*sigh* co-sign.

In response to Firebrand, Socialism is not defunct at all. It has been a very successful SOCIETAL principal (Canada, Sweden, Finland), but it has never truly been attempted SINCERELY as a governing system (USSR was far from socialistic in governmental application, as is China today). Like Waterboy alluded, its application to education and medicine would do wonders to save those two dying systems in our country. Our capitalistic system has proved only to treat these systems as businesses. Health and education as business is, umm, not a good idea. California is privatizing their social services? Let's see, privatize SOCIAL services....that can't turn out well. If equality is a goal even in name in this country, then health, education and individual well-being cannot be driven by the dollar. This is not anything new or profound, just important.