Getting There from Here

Seems like a good time to remind Americans that socialism and capitalism do not exist in their pure form anywhere on this planet.

Take a moment and imagine our lives without our physical infrastructure, police, fire fighting, criminal justice, national defense, public education, labor laws, auto and food safety standards, air traffic control, TSA, libraries, emergency medical care, environmental regulation, social security, Medicare, national parks, bank regulations and deposit insurance, copyright and patent laws, federal dams to provide electrical power, flood control, the Weather Service, consulates and embassies, FEMA, veterans affairs, public water systems, monitoring of all international cargo, NASA, border protection, and the National Institutes of Health.

All progressives want to add to the list are universal healthcare, free education, greater environmental stewardship, and a few social programs to alleviate some suffering and foster productivity.