Is Socialism Anti-American?

[sc94597]

Mr Khan said:

sc94597 said:

Mr Khan said:

 

Much of that private giving just goes to churches, though. Not to say churches don't do good things in their communities, but that is not primarily what they do nor primarily how that money is spent (most of it is just sustaining funds for church activities)

Actually if you look at OECD's Social Expenditure stats, 

http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SOCX_AGG

for the U.S  - Voluntary private:

3.9% GDP on Old Age

.4% GDP Incapacity Related

5.9% Health Related

0% Other

That is 10% of total GDP spent on Old Age, Disabilities, and Health. Let's compare it to say, the UK. 

4.5% GDP on Old Age

.4% GDP on Incapacity

.3% GDP on Health (arguably with public health care there is less of a private need)

.1% GDP on other social policies

With a total of 5.3% 

 

They are quite similar, yet Americans are supposedly evil and greed people who only care about themselves. 

That's because other countries have coverage for old age, incapacity, and health. They don't feel the need to donate it as we might. That we donate more does not nearly make up for the shortfall in government services.

And the U.S does not have social security, medicaid, and medicare? According to OECD 15% of social expenditure is Public 10% Voluntary Private and 5% Mandatory private. That adds up to 30% of GDP spent on social expenditure. Comparitively, say Norway, has 30% Public expenditure, and essentially 0-1% of everything else. You can argue efficiencies, but would a national health-care system be as efficient for a diverse population of 300 million as it is for 5 million people of the same ethnic and similar socio-economic background? 

My point was that if Americans didn't want public social expenditure if they were greedy, selfish, and only cared about themselves, then would they also not give to private charity?