to be a homosexual. In some states they can't get married, but that's not exactly a human rights violation. Marriage is traditionally a religious ceremony anyway.

"You seem to be using a flashy image to distract from the real issue."

It's relevant because the states are wholly owned subsidiaries of the dominant corporations within them. Delaware is DuPont Inc, Montana is Anaconda, etc.

"You would be someone who thinks slavery & segregation worked better than five-year plans."

Five-year plans were slavery and segregation.

"Why is what the GOP does so horrible but what United Russia does OK? You have to tolerate both or condemn both to be consistent, Putin33.
"

Do you even listen to yourself? Why don't the same rules apply to you?

"Five-year plans were slavery and segregation."

Please tell that to African Americans, you disgusting clown.

"It's relevant because the states are wholly owned subsidiaries of the dominant corporations within them. Delaware is DuPont Inc, Montana is Anaconda, etc."

Rank nonsense.

I live in Pennsylvania, Putin. I don't see Hershey as having too big of an influence, really. There's not Hershey chocolate fountains on every street.

"Please tell that to African Americans, you disgusting clown."

Tell the millions who had to suffer under them they weren't, you tyrant ass licking piece of garbage.

You mean the people who show in poll after poll that they believe they were better off under the Soviets? Yeah, I will, fuckface.

Putin, I'm curious on a few things:
1. What country you're from
2. Your age

He's from America and must be late twenties. Really. Some people are just strange.