brian ross wrote: ↑Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:56 pm
Socialism does not equate to Totalitarianism except in your mind (and I fear most Americans'). Two of the most Socialist states were free, democratic and liberal nations - Israel and Australia in the 1970s. You need to look at the exceptions, 4E.
Now now, don't try to change the subject.
You've clearly painted yourself in a corner:
1, You said Chavez was a socialist.
2. You said you don't support totalitarian regimes.
3. The quality of life in Venezuela declined measurably under Chavez's rule.
So ... either Chavez's socialist regime was totalitarian in your book, or it wasn't.
* If it was, then you're admitting that socialism DOES equate to totalitarianism in at least some circumstances.
* If it wasn't, then you're still arguing that socialism DOES NOT equate to totalitarianism ... but admitting that it CAN equate to human misery.
Time to choose ... if you've got the intellectual honesty to do it. Don't worry; I fully expect you to cop out by (1) trying to convince me you didn't say what you actually said, (2) trying to change the subject, (3) trying to put me on the defensive, (4) trying to make imaginative, laughable excuses for why the quality of life in Venezuela declined, and/or (5) avoiding this thread from now on.
Time for popcorn and Junior Mints!