In recent times the argument has come up among both goverment officials, and public sector citizens alike about what aspects of socialistic economics we should incorporate into our country's government. Words like "redistribution of wealth" and "Socialistic healthcare" are thrown around in congress and in the news on a literally daily basis. In these times our freedoms, whether they be political or economic, are dangerously at risk. There are certain aspects of socialistic economics that would be great benifits for the united states; the common mistake is certain government officials thinking we, as a nation, can afford these advantages. With the american government spending more on defense contracts, weapons, and international security than almost every other nation combined, we can't afford to pay our people certain healthcare benifits without taxing them out of their entire paycheck. One famous New York columnist once said "Europe is living in the beautiful castle of socialism, and the United States is paying to guard it". The reason socialism works for the Europeans that rave about it is because they can afford it. If the United states tried to impose policies such as those of the Europeans, especially in such a time of economic stress, it could cause catostrophic economic failures around the world. It would be great if one day there was a world that didn't need saving on a daily basis, and the united states could put down their guns and embrace new government benifits, but for the time being the united states must stand on guard, protecting anyone who needs it; It is a sacrifice we all have to make.