Wage differentials.

[PinkFruitbat]

The graduate premium has eroded and wage differentials compressed. Is this the socialist utopia you dreamed of?

Socialism is circa £1bn each day spent on welfare.

That's not a "definition" of socialism, is it? It "may" be a by-product of socialist principles in action, but it would be helpful here if you actually clarified what you are referring to when you say "socialism". What is your working definition of it?

And who (as you alluded to in your OP) specifically in the UK do you think has been dreaming of a British socialist utopia?

In traditional terms socialism is about state ownership and control. And both Tories and Labour have done quite a bit of nationalisation in the last 15 years. But it modern terms what’s been far more powerful, and possible with digital currencies, is taxation control. Taxation control for Labour (and Tories) has been wealth redistribution. Taking money from high earners to give to low earners and non workers. This is to buy vote share. But a disaster for the country and has crushed productivity.

None of what you've written here is a "definition" of what socialism is. You are describing what you think the effects of the "socialism" you have in your head looks like. I'm not able to engage with the outcomes you are so enraged by as being results of said "socialism" without you defining what you mean by that. And also, you're ignoring a part of your original post where you indicated that some people were looking forward to there being some sort of socialist "utopia". Who are these people?

What I wrote is literally the definition of socialism.

What nationalisation? The Tories denationalised everything.

London North Eastern Railway (LNER): 2018

Northern: 2020

Southeastern: 2021

Sheffield Forgemasters: 2021

Probation Service: 2021

TransPennine Express: 2023

All the trains will be renationalised by next year.

A mere drop in the ocean.

Good. Ours already are (Scotland).

woo hoo - more socialism.

(show me a successful socialist country).

So what do you think would be the best way to govern? Do you believe in the NHS? State pension? Social care?

What's your actual problem here?

Personally I favour the direct democracy of Switzerland, although Singapore’s economic focus and competence at the heart of government is extremely attractive.

The UK is on a path to economic disaster.

Yes since Austerity.

What austerity?

Do you even live in the UK?

I do. Almost £1bn a day spent on welfare. Debt to GDP nearly 100%. Well over half of UK households NET receivers. Huge sums given in Furlough during Covid. Absolutely bonkers state dependency. Welfare gone mad.

I didn't go to Oxbridge/ uni in general with the expectation that I would make loads of money by virtue of having attended (thankfully, because I haven't). I went because I wanted to spend three years studying English literature. I realise that things are different now because it costs so much money to attend, but surely it was more socialist to get my fees and most of my living expenses paid than how it is now, and the result was that you could go to university and if that didn't mean you ended up making more money no harm done and a lot of good done during those three years. Yay socialism.

Who would you like to tax in order to make a university degree more affordable?

Half of this is pensions.
Which most people consider a very separate matter to other forms of benefits..

State pension is a benefit. Always has been classed as a benefit.

I know it is officially classified as a benefit.

What I meant (which is what I said) is that most people consider pensions as very different to other benefits.
When people talk about 'people on benefits' they are generally not thinking about state pensions.

That would make for an interesting poll.

I suspect most people would consider ‘people on benefits’ to include pensioners.