Re: Number 4

Indeed, I don't buy into socialism (of any type) for the same reason I don't buy into libertarianism or anarchy--human beings are too selfish and apathetic to make it work properly.

This concept of "extremes" is arbitrary.

Extremes are rarely effective.

One could just as easily point out the many failures of "centrists" and conclude that moderation is rarely effective.

The best of all possible worlds, as in so many things, seems to be a balanced approach that weighs the value of the individual against the need for a state.

This begs the question by assuming that there is a need for a state.

The recent oil spill demonstrates nothing if not that corporations are incapable of self-regulating.

How would they be able to self-regulate when as the products of State incorporation they are already regulated by government and in many cases, essentially extensions of it?