Shadow Minister ; I'm not sure whether to think of myself as a 'Marxist' these days or a 'Post-Marxist' ; but yes I identify with the Marxist tradition. For instance the pre-Bolshevist social democracy ; and Austrian social democracy in the 1920s and early 1930s. On the other hand I don't consider myself a Stalinist or a Bolshevik. Marxists like Karl Kautsky and Rosa Luxemburg (while radically different from one another) had critiques of Bolshevism from a 'democratic Left' perspective. The fact is that 'real politics' is brutal. Just look to what's happening in Syria now. What happened to the Left in Argentina, Indonesia, Chile. I believe we have to fight that brutality. Both capitalism and socialism can 'go wrong'. 'Outside pressure' makes that more likely where Terror is seen as the only option to avoid collapse. That's what I want to avoid.

We have a mixed health system in Australia. But much more socialied than in the US. Medicare saves money and delivers at a number of levels. The PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) saves Australian consumers billions. But the public system needs more resources. The danger where more and more people go for private health and education is you get 'private affluence, public squalor' and a starkly divided society. But look to Finnish education system. About 100% public and some of the best results in the world.

One thing for sure in the medical system is that if you pay private medical insurance as well as medicare when you go for treatment you pay again. I have experienced this. If you simply pay medicare the tax payer will pick up the tab. Socialism penalises those who try and contribute. Drug addicts fill our emergency centres at hospitals and get all sorts of treatment for free while many elderly wait for years to receive treatment. Medicare despite rhetoric has really been a failure. It supports all sorts of social engineering, killing unborn babies etc but denies people trying to contribute to society in many cases.

Dear Tristan,

Well said. There is a current line being touted by the neocons in this country that medicare is there only for those who can't afford private health insurance. It is a debasing of our communal health system and marching us off to a US style arrangement which will be horrendous.

Dear mhaze,

You really did get butt hurt when I cleaned you up on the Warren issue didn't you. You just can't let it go. It obviously still smarts doesn't it. The DNA showed she had Indian heritage but the orange buffoon didn't want to cough up the money. Why you feel the need to constantly defend him I don't know.

Anyway to be clear Warren is not high on my list at all. Her stance on Israel is deplorable and there are 3 or 4 Democrat candidates I feel are far more worthy to receive the nomination than her with Bernie at the top of the list.

But that doesn't excuse the bullying attacks on her by that cowardly draft dodging used car sales man who you seem so utterly smitten with. For every thing that could be laid at her door there are a thousand worse things that can be laid at his.

Get over it.

atta-boy SR,

Just pretend that you didn't make a fool of yourself over Fauxahontas and hope that no one bothers to check the actual data. Interesting tho' that you prepared to bald-facedly lie. I'll bear that in mind. Funny that you still assert she's Indian when she's trying hard to pretend she never claimed that and the media are trying hard to hide it as well.
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"...with Bernie at the top of the list".
I almost had a heart-attack when I read that. (grin!)

Dear mhaze,

Why are you diverting this thread? You got completely shown up when we last debated this and it seems it is eating you up. If you want to get trounced again I am more than happy to do so but not here. Take in over to the General Discussion and I will oblige.