As an addendum to illustrate where we are going with this so called free market economy American idea, did you know that American Workers are only entitled too 2 weeks annual leave per annum. Speaks for itself doesn't it.

Dear Thinker 2,

We lived and worked in Los Angeles for ten years. I received
two weeks annual leave, however my husband received only one
week, his two weeks came only after one year of service.
Sick leave was 5 days a year, and long service leave - 4 weeks
after ten years. As for medical insurance - we had none. We
had to pay the full hospital costs when we became ill - and
it wasn't cheap. We don't realise how lucky we are in this country.
Of course things could change in a flash - depending who gets into
government. To some, the politics of money and power, the ideology of
greed, filled by an unbridled commitment to "individualism" leaves
no room for social equity, compassion, or the idea of an egalitarian society. In their view, either sink or swim. And if you sink, well
that's too bad. Because according to their point of view, welfare is not good for business.

Noisy Scrub Bird,

"... at least she is trying to do something, about climate change..." You are totally right. The carbon tax cost to an individual is minimal, but the tax might definitely assist in reducing the risk of an inevitable environmental catastrophe. It would be a "small step for a man, but a giant leap for mankind". However, the opposition is overwhelming. It is heated up by the media (no longer independent) and, of course, major polluters, multinational corporations.

It is unlikely that we could stop this madness. How will be able to justify our actions to the next generations when asked what we have done when we had a chance to prevent it?

Lexi “We lived and worked in Los Angeles for ten years. I received
two weeks annual leave, “

Goodness me, only two weeks annual holiday….

Doubtless those shining examples of non-capitalist economies would have people queuing up to share in the bounty of long vacations.

So, now please explain, with only 2 weeks vacation a year, why so many people are trying to get smuggled into USA as we speak?

But before you do explain why so many people opted to risk a border guards bullet to escape the delights of the collectivist workers utopia




Oh dear, Rob Canoe

I knew what my reply would be as soon as I read

“The current global financial crises is a result of the long-term policy of unconstrained free market, privatisation of traditional government services, globalisation, military conflicts and corporate greed from the early 1970's.”

A couple of points Rob

Go check history, you will find

Modern consumer economies were founded on:
Private enterprise, spawned by the industrial revolution, when entrepreneurs owned railways and steel mills and all the resources of wealth creation and government just paid for little more than the military and the judiciary.

What you would claim as “traditional government services” has a “tradition” of less than a hundred years

Whereas “Private enterprise” (aka Capitalism) has been around since one hunter gatherer gathered more than he needed for his daily feed and decided to barter it for something he wanted and which someone else had.

Anyway… too boring to pretend you are saying anything new, Rob Canoe…

I suggest you paddle it (the Canoe) elsewhere if this is the most original debate you can attempt to generate

Lexi and Thinker 2,

I have never lived in the U.S., but a movie 'Sicko' by Michael Moore says a lot about their health system. Unfortunately, the world is heading in the same direction with unrestricted free market and the privatisation of the health system, as well as water supply, education, security, etc.

The acceleration of privatisation of government services often occurs as a result of natural disasters, see the post-Katrina case in the U.S. If the community does not like, private security contractors will help to change their mind. It is well documented in the Naomi Klein's 'Shock Doctrine'. With the global warming progressing, we have to be prepared for the worst

Col Rouge, You say "whereas “Private enterprise” (aka Capitalism) has been around since one hunter gatherer gathered more than he needed for his daily feed". If you compare the present world with the civilisation of cave dwellers, I concur fully. We are very lucky.

The welfare state model which has been introduced in the western world after John Maynard Keynese from the 1930's is now being replaced by Milton Friedman's free market. It has commenced from the 1970's and is now being accelerated. We are moving backwards, but I still agree. It is a more friendly economic model that that during the Ice Age.