Our vocabulary includes many words to describe political-economic systems, including: capitalism, laissez-fair, socialism, communism, fascism, social-democracy, the Nordic system, and so on. I've gotten into raging debates over what these words mean. Really, it should come down to just one, rather objective factor: how much does government control the economy? A lot, or a little, or something in-between?
All those words and phrases serve as short hand. We use them in lieu of longer definitions. But, when there's disagreement, it's a distraction to argue over the meaning if the end goal is to discuss the underlying concepts.
Your penultimate sentence should read "how much *should* government control the economy?"
Funny coincidence, I have watched several YouTube videos recently of Brits favorite things about America. Number one air conditioning, number two ice cubes. The videos have fascinated me, I have watched British, German, and French ones and they all have very similar takes. Many of them have reminded me that America is magnificent despite our politics.
Do Europeans not have access to refrigerators with ice makers in the freezer compartments? Honest question. I'm a '50's style American who lives off mixed beverages. A few months ago my ice maker went out and I suffered for several days before a tech arrived and replaced the ice maker unit. In the meantime I felt like a savage in the wild having to fill ice trays to support my lifestyle. God bless America.
Many years ago now we went to France. To this day my husband will put 3 ice cubes in my drink to make me laugh. The hardest part of eating out was the negotiating for more than two ice cubes. 🤣
“… decades later, but a decade ago …” 💕
Our vocabulary includes many words to describe political-economic systems, including: capitalism, laissez-fair, socialism, communism, fascism, social-democracy, the Nordic system, and so on. I've gotten into raging debates over what these words mean. Really, it should come down to just one, rather objective factor: how much does government control the economy? A lot, or a little, or something in-between?
All those words and phrases serve as short hand. We use them in lieu of longer definitions. But, when there's disagreement, it's a distraction to argue over the meaning if the end goal is to discuss the underlying concepts.
Your penultimate sentence should read "how much *should* government control the economy?"
Funny coincidence, I have watched several YouTube videos recently of Brits favorite things about America. Number one air conditioning, number two ice cubes. The videos have fascinated me, I have watched British, German, and French ones and they all have very similar takes. Many of them have reminded me that America is magnificent despite our politics.
And that Europe's a better place to visit than to live :)
Do Europeans not have access to refrigerators with ice makers in the freezer compartments? Honest question. I'm a '50's style American who lives off mixed beverages. A few months ago my ice maker went out and I suffered for several days before a tech arrived and replaced the ice maker unit. In the meantime I felt like a savage in the wild having to fill ice trays to support my lifestyle. God bless America.
I don't know if they do. I do believe the cultural disparity remains.
Many years ago now we went to France. To this day my husband will put 3 ice cubes in my drink to make me laugh. The hardest part of eating out was the negotiating for more than two ice cubes. 🤣