Should Bernie Sanders run for President in 2020

@hippyjoe1955 You don't live in a socialist country though. And even considering that, your nation is in far better shape than where Bernie Sanders is.

@hippyjoe1955

[quote]It is a sad but true maxim that socialism begets poverty.[/quote]

That's false. Lengthy studies have shown that the more equal societies (which socialist societies are) have the greatest wealth and the best life chances.

See: The Spirit Level: Why Equality Is Better For Everyone by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

@fazer1k Ever lived in one? I doubt it. Nice stats though. Too bad they don't reflect reality.

@hippyjoe1955 If you say Canada is socialist I imagine you would believe Europe to be socialist as well.

I happen to think the stats make perfect sense. To deny them you would have to believe in a highly improbable set of statistical coincidences making them 'appear' true.

@fazer1k I haven't been to Europe for many many years. However Canada has elected several socialist governments.

@hippyjoe1955 [quote]Ever lived in one? I doubt it. Nice stats though. Too bad they don't reflect reality.[/quote]
I used to live in Denmark, that's a socialist country. And those stats are absolutely reflected in reality. I wish I could have stayed, but my sister and I were up to no good and we had to leave.

@BlueMetalChick [quote]I wish I could have stayed, but my sister and I were up to no good and we had to leave.[/quote]

That sounds like an interesting story you could post at some point!

@fazer1k Lol if you knew how much "no good" I've been up to my whole life 😂 My older sister has a long history of counterfeiting, and I'm a lifelong larcenist. I'm a racketeer at the moment, but I work a real job too. My "legit" pay comes from playing music in a piano bar downtown.

@BlueMetalChick Wow! I can see I've led a sheltered life!

@fazer1k It's nothing to envy. I'm only the way I am because I'm a refugee from war. I left Yemen in the early 2000's and traveled around looking for a new home but nobody would let me stay in their country longer than a few months at a time because of visa restrictions, or because I was doing stuff I wasn't supposed to.

@BlueMetalChick I guess my life seems rather boring by comparison but I'm glad I've been fairly lucky not to go through the hardships you must have done. Are you settled somewhere permanent now?

@fazer1k Chicago, yeah. I'm staying here until I graduate college.

@BlueMetalChick Excellent. During my younger years I had to move around quite a lot (within Britain) due to my father's job and, although it could be interesting, I didn't find it helpful.

@fazer1k Moving around is kind of an ethnic thing, I'm a Roma Gypsy.

@BlueMetalChick I found moving around so much unsettling, overall. I guess it may depend on personality too - I've always been quite introverted so I guess I found it hard from that perspective.

How long have you been playing piano?

@fazer1k Oh, a long time, my mother insisted on teaching me how to read music when I was a child. I can share some of my piano work if you like.

@BlueMetalChick Sure, would love to hear. Do you write your own music?

@fazer1k Yeah, I do lots of improv as well.

Here, these are some of my works.

https://soundcloud.com/user-449814009

@BlueMetalChick You are very good! You must be popular in clubs, or wherever you play. Elandra comes to town has a great feel for me - I'm playing that one again.

@fazer1k That's the only one I recorded digitally.