Well, I definitely hate our government at the moment. And there's a part of me that wants to carry a gun, in case the police decide I'm a drug user or communist and shoot me for it.

That's the main reason for guns in America is it not?

I'm a conspiracy theorist as well, but one thing that I have learned over the past couple years is that whatever you do there will be no privacy here in America. In order to add any app. on your phone you must ok access to your whole phone, which includes messages, photos, video, mic, contacts and so on. Basically if you're going to live in todays society you either have to give in to the tech wave (meaning basically giving people permission into your life) or you can live life like people post 1995. I actually have 2 friends who live like that and they just can't seem to understand people of this internet age and how much electronics and social media have taken over the world.

What's really sad is that young kids today don't value privacy at all. They pretty much take for granted that you can't expect privacy. Might have something to do with the fact that they are digital natives. And sadly the conservative beliefs that I value don't really seem to be a part of conservatism anymore. Privacy has been going downhill fast since 9/11, and we need to keep a sharp eye out for power grabs during this pandemic, too

There are not many true conservatives left just as there aren't true democrats left. This socialist bunch will rue the day they wanted socialism. 

What's wrong with socialism in your eyes, Mercury? The main issue that, in your eyes, makes it an unworkable model?

I've heard the economic argument which suggests that socialism lacks the knowledge of market equilibrium, which is only possible as a result of a free-market capitalism style model. Is that what concerns you?

Or is it that in a strict socialism definition, one of the main tenets is that private property ownership is forbidden?

I'm just curious, because the average American's vision of a socialist system is often misinformed, and as a result - very skewed.

The basic underlying principle of socialism is that the workers should gain the benefits of business proitability, not the executives or owners, and any profits the government gets from publicly owned businesses are reinvested. That's a much broader definition, and one that's closer to the democratic socialism Bernie Sanders is a proponent of.

That's why I can't fathom why America hates socialism but loves capitalism, given that the first three words of your constitution are "We, the people", not "We, the businesses".

Mercury and @Noam_Chomsky

The issue with the typical American who espouses anti-socialism views is that the very term "socialist" has been slandered by the media that they currently claim (with, it must be said, a kernal of justification) is maligning President Trump.  The same has been done with the term "feminist."

What the average American conservative can't quite grasp, is that socialism is not liberalism, and that liberalism is a reasonably conservative standpoint.

Most working Americans will want employment rights, a reasonably fair system, free education, and won't want higher education to be the preserve of the wealthy.  Opinions vary about the healthcare system, but I would bet that most Americans would want it radically overhauled.

These are basic, if mild, socialist values.  Many socialists believe in a mixed economy, a mix of private and public ventures.  

What the typical American conservative probably doesn't grasp is that the status quo, Republican or Democratic, is deeply authoritarian.  American jails more people than any other nation on earth, with the possible exception of North Korea.  

When many American conservatives think of a socialist, they probably imagine Castro with an LGBT flag, or the rights of the average working man being curtailed.  They are wrong.  Socialists are often socially conservative but economically left-wing.

Politics essentially often boils down to ranking in importance humans or capital.  Republicans favour capital, democrats aren't far behind.  Socialists favour people.

People living in a country, whether it's the UK or US, with an imperial/colonial past or present often look to other places for examples of authoritarianism.  And there are often good examples.

But to think that Bernie Sanders would have done anything other than make the lots of the typical American worker a little better is far-fetched.  The truth is, Bill Clinton squandered his chance at reform, Bush Jr was interested in the application of foreign power, and Trump, for all his bluster, where he does have an ideology, could be described as leftish populism and anti-liberalism.

To nail my colours to a mast, I suppose I'm a former socialist, turned centre-left liberal.  Some conservative principles are attractive, but people forget that socialistic norms were just accepted until the late 1970s, in the UK and US.  I don't think the change has been for the better.

Very articulate Kirsty.

Having a certain amount of skepticism towards some MSM rhetoric is healthy and wise, as far as I'm concerned - provided you're capable of accurately researching the material privately.

Blindly believing that everything is "fake news" is dangerous, which is why I was curious about Mercury's reticence to support socialism, especially given - as you said, Kirsty - that aspects of socialism have been accepted as societal norms until recently; schools, fire departments etc.

As with you, I'd describe myself as center-left, but if I had to choose a party, it'd likely be the Greens - some libertarian policy, but with more social investment.

Manufacturing Consent - it transcends party politics.  It should  be required reading for everyone interested in politics.

I won't comment on US government in particular as I don't think it's my place, although I will say that it's terrifying that a lot of our nations are led by incompetent strongmen leaders. The corona situation in my country is being handled extremely poorly and that's because our president decided to invest our emergency funds on solely the military and who-knows-what -- he had around 7 billion USD as emergency funds and yet it seems that not one dollar went to mass testing or investing in healthcare. All we're really left with are human rights violations like quarantine violators being locked in cages and being shot in broad daylight ON TOP OF the pandemic. Sux.

Could be better. 

Well, let me start with saying that I am not a theorist or American :D

But just read a bit of history, government and the officials will do anything to increase and keep power. That is why you/we can never trust them to do their job, that is why politicians should be changed often.

Don't believe me, read about french president Charles de Gaulle, leader during WW2, basically, he was a god in his nation, they would vote for him even if he was that, that is a fact. But after two terms, he stopped and said guys, listen, power corrupts, never give it to ANYONE for too long.

I am following US politics and some of them have a careere in it, like whole life... How can you be senator or congressman or whatever for like 20 years..

now this is a subject that is needed to be be talked about on a serious tip

I am following US politics and some of them have a careere in it, like whole life... How can you be senator or congressman or whatever for like 20 years..

20 years? Ken Clarke has been in continuous parliamentary service since the 1970 election until 2019 - 50 years in parliament.

At least Ken Clarke was a democratically elected returning MP though... the HoL is even worse; Lord Denham has held his title and seat since 13th December 1949, with no option to be removed. 70 years. 

You're not wrong at all, hope for the best and prepare for the worst is fine advice in most circumstances.  I use the Brave browser for it's built in ad and tracker blocking.  It doesn't matter that no one will likely ever read your data or communication history but it seems likely that even if the government isn't storing your data big corporations definitely are.  Privacy is serious business and I don't see anything wrong with trying to keep as much of it as you can.

I don't really know how to feel about the government. We can trust them at times, but we can't at others. Defend yourself and all thats yours, and know they can never take us all.