@AskTheDevil @heatherdale
First, I´d like to point out that socialism manages certain concepts without which it cannot be understood. That´s why I linked the wikipedia article in first instance. These can be "ownership", which can be private or social, and "production". To touch and manage these concepts you need policies. Policies implemented by State.
As for the classical socialism you can find plenty of examples in history and judge the policies yourself.

@Uselessdogs @heatherdale I thought you meant certain specific policies that you had in mind.

@AskTheDevil
More specific that using State and it´s taxes?- Hard to find it. It´s not that I have anything in mind, it´s what has been used by social democracy (classic socialism goes farther in that, no private ownership for example). It´s already used. Europe is a huge social democratic state.

@AskTheDevil @heatherdale
On the other hand there´s Social Democarcy. I live in Spain, currently governed by a Social Democrat party (PSOE), a party that along history has moved from classic socialism to social democracy.
Here we have a welfare state. This means we have public assistance in health, education and others. Sounds fine.
But as I said, policies are needed in order to achieve this. And the way of doing so is mainly taxation.

@Uselessdogs @heatherdale In my view, what is actually needed is something that allows the mission to be accomplished, and funded. Taxes are a strategy commonly and historically used to do that, but as long as whatever it is can be funded or accomplished, the mission can be accomplished. Doesn't need to be through taxes specifically. What if at some point there's nothing we think of as "money"?

I have no inherent beef with taxes. I just prefer encouraging a broader view of what is possible.

@AskTheDevil @heatherdale
Ok. Then you are just staying with the philosophical part (politics are philosphy) and not the economical. And socialism can´t be understood without that part, it´s part of it´s essence. Talking about socialism without economics ends up in a sterile discussion about "good and bad people".

@Uselessdogs @heatherdale There's always some guiding philosophy behind governments and methods of governance. There's also always the practical. When people say they want to divorce the philosophical from the practical, I'm fond of responding with the saying "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch."

If we're building a new world, we might try developing new economic models, even post-money models.

After people are fed and not on fire, perhaps.

@AskTheDevil @heatherdale Of course. That takes me to another question. No money?. Think about it, no money means State will be providing everything. This gives total power to state diminishing individuals independence. One can choose this, but I don´t like it. Even social democracy tends to that. Said by someone living in a welfare social democrat state since a kid (born in US but most of my life here).

@AskTheDevil
And taxation can be managed in many ways. Here we have problems with that. It would be long and complex to explain but the risk is that private production can end producing only to support state. One might think that´s good, others don´t.

@Uselessdogs I'm not sure I'm able to parse the following:

"private production can end producing only to support state"

Can you help me understand what you meant?

@AskTheDevil Oh yes. This happens when state starts growing more and more in order to mantain the welfare state. This means it needs funds to go on, and the only way it finds them is taxation on private companies AND workers. So here we are in Spain, being suffocated with taxes.

@Uselessdogs Sounds like someone's not doing it right, or someone's not playing fair.

@AskTheDevil That´s for sure. Long story. Just wanted to express that socialism is not only the idea, it´s the policies, and moreover, it´s State, helluva State. One can like that or not.. Very nice to have these converstaion. Would love to go on, but now I have to produce for state😂 . Will be back.