Pittsburgh makes Top 50 in the world. (insurance, school, move to)

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by airwave09

It appears that these "socialists" and liberals can run their cities waaaay better than most of their more conservative counterparts. So I wouldn't be so quick to reach for the tar and feathers.

It would appear that way if the people assessing the cities are themselves socialists. More of an affirmation of adherence to the city planning dogma.

And before someone chimes in that Pittsburgh is also controlled by Democrats so why isn't it being run so well... it just so happens to be that the majority of Democrats in Western PA would be considered Conservative Republicans in any of these actual liberal cities on the coasts and in Europe.

Which is why California and Europe are so economically sound today.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Which is why California and Europe are so economically sound today.

The EU and California are very far removed from being actual socialist states. The closest you'll get to the American form of "OMG SOCIALISM RUN FOR THE HILLS" is the Scandinavian countries who themselves are democratic socialists (which means they don't actually fit the criteria either).

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

The EU and California are very far removed from being actual socialist states. The closest you'll get to the American form of "OMG SOCIALISM RUN FOR THE HILLS" is the Scandinavian countries who themselves are democratic socialists (which means they don't actually fit the criteria either).

Many Americans have a somewhat ignorant and highly outdated view of what socialism is from the cold war era. I hope that idea changes as time goes on.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

Many Americans have a somewhat ignorant and highly outdated view of what socialism is from the cold war era. I hope that idea changes as time goes on.

I do too. Talk radio and other right wing media outlets seem to perpetuate the myth that Europe's various mixed economies are "socialist nations" when in fact that is far from the case. They have social programs that benefit its citizens (similar to the US but to a far greater extent) but in no way resemble actual socialist nations such as Cuba.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Cost-of-living should guide the fair compensation. Quality of life should figure in when trying to attract and hold talent.

I'm not sure I understand the distinction. Multinational A will lose employees to Multinational B if it doesn't do as good a job at determining what it will take to make its employees OK with being assigned to City X. Any index that doesn't look beyond COL factors won't cut it for that purpose, because people care about things besides just COL.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Which is why California and Europe are so economically sound today.

Sidenote, but there is no relationship between the size of government and current fiscal troubles in Europe (as measured by bond yields):

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

I do too. Talk radio and other right wing media outlets seem to perpetuate the myth that Europe's various mixed economies are "socialist nations" when in fact that is far from the case. They have social programs that benefit its citizens (similar to the US but to a far greater extent) but in no way resemble actual socialist nations such as Cuba.

I generally am rolling my eyes when i do have to listen to them and how they don't even understand the basic definition of socialism.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

I generally am rolling my eyes when i do have to listen to them and how they don't even understand the basic definition of socialism.

But we are generally moving in that direction. Sort of like the frog in the slowly warming pot. The federal government has been increasing its power over time with the latest being the introduction of Obamacare. We may not get true "Socialism" but probably some form of it. Once government programs are put in place and people start depending on it, their removal is unlikely as it will be argued that people will suffer as a result. So many of our schools accept federal money which gives the federal Department of Education the right to dictate policy to them.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

The EU and California are very far removed from being actual socialist states. The closest you'll get to the American form of "OMG SOCIALISM RUN FOR THE HILLS" is the Scandinavian countries who themselves are democratic socialists (which means they don't actually fit the criteria either).

I've lived in Europe (Germany and France) and I'd say government has much more control there than here. The discussion at the time I was in France was for more decentralization, as many saw that most actions had to go through Paris. I left before finding out how it all turned out.

But yeah, I think we are moving toward a type of Socialism with those on the left using the specter of the Boogeyman to allay or dismiss any reactionary fears.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I've lived in Europe (Germany and France) and I'd say government has much more control there than here. The discussion at the time I was in France was for more decentralization, as many saw that most actions had to go through Paris. I left before finding out how it all turned out.

But yeah, I think we are moving toward a type of Socialism with those on the left using the specter of the Boogeyman to allay or dismiss any reactionary fears.

I think our country is more akin to inverted totalitarianism than socialism.