[datricker]

Well if Venezuela is a 10 what we about a 4 France a 6 Canada a 5? What do you think? It gets weird though. There obviously are various degrees of socialism. For example all my life Canada has been more toward the socialism side but its very capitalistic and hasn't devolved or wanted to become Marxist. Perhaps thats my error in thinking Marxism is the result of turning socialism all the way up, you get Marxist communism.

This might be the case theoretically but with humans the reality is much more messy. China for example - what the hell type of communism is that. I remember watching some Chinese premier going on and on about communism with Chinese characteristics. Essentially capitalism without the capitalists and slave labor.

Some countries with great natural reasources have been able to pull off the quasi socialist fairly effectively - while we providing the defense and the muslims weren't invading. Those days are gone I think.

[ForYourChildren]

“Well if Venezuela is a 10 what we about a 4 France a 6 Canada a 5? What do you think? It gets weird though. There obviously are various degrees of socialism.”

Yes.

The place to start is with the 10 planks of the communist manifesto. Most people would agree that this defines Marx socialist/communism.

We have implemented many planks completely and some mostly.

List the 10 planks here so we can look at them.

[ForYourChildren]

here is a good exercise..

What is the “official” form of government in the US?

What is the form of government that we usually say the following countries have?

North Korea?
Iran?
China?
Soviet Union (doesn’t exist anymore, but still a good one for example)?