Fair points to a degree - just note for those of us (000's/10,000's/100,000's/millions?) who have fallen through the cracks and got nothing - am I expected to repay back the loans made out to people & companies in the future in my tax rate? Hardly fair. I was made redundant in January for which a got an amount that took me a smidgen above the threshold for UVC and this has been the worse time ever to look at the job market.. I will l be making a claim for UVC soon, obviously I'd much prefer to work as would everyone at the moment.

Only the same as me paying tax to educate and feed other people's kids etc. It seems that you are a socialist only when you are on the receiving end?

Paid all income taxes since Jan 1993 & I haven't been bailed out.. quite the opposite, on now and I will be on later

My point remains. You said its "hardly fair" that you should contribute to people in need, hardly a socialist attitude is it? Or is it only fair if you're getting a slice of the action?

Therein lies the issue with socialism - everyone is equal apart from those who are more equal than the rest. All those on here are happy to spout the rhetoric as long as their lifestyle is not impacted in ensuring others get a leg up. Socialism is about dragging everyone down - its the only way to achieve equality as there has to be a big number to support the ruling class.

What a ridiculous statement - and is a large part of the reason you're perceived as an amusing novelty act; you can't possibly say that, any more than I can say that *everyone* who supports the Tories is a right wing nutjob who cares more about their personal wealth than the lives of their fellow humans.

Socialism is about communal ownership and responsibility, about co-operating more than competing.

Other countries (like all of our northern European neighbours) achieve greater equality in terms of outcomes and opportunities without dragging everyone down, and indeed without full blooded socialism. Possibly by virtue of not having such rigid and institutionalised class systems or financialized economies.

I think nobody is more of a novelty act than you - nothing is ever your fault always somebody else's PPE is just the latest in your neat deflection technique - look in the mirror and seriously ask the question - can I really walk on the surface of the River Aire because that is how you come across

If you believe Maslow and most experts give weight to his writings - altruism is a pretty high up need - once your personal/family situation is secure.

That's the theory - the reality is the higher echelons of a Socialist society have a far better standard of living than the average - that has to be funded, the average standard of living would increase if the cost of running the state in a socialist environment wasn't so costly. Name me one Socialist country where the standard of living is even a little bit higher than an average capitalist/mixed economy where the wealth is generated by commercial activity e.g. Sweden/Germany/UK/Belgium/Switzerland etc.

Absolute nonsense.
So, the beloved NHS, brought in by a socialist government, mush to the despair of the despair of some right wing politicians, is paid for through a progressive tax system and is free at point of service.

Just take a glance accross the pond and see just how great the health system in the States is functioning at a time of desperate need.

Your interpretation of socialism is that it "drags everyone down" and yet, the principles are the exact opposite.
Whereas, the Tory view is look after yourself first and screw the rest.

It's quite refreshing at the moment to see all of the so called better off having to rely on the people much lower down the pecking order.
We would literally have ground to a halt without care workers, nurses, shop assistants, delivery drivers etc and yet, when we come through the other end, they will be the ones getting shat on (again).

I know that many, many, businesses are failing and will continue to do so, through absolutely no fault of their own, which is something that may hit Boris and Co at some point in the future but, as I said, it's refreshing to see those that are keeping the job running, finally getting some credit for well earned credit.

Maybe, society will become a little more fair at the end of all of this but, I wont hold my breath.

To be honest you could have stopped there. There’s no such thing... even where we get closer, like Cuba, we’re going to take a ‘no true Scotsman’ approach to the argument, just as you would with struggling/failing authoritarian right wing regimes. And it isn’t like the rest of the Caribbean is full of thriving economies.

Name me one purely capitalist country where the standard of living is even a little bit higher than an ‘average’ well-regulated country, where government plays a significant role in safeguarding the welfare of its citizens e.g. Sweden/Germany/UK/Belgium/Switzerland etc.

Singapore and the US, maybe. But even then, they are highly de-regulated rather than unregulated. We’re arguing along a spectrum... and we both want Sweden.

There’s so much to be positive about in the UK, historically and currently (as well as plenty of appalling stuff). I think the good comes more from stuff like the foundation of the co-operative movement... some others (straw man alert) might credit the playing fields of Eton. Not many of us see as desirable, a complete end to private property or to a self-defeating abandonment of all sense of shared societal responsibility in the pursuit of profit.

It'd be great if previously unskilled workers, who are now key workers and essential to the running of the country, get the recognition they deserve. And it would be great if the public stick to their new found unfavourable views of the hypocritical billionaire classes, demanding handouts while they sit on piles of cash on their islands.

Personally, I think we'll see those at the top making sure those at the bottom pay for it, and we'll carry on with the whole austerity illusion, just under a Boris rebrand, and accompanied by a catchy 3 word slogan. I'll go with a period of 'restraint', and the sell will be "Squeeze for Britain". It's catchy, it's fun, it appeals to the war loving 'blitz spirit' crowd, despite the fact it will be miserable for millions. I can just see Bozo now, his hand in that trademark 'clenched fist with thumb over the top', "we're going to 'Squeeze for Britain' during this period of restraint, and I promise each and every one of you - it will be worth it".

No surprise to me that your response is absolute nonsense - with no reference to the original argument.

FYI - plenty of things are my fault; the failings of the Govt are not however. And for the record (for the third time) neither I or any other private provider is looking for PPE handouts - I'm quite happy to pay the market rate, as I've always done. But since we didn't have access to the Operation Cygnus findings, we didn't stockpile it; the Govt did have access, but still didn't stockpile it - that's my issue.

As for the socialist country tripe - none exists in the way you're describing it, and I don't know a single socialist who either wants or advocates that; in general, we just want fairness, equality of opportunity and a society that values more than shareholder dividends and impossible, endless growth. Plenty of those exist, as well you know.

OK name me a country where Socialist principles dominate where the average prosperity of its population is better than those where Capitalism drives the agenda?