we actually might be witnessing the death of socialism!

[opebo]

jmfcst, capitalism failed, as it always does, not socialism which in any case has never been tried.  even Keyensian redistributionist balancing has been gone for 30+ years.  The solution is socialism, and no amount of wishing on your part will change that.   

[opebo]

Nearly all of them are employed at a desperate subsistence level, Wonk, and ever was it so.  You're looking through the old rose coloured glasses as usual.

[opebo]

I would say that a socialist being forced into austerity(which is pretty much the admission that their overspending is a failed concept) is pretty bad for socialism in the EU.

Under-taxation, not overspending, Wong.

[opebo]

Well I'm an authority on the current economic situation of Europe. I'm fairly good on the current political situation in Europe. I'm probably decent on issues of European political history. No where did I ever say that I was an authority on European political history. You inferred that on to me because of the fact that I've taken authority status on other issues.

You have a lot of confidence anyway, but that's about it.

[opebo]

There is a difference between being supportive of a welfare state and being supportive of a to large of a welfare state of which your country can't afford and is instead financing via increasing amounts of debt.

Under-taxation.

[opebo]

I'd be so happy with getting rid of the idea that we should give to the poor because of ideology.

We should give to the poor because we should give to the poor, not because some paper written by some bearded man told you to do so.

Actually the best reason is simply that capitalism doesn't work without State redistribution to rectify its inherent malfunction.