I grew up in a place like that, Germany. Environmentalism, social equality and justice (Der Soziale Frieden), a smug sense of intellectual superiority, and of course the all important safety and security are used as arguments for creating a world with a big government and little people. Little people who for their own safety and security do not need guns, for the environment pay $9 a gallon for gas and drive a smart car, who live in a 400 square foot apartment freezing in the winter and sweating in the summer, who live a life more or less managed by a government from cradle to grave. But...... life is good there, since after all, people are no longer responsible for their actions, unproductive people are rewarded economically, and you need not worry about much anymore. From health care to your retirement, big brother will provide for you no matter how worthless you choose to become. Let's hope the “change” we get doesn't take us too far in that direction.
Socialism is renamed in America. We usually disguise it with words like "national" or "universal." The American socialist will never call it a socialist health care system. No, it will be called something else, but the net result is the same.
You never lived in germany - you lived in a G.I. camp.
You think a big block motor and a pick up truck are technology of the ongoing century.
You think europe still uses dial disk telephones.
You think that unproductive people wouldn’t be rewarded in the US but you’ve paid your taxes to pay for the biggest frauds in history - now the divend payed to the sharholders of BOA and other comes directl from your pocket - without a contract, without a service or a good delivered - nevertheless it’s booked as an operational success.
Your car industry is states run.
Your banking system is states run.
You are slaves of your debt.
Your infrastucture is 70ies standard.
On 9/11 the biggest eavesdropping action against formerly free people on this planet was carried out and under the patriot act the Government took unprecidented measures to profile any living citizen of the US and the World to ‘protect’ the people.
After 8 years of unilateral politics the international ties of the west lie in shables - the US are broke to the bone - China and Russia are mightier then ever -10% of the economy of the US are financed and owned by saudi arabia.
Put a fork in this pile - you are done (if not a black guy from kenia safes your sorry but)
That’s all very nice, but remember that the socialization of American rail transportation was the brainchild of a Republican administration, just as was the socialization of the American capital markets.