I do not support classic capitalism (with denial of private property, etc.) ... and you do not have to. You can even cross the border and choose to live anywhere with the presence of the socialism in its more profound form.
What is this??? Capitalism is based on the recognition of private property. American capitalism has constitutional provision - the right for pursuit of happiness, which implies exactly ownership of private property...
In fact: "denial of private property is a definite feature of socialism due to equality of individuals, everything belongs to the government.
Cheers and I suggest a different audience for this kind of demagoguery.(D) (D) (D)

I am not sure what Valentina meant. I think she was talking about some form of classic capitalism which denies private property.
I don't know what it is though(tr)
But it's so cute to judge about the greatness of european system from anecdotes from girlfriends who got there from some crappy place, and were able to milk the system for a whole year. Sure, it's fun to get something for free withouth contributing. Free lunches are great! ( When America is paying for it).
Just think of this scenario: we can become like Europe if we stop having a voluntary military and start enlisting young people at 18 to serve in Middle East. In exchange for free health care for their moms and dads. :-)

Let me make one little remark: USA already lives under socialism, have had for years:
Minimal Wage
Social Security
Affordable Housing
And so on.., minimal wage being one of the most dangerous equalizers here, killing spirit of competition in the early age.

i think spirit and competition are killed even earlier. when kids on the soccer team that took 12th places in a 12 teams tournament get prizes .....
"no child left behind" did not help either. instead of pushing kids to succeed teachers bring them down to the lowest denominator...
those kids have no idea what "minimal wage" is yet ;)

There was a good line in "The Incredibles", can't quite recall it exactly. Something about rewarding mediocrity.

one of those Meet The Parents movies shows it pretty good too.... when De Nero visits Stiler's parents shrine to him....

Yep, there too. On the other hand, that could be easily dealt with at home. I don't tell my daughter that she is the best at everything. Quite on the contrary, Olga is very strict with her when it comes to piano. She is already very good for her age but we won't stop there.
Minimal wage, however, is a federal practice. It pains me that I am forced to pay $8 an hour to a high school student who text messages on 3 phones simultaneously and doesn't even clean her own shit. I don't mind the money, but let that amount be derived through competition not some Washington idiocy.

of course it starts at home. no argument here....
but if u ask me - the generation of americans who in teen years right now is doomed. at least in cali....

I am not interested in opinion of the type of people Maria is describing, however i spoke with uneducated americans and they all support capitalism 100%, as well as all immigrants.
And I was very surprised speaking with French, Algerian and American guys working on their PhD here (they are getting their little scholarship here for doing research and teaching). All from wealthy families. All had studied politics and had read Marx and Lenin. All well traveled. All support socialism.
Just for the information:
social programs did not cause any crisis. Stock market crash did (and I already wrote that).
Productive people will be productive no matter what (soviet union is the proof of it - great scientists, great artists, etc.).
there is no equal distribution in socialist Europe.
Competition will always exist because so far there is no way to avoid unemployment.
Now, capitalism in USA died at the moment government accepted social programs. There is no way back. However USA needs changes.

considering that women still make 77 cents on the dollar, I wouldn't do away with minimum wage just yet.