State Socialism

Well at least I know he actually paid attention. Its interesting once you get like 100 generation X

Well someone had to do it.

I mean I guess....

Well yes, there are people smarter than the average person their age, but if I'm smarter than the average kid my age, you're smarter than the average kid your age, and Kali's smarter than the average kid his age, and so on, doesn't that put us right where we began? Not definitely, but I'd still consider your point invalid.

That's not what "the real world" means, like ever.

Well now that was just insulting. I felt as though you were telling me you were better than me for having been all those places, for being born into a more wealthy family than I. It's really quite funny.

What is your point with this? Most highschool kids don't go around claiming they can make educated opinions on capitalism and socialism/communism. Most high school students don't claim to know what socialism or capitalism is, like you mentioned. However, you are claiming you know everything you need to know about capitalism and claim you are smarter than the average highschool student.

In short, just because the average highschool student does not know how Adam Smith is, does not mean you should not know who Adam Smith is, especially when you are debating about capitalism and socialism and economics, because like you said, you are smarter than the average highschool student.

No one. Made. That. Argument. God damn it.

Well according to Kali I'm less intelligent than the average kid my age, because obviously Kali is the world's leading expert on how intelligent I am.

Uh, yeah, yeah it does....Seeing the real world implies I'm SEEING something. Being independent is called being in the real world not seeing the real world.

You'll get over it.

Well, I apologize for giving the wrong impression. But I will not have you lecture me on life experience when your just a year (about) older than me. Please, spare me that at least.

Teachers.....read the teacher part....Also my dad (the most intelligent person I know) did not know Adam Smith until I told him about what exactly he wrote about, at which point my dad said he vaguely remembered being told something about him in a college economics class. He went on to state that the only people who would know him off the top of their head at his age (39) would be people that are interested in economics. In short, my dad, who is in the military and has lived in the US all his life (except for a tour in Korea, Saudi Arabia, and England), barely knew who Adam Smith was. I guarantee my dad has more life experience than any of you.

Uhhhhh yeah they did. Kali.made.the.friggin.argument. Maybe that's not what he meant to get across, but its what he said.

Don't you have economy classes at highschool? I mean, seriously, how can you not know who Mr. Smith was?

I don't care what Kali said, I'm saying you aren't smarter than anyone here.

No. That's not how it is.

That's quite an assholeish thing to say.

Bitch I do what I want.

Your dad doesn't claim to be an expert on the economy like you do. Of course he forgot it by age 39, he doesn't think about economics.

At my high school economics is a senior class, but we learn about Adam Smith in History classes as well.

Nope. No economics. Well, besides managing your personal finances but that has nothing to do with real economics, it just teaches you how to conserve your money and stuff. Its a mandatory class before graduation.

Yeah you do, much of your argument has been centered around things that Kali has pointed out. Your right, I'm not smarter than anyone here. I'm definitely smarter than the "average 15 year old". I don't think Kali even knows or has known any "average 15 year olds" since high school at least.

Yes, yes it is.

Funny, I remember Demondaze saying it after he insulted me quite a bit more than I did to you in the Castro thread. You liked that post, if I remember correctly. But we all have our double standards right?

Good for you. Want a medal?

I have never claimed to be an expert on anything. In fact, I freely admit, I could know more about economy than I do. That doesn't mean I'm completely unqualified to talk about economics.

Wow, I had economy and accounting since 3rd year, and management since 4th.

What Kali said was that in order to be X requires you to fit the mold of X. I am the only person to use the word 'cool' in any context whatsoever throughout this entire thread.

He's more or less right most of the time. But I'm not talking about him right now, I'm talking about whatever the hell this conversation was about.

I don't really remember what you're talking about, but that sounds about right. The difference is, I like Demondaze, I don't particularly care for you, especially when you insult me based on wealth. (ironic for a self proclaimed socialist).

You don't know anything about capitalism or economics. If you want a well rounded opinion, not only should you read disgusting leftist literature, but rightist literature as well, such as the works of Smith, Keynes, Freidman, or Mises. Or anybody other than a leftist really.

Although (I think I say although and use parentheses a lot) I don't agree ideologically with Shaw, I agree in this; you have to always look both sides.

However, I didn't insult you based on wealth, apparently you just took it that way. I'm probably no more wealthy than you, and I was by no means born into a "wealthy family". For the first couple years of my life, I lived in a shitty apartment (or so I've been told, I can't really remember) outside of Tinker AFB. Then I lived on military bases, which have quite cheap housing, for the next 8 years. Then, I started living in a place in England 45 minutes from the nearest city, with 2 bedrooms and a barely working bathroom. Finally, when I moved to New Jersey, both my mum and dad had a stable job and we were able to buy a nice house in a nice neighborhood. I still wouldn't consider myself wealthy, but I'm obviously not impoverished. I have never known poverty, but my family has never been "wealthy". The only reason I've seen so much of the world is because of my dad's job in the military, I've lived with him in many places and he is kind enough to bring me and my brothers to nearby places.

I have read opposing viewpoints, and I will continue to. I understand seeing both sides is important, but ironically reading right literature just reinforces my idea in the left.

What exactly have you read that supported capitalism?

I recently began reading the Wealth of nations, which is now saved as a pdf file on my computer. How's that for supporting capitalism? Also, I must thank you guys for introducing me to the guy, otherwise I would have gone hopelessly uninformed until college.

I hope that's not the only thing.

Well, considering I haven't even read more than two of Karl Marx's books yet, and only 1 or 2 other leftist books, then yes its all. It wasn't until around a year ago that I became interested in politics, and it wasn't until around 6 months ago I actually began to look into ideologies. You can blame Stalin and this site for that, because before then I hadn't really been exposed to politics.

Well, after you've skimmed over the wealth of nations, look into more modern ones as well. Like something by Friedman. But these books are painfully boring so good luck, young scholar.