[–] Melbourne43 [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Well I suppose I would be classified as a socialist these days although I always thought I was a little right of centre. I got a degree without having to pay for tuition, I was even given enough money to cover my rent while I studied for three years. I've enjoyed free public health etc. my whole life too. I've had great working conditions, several weeks holiday each year etc. These things seem to me to be the basics of civilised life.
This guy seems to be espousing the same idea. I suppose at his age, he should have enough runs on the board to determine if he's an effective administrator or not. In the video I'm listening to, he's Mayor of Burlington, I'd be interested to see what he achieved and how he left the accounts when he finished the role plus whatever else he's done in the interim.
[–] Proeliator 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Being right of centre and a socialist may not be mutually exclusive depending on the political climate. I think the overton window is probably further to the left in Australia than the US.
You got a college degree, three years of rent, and life long medical coverage for free. That's great for you, but it isn't really free. Your government had to take money from other people to be able to give you those services. That's the issue that I have with socialism. When a government provides services it does it using money that it took from people by force, and it doesn't do it as efficiently as a free market, because there is no profit incentive, because it can take money by force.
[–] Melbourne43 [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I agree with you but I'm sceptical about the efficiency of the free market. Also, whatever I cost back then I have more than dutifully paid back and then some in taxes ever since. I 'think' I believe in small government, although as you point out, the definition depends on perspective. For me, the government should manage the basics: health, education, welfare, defence etc. So, whilst I believe in public funded education, I'd significantly cull the number of available places.
When I was studying economics in the mid-'80s (UK), all the discussion was about how the privately funded health model in the US was so efficient, what a disaster our crumbling NHS was comparatively etc. Now, looking back, it looks like the American model is broken and the NHS is exemplary. The 'invisible hand' of the free market is definitely the most efficient on a theoretical level but breaks down at large scale with corruption/lobbying etc.