What's more damaging to the country... the excesses of capitalism or the excesses of socialism?

Question

And is there an optimal balance somewhere in the middle?

Notice I asked what's more damaging to the COUNTRY. Not the individual. The excesses of capitalism = rampant greed, inequality, exploitation of the worker. The excesses of socialism = lower motivation to succeed, lower productivity, etc

Answer 1

So far what we got from the excess of capitalism: $11 trillion national debt, Wall St. Bailout (socialism), Great Depression, Savings and Loan Bailout, Enron, etc.



What we got from the excess of socialism: New Deal, Social Security, Medicare, Welfare.



Seems to me that the excess of socialism tends to at least add value to the country in terms of infrastructure or social programs, while the excess of capitalism tends to end in a disparagement of resources.

Answer 2

I don't think, somehow, that many Scandinavians would agree with your claimed downside of socialism (incidentally, when most Americans say 'socialism', what they mean is social democracy).



In fact, most West Europeans live in social democratic systems, and would not want the American Way. Ask the French, the British, the Irish, the Germans, the Dutch, etc etc.... We consider we built that optimal blance out of the ashes of WWII.



There is overwhelming evidence for your downside of capitalism.



Finally, I'd love to read your definition of 'country'. A country is its people. What is good for the people is good for the country.

Answer 3

there's always a happy medium. i'd say the people of france and canada, both socialist leaning, have an overall better quality of life, and family life then we do in the US.

I think big business, in general, tends be be evil in that they would (and do) silently kill people to increase their profit margins.

I own a small business and am a mother and want the best of both.

Answer 4

an excess of socialism would be way worse than too much capitalism...



no one would have the motivation to work anymore, how much more worse could it get?