Czuch:

> here in the US we already DO insure all of our citizens necessary health,
> education and social services

That is precisely the point. The US is already a form of a welfare state. However, not all citizens get the same services. If that were the case, there would be no debate on health care reform. Programs like No Child Left Behind would be unnecessary. Universities and colleges would be more accessible.

Certain things in certain countries are better, but at a higher taxation cost. It is a tough balancing act. Pay more taxes and get more services. Pay less taxes and have some of the lower income people have lower quality of services. It is an old debate going back to the Great Depression era.

I don't think the US needs to move more towards socialism. What countries like the US (and Canada and other industrialized nations) need is to move away from massive war spending. Less money into weapons, more money into health and education, and more money into the pension system for retirees. Next year (2010) people born in 1945 turn 65. The baby boomer generation will start retiring in big numbers. If something is not done now, a lot of retirees will end up with inadequate pensions and services. I think this is when the shift in thinking will happen. Governments will have no choice but to streamline their efficiency and stop waste in war.