@ETpro OK.. you’re looking in your American English dictionary. Don’t you think there might be a midge of biased there? Anyway… I’m talking about socialist ideas, not full on State Socialism. It can also mean that the State regulates things NOT just owns and runs things. The US has these types of entities. They run food inspection, National Parks, FCC, NSA, FAA etc….
Just because an entity isn’t run for profit or makes a loss (because that is NOT the point of socialised programs, you’ve really missed the meaning there) doesn’t mean it’s not a socialised program. COST is a non issue, that’s the point. It’s set up and run for the collective good. SOME entities that are socialised (like airlines and power companies) even make a PROFIT for the State. Like um… gee… Norway’s nationalised oil company. Does that mean the government runs ALL business? NO! Our power is deregulated and the state phone service, Telenor, is a shell of it’s former self with new competition being added to the market in the 90’s, etc.. etc…
Socialism is a collective idea. No dictator telling them what to do here. No military overthrow. The people who run for office tell everyone what they stand for and they get elected and the put the promised policies in place, or spend more or less money on those things they talked about. We have a fully elected government here, as they do in MOST socialist leaning countries. We have a free press and they, I have to say, are excellent here. The better I understand the language, the more respect I have for what is written in the papers (the serious ones..) and the TV reporting and special news shows… smart, articulate, well produced…
Oh, and perhaps I did miss out one major point. Education here is free. All of it. You pay for your books and have to find the money yourself to eat and pay rent, but there are no tuition fees. Well educated population could have something to do with the effort everyone here makes to look after things, collectively. They share their money, but they watch things closely. You want apathy? Let the companies run your government. You want a decent standard of living for everyone and REAL freedom? Govern yourselves.