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Comment by maratd | Hacker News Reader

> On the whole, I just look at those figures and feel a deep amount of shame for my country (US).

I feel a deep shame for your comment. I can respect someone for believing in a socialist approach, why are you unable to do the same for those who believe in a laissez faire approach?

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Most of the questions have nothing to do with laissez faire vs socialism.

Uh the very first one? "Which is more important, Freedom to pursue one's goals without state interference, or that the state guarantees no one is in need"?

Although there are people like myself who think that the state does a very poor job of guaranteeing no one is in need, and that individuals are better at providing 'socialism' than governments.

He doesn't mention that one specifically, more likely he is ashamed by questions on homosexuality etc.

I personally found it highly surprising (in a disconcerting way) that so few people answered "don't know" for the question "is individual success under your control". Am I really the only person who is squarely in the "in some ways yes, in some ways no" camp?

Depends on what exactly do you mean "your control".

You can respect someone for believing in socialism? What about witchcraft?

I don't believe witchcraft can claim any reasonable success, while socialism can at least make a claim for converting the largest countries in the world from agrarian to industrial economies. Now, I would argue that capitalism can do it better, but there would be an argument at least ... what argument can you have with witchcraft? Hence my respect.

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