How many countries has socialism "destroyed"?
None. Canada, Western Europe, Australia, NZ, Japan and South Korea among many more all practice some form of socialism called "social democracy" and they have the highest standards of living in the world. Nations that currently call themselves "socialist" like the China and North Korea for example aren't actually true socialist nations at all, but rather are simply totalitarian states. That goes for old nations like the USSR and East Germany among others. Socialism and social democracy doesn't include censorship and keeping citizens behind gun-guarded walls. For anyone who thinks I'm using the "no true Scotsman" fallacy, then keep in mind that totalitarian nations also tend to call themselves "democracies", but it doesn't mean they actually ARE what they call themselves.
Why do we obsess over how the socialist movement destroyed Venezuela's economy but ignore how it's created an economic boom for Bolivia?
The "Pink Tide" socialist movement that has swept Latin America has been described as "dangerous" by the Americans who often cite Venezuela as proof of its failure. But doing so completely ignores its successes, primarily in Bolivia, that has had massive and sustainable economic growth, huge declines in poverty, and "Bolivia has grown much faster over the last eight years than in any period over the past three and a half decades." https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/world/americas/turnabout-in-bolivia-as-economy-rises-from-instability.html "poverty has declined by 25 percent and extreme poverty has declined by 43 percent; social spending has increased by more than 45 percent; the real minimum wage has increased by 87.7 percent https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/14/evo-morales-reelected-socialism-doesnt-damage-economies-bolivia See this source for a better breakdown of the statistics that show the many many ways Bolivia is benefiting from socialism: http://cepr.net/blogs/the-americas-blog/bolivias-economy-under-evo-in-10-graphs
If there is a democracy in the US, then why can’t American people stop their politicians from invading and destroying other countries?
You are convoluting the concept of a democracy to state your anti-American agenda, hence I call this a Troll question.American people vote. American people can protest. Americans can organize to lobby and make changes. Now, that alone puts the US in a very small group of countries. There is a limit to the power of the President, a limit to the powers of congress. This is part of the checks and balances that are part of the government.BUT, as the US is sort of the Ying to the Communist Yang in world power, this has meant using that power and influence world wide to try and maintain some balance. Sometimes the results are not always good, but considering how many nations and people have been helped, wars help won to stop dictatorships, it is a price most Americans are willing to pay. Invading and destroying other countries? how about invading a country where great crime and evil have been committed and action must be taken. That is a matter of perspective and I see your bias.Look at the Viet Nam war: American pressure and public opinion help force a US withdrawal, so right there your statement is proven wrong.
Are partisan politics destroying America?
It seems extreme partisanship was always an American thing, and has been around since the very early days of our republic. Why else would George Washington feel compelled to warn us against “excessive party spirit” in his farewell address?It seems we have done OK for the past 240 years - at times a lot better than just OK - in spite of the partisanship. What has changed in the last decade is the advent of social media. All kinds of unfiltered, unsubstantiated garbage is floating around on social media, and is misleading people and making us harder in our opinions and affiliations. Add to it the attacks on our institutions from Trump and it gets a bit worrisome. Bill Clinton was impeached over a blowjob; Richard Nixon was forced to resign but they did not attack the core of our democracy like Trump is doing.So, in conclusion, I don’t fear partisanship as much as I fear social media and its clever, manipulative use by the demagogue who we have voted into the White House.
How can democracy be destroyed? Is our democracy in danger?
Whenever people in a democracy are led to believe that a charismatic leader can replace democratic values such as free press, freedom of speech and elected, representative government, of course democratic values are in danger.Other institutions which play a major role in a democracy include an independent judiciary, free of political taint, legislators that function without the influence of a free spending lobby and the right of the people to participate in the voting process.This includes not having districts that unfairly proportion votes so that one party has an advantage. Restricting voting by demanding unreasonable registration and hours the polls are open is a trick that flies in the face of democratic principles.My own right to vote was infringed when my polling place sent me several miles away to another location because they were “unable to accommodate disabled individuals.” The truth is they couldn’t accommodate the fact that my registration was a minority one.Voters who disregard the past of a public politician who has proven unworthy, and support him simply because he promises to deliver on questionable campaign promises, are duping themselves and robbing their children of moral standards required of all citizens. In effect they agree with the tired and disproven political machinations that include the dictate that the end justifies the means.We don’t have to look far to see that democracy, even though flawed, can work well. However, to cut the heart out of proven, sound administrative practices is foolhardy and disaster is just around the corner or has already happened.Morals, good judgment and proven character work well in a democracy. As we have seen in other countries and occasionally in our own country as well, throwing the baby out with the bathwater may not be the best policy.
Is the Democrat Party destroyed?
The “Democrat” party isn’t democrat anymore. They’re socialists, seizing the earnings of the successful and redistributing it to the societal losers who vote for them, after skimming off enough to cover the mortgage on the suburban DC mansion and car loan. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth “pochohantas” Warren? Devout socialists. Who are their core constituents? Blacks, latinos, and single women on welfare who want cradle to grave handouts. Socialism has never worked anywhere anytime in history. Google "Venezuela" and how they're having food riots and eating zoo animals. While it fails less quickly than communism, it disincentivizes productivity and wastes human talent and industry. And it makes society less free, with regulations and taxation. Look at the panic on the faces of those rioters in California, Portland and Seattle. The gravy train just arrived at its final destination and they are freaking at the prospect of responsibility, taking care of themselves, and work. Except the correctly indoctrinated “college educated” whites who are in student loan debt for the degrees in unemployable majors, working whites have dumped socialism. Michigan and Wisconsin voting Trump? That is a cultural tidal shift. If Trump plays his cards right, he will enable the entrepreneurial blacks and latinos who will flourish IF their neighborhoods can be made safe – security is a condition prerequisite. Making their own money, self-reliant, with school choice from breaking up the public education monopoly … you will see more and more of them dumping the democrat party. Be grateful. It is all for the better. The US was on a path towards violent civil war with the brave and true real Americans opposing tyranny and democrats would have been slaughtered mercilessly. Their lives are spared for the time being.
Has too much faith in algorithms divided US society into social tribes, and destroyed social cohesion?
I taught algorithms in college for many years and I don't see any logic behind this suggestion - it does not make sense. Which algorithms? (most of them have no relation to social cohesion). Who has faith in them? There are too few people who understand algorithms, and they don't seem to lose cohesion (I talk to them at work every day and keep in touch otherwise). Just like mathematics and physics, algorithms can be used for different purposes - in good and bad ways.What I see destroying social cohesion in the US is the inclination to blame someone else for your own problems and misjudgement. Don't have skills to get a competitive job? - blame immigrants. Don't understand what's happening in the economics - blame everyone in Washington. Don't like what the media are telling you - blame them of bias. Now, turns out a lot of people liked and shared fake news, taking fake news seriously - blame algorithms, instead of acknowledging your mistakes.Social cohesion will improve if we take responsibility for our own actions and conclusions, stop trusting fake news and proven liers/fraudsters/cheaters, try to understand the causes and the effects, and try to be rational in general.If you know anything about the standing of the United States in the world and about the US economy, you'd be shocked at the very slogan “Make America Great Again”. The economy is healthy and growing, the military is by far the strongest in the world, people are trying to emigrate to the US more than to any country, foreign students come to study to the US, American products, movies and music are sold around the world, American scientists and engineers do groundbreaking work. And yet, many Americans get baited to think the US is in the decline. How do we make America great again? - Ignore progress and disrupt the government. Do you think ignorance and disruption will bring social cohesion?
Is multiculturalism destroying the USA?
Yes, absolutely and others are figuring this out finally www.americanchristiansociety.com
Social Media has resulted in the breakdown of personal communication?
I have to write about an A4 page on this for English. You can agree or disagree with the statement. Personally I would disagree with the statement but I don't have anything to back it up. If you could help me please I don't mind if you agree or disagree I can write on what is easiest.