this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2025
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In a democratic state, things like universal healthcare are also called "socialized medicine" because it is an example of the people owning the means of production in that particular industry.
That's why most countries are what we call "mixed economies", that mix elements of capitalism and socialism.
Norway mixes in a higher ratio of socialism to capitalism than most countries. But they don't export any more of capitalism's issues to the third world than other countries. It's something to emulate, not discredit.
No. "Socialized medicine" is not "people owning the means of production"
It is in a democratic state. Who else do you think owns it?
How is democracy related to ownership?
A democracy is a state in which the government is owned and controlled by the people.
No wtf. Democracy is state that holds elections. Wtf is "owned and controlled by the people"? How are people supposed to control the government? The government is controlled by govt officials. Common people don't control shit. How can a government be owned by people? Is government even a property that can be owned? That doesn't make any sense.
Through elections.
That we elected.
Through democracy.
If I ask a friend to water my plants, do I no longer own the plants?
Umm, no. Elected politicians can do whatever tf they want. There's no legal mechanism to make them fulfill the promises they made during their campaign.
Not to mention that elected politicians aren't controlled by the people, most of the government positions aren't elected.
Democracy is when Government is owned by people. People own government through democracy. Great argument.
If you ask government to persecute people who break the law, do you no longer own people who break the law?
The next election is the mechanism that makes them fulfill the promises they've made during their campaign. If your politicians aren't afraid of losing the next election, you don't live in a real democracy, you probably live in a FPTP country, and you should fix that.
I don't know what country you are assuming counts as the entire world with this sentence, I'm going to assume America because it's usually Americans that do that.
But even then, what is wrong with me hiring someone to hire more people?
What is your counterargument other than "no"?
You can't own people, you never did, what are you trying to ask here?
What do YOU think the people owning the means of production looks like?
So not Norway, or any Western capitalist pseudo democracy.
Yes Norway, or any other country with proportional representation, but not FPTP democracies.
How else do you think the people can own the means of production?