What is the difference between Socialism and Communism?

[Montalban]

Solidarity, Hesychios! A great post:thumbsup:

 

[sneakers]

since reading another thread I’ve been pondering …

What is the difference between Socialism and Communism?

Also, isn’t it true that the US version of capitalism has evolved away from “pure” capitalism in that it has refined its material success with more “compassion” by also implementing some of the more noble ideals of socialism?

Also, what nations are the world’s biggest Socialist success stories?

Types of Governments (Explained with Cows)

CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.

COMMUNIST : You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for hours to get it. It is expensive and sour.

SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The State takes one and gives it to someone else.

FASCISM: You have two cows. The State takes both, hires you to take care of them, and sells you the milk.

TOTALITARIANISM: You have two cows. The State takes them and denies they ever existed. Milk is banned.

DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The State takes both and shoots you.

ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors kill you and take the cows.

I am not aware that communism or socialism has truly been successful anywhere it has been tried.

 

[Hesychios]

Also, what nations are the world’s biggest Socialist success stories?

I think the Scandinavian countries are the best examples of socialism beyond what one will see in the USA.

Their national health care programs are excellent.

Many countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations have similarly deployed such efforts to varying extants because Christian Socialism was big in 19th century Britain, and they deployed civil servants around the world.

The former communist-bloc countries have been devolving into open-market economies, but are retaining socialist principles in areas like social services (health care, mainly) and sensitive nationwide economic concerns that are monopolistic. Quite a few countries have national railroads (even airlines), for example.

I don’t think pure socialism is in place anywhere, nor pure capitalism, all economies are a blend.
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Michael*