The European welfare states are in the Poo at the moment. It looks as though the house of cards is collapsing and the welfare states are being wound back.

david f.,

I don't call it socialism either. I call it social democracy...but Americans appear extremely sensitive to anything that smacks of interventionary government.

I agree with your views in your last post..

I too agree with your view Davidf, in fact I truly think for decades this country has too.
For me at least the heart of our politics's the followers of Liberalism have marched, even ran, away from the roots of the party founded by Menzies.
I often go back to him, not surprising as Labor today is closer by far to his policy's than the party he founded.
Well worth a close look at his policy's in IR education and much more.
And too, worth looking at the resemblance of the Abbott faction to Tea Party Republicans.
That Tea Party will suffer a defeat in the American election.
Capitalism has to be our foundation.
But the type we see in Europe , in my view seems near the answer world wide.
IF we look to Capitalism for wealth creation only for some we dig a hole for the whole system.
Surely we must focus not on hand outs but giving the true poor a way up.
I truly, honestly, no malice, do not think the Greens can do other than taint the good intentions of those wanting better out comes, just as surely as I think SM does not represent most Liberals, Abbott defames that word.

Dear Belly,

Tony Abbott called climate change 'crap'. He either has no perception of human effect on the environment or is speaking to the troglodytes of his party. Rudd talked about a bigger Australia neglecting the carrying capapcity of the land. Our premier of Queensland wants to increase the traffic going through the Great Barrier Reef and says that will not increase the danger to the reef. Under Gillard there has been protection of the ocean around Australia. Rudd started the chaplaincy program that was picked up by Howard.

A Rudd Labor and an Abbott Coalition are simply stenches.

You don't like the Greens. Actually there are things about them I don't like either. I think one must stay on the sidelines if one wants perfection. At the moment I think Gillard with all her flaws is the best we have of those contending for national power, and the Greens with all its flaws is the best to put number one on the ballot.

Hi David,

You wrote,

"You (Paul) have disparaged capitalism. What would you put in its place? The Marxist countries not only were horrible tyrannies but also did not provide as good a choice of consumer products as the developed capitalist countries.(agree) As far as I can see the best examples of social justice are the capitalist Scandinavian welfare states. (agree) Since you apparently want to get rid of capitalism what would you replace it with?" ( I can not answer this question as it does not apply to me.)

My reply to your comment. I am not a Marxist. In fact I believe the capitalist has a vital roll to play in our economy. The pursuit of profit is a legitimate and reasonable objective. The capitalist brings both entrepreneurial and innovative skills desperately needed in any healthy economy. These qualities are lacking in a pure socialist run society. That is not to say our society should entertain unfettered capitalism as an ideal. This would be even more abhorrent than a totally socialistic society. The excesses of capitalism are as bad or worse than any other system can bring.
I support a mix of the best qualities of capitalism with the best qualities of socialism. Government has a necessary roll to play in balancing this ideal. Government is charged with many tasks, from the mundane such as raising taxes to pay for community needs to the passing and implementation of laws for the community good. All government action is, and should be, subject to political debate. I strongly support the democratic process as paramount to establishing good government.
The Greens are on the right path when it comes to getting the balance correct.Despite those of the right who fear us. Stay strong.

Dear Paul,

One economic alternative that is neglected in both the socialist and capitalist societies is the cooperative where people own an enterprise in common and determine its policies democratically. Cooperatives counter the inherent greed in corporate capitalism and the tyranny inherent in government control. Both producer and consumer coops have a large part to play in the Scandinavian societies. Our laws discourage the formation of cooperatives. I have not seen any movement in any party including the Greens to encourage the formation of cooperatives. Corporations don't like competitive entities and governments don't appreciate entities that they don't control. However, I believe cooperatives can and have improved societies greatly.