Bit black and white thinking... Socialism is something that, without it being taken over by those dedicated to the ends this man says the Communists were aiming for, can be useful, controlled and of benefit to society.

I've pointed out many times that all viable democracies contain a large element of socialism - the simple reason for that is that a government actively providing for the needs of its people generates a better society in every way, including a more willing and useful workforce.

On the opposite side - that of unconstrained capitalism - the results have always historically proven to be that a few in privileged positions will benefit mightily by abusing the fundamental rights of the majority - the Robber Baron and Master/Servant relationships that prevailed in the past, and brought you such wonders as the company store, rental housing at prohibitive rates provided for workers, and accompanied with low wages, so that the workers never got above subsistence level while the owners enjoyed millions in luxury.

We have socialism here even given the inroads made by Howard and his Thatcherite/Reaganist acolytes - we still have, for example, a basic system in place to govern incomes, even when 'enterprise bargaining' and so forth are the 'law' - meaning that no negotiated settlement can fall below a certain level - or it will suffer punishment from whatever stamp of government is in power at the time.  Under that system, no income for hours worked can fall below the required standard = Award - and that is precisely why you see an endless parade of corporate vultures and parasites being brought before tribunals and courts for not meeting their requirements to their employees.

The Liberals can carry on as much as they like for public consumption about the evils of socialism - but at the end of the day they are forced to accept the reality that without government intervention and controlling measures, there is only a society riven by strife and turmoil.

Perhaps we could return to the good old days of the Robber Barons and the Molly Maguires... the peelers and the Kellys...

There are far more important issues to deal with here and now than reverting to the old theory that socialism was and is but a stepping stone to communism  - it is not, since socialism is under control of the government - and it is only if that government wishes to become communist that a nation will do so.

No government in Australia will ever do that....