This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1340314
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1340314
Ain’t afraid of socialism. My grandmother wrote for The Masses magazine in the 19-teens.
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If people understood the reality of how many of them actually are being kept alive by socialism I’m sure it would be even less scary.
A perfect example of how ignorant people are is how tRump lied last night when he said Biden wanted to kill Social Security and Medicare? Both programs are socialist in nature and millions of Americans depend on them for their well-being.
A bit of history: It’s always interesting when any republican makes that charge against a Democrat. You see it was the Democratic Party under FDR that created and passed Social Security in 1935. Republicans hated it then and they hate it now. It was the Democratic Party that created and passed Medicare under Johnson in 1965. Republicans hated it then and they hate it now.
So, anyone who is gullible enough to believe that any republican is trying to save either program is just an idiot or ignorant of history. The republicans want to destroy both programs. They always have. Moreover, any person who receives Social Security and Medicare and votes for tRump or republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.
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I am 75, I have NEVER taken the word socialism as being very scary. Yea, McCarthy, and ilk wanted Americans to use Socialism and Communism interchangeably. That worked to some extent, however, only on those who refused to read or educate themselves. Socialism, especially as practiced within Scandinavian countries is very very good.
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It was the Democratic Party that created and passed workplace safety laws. Republicans hated it then and they hate it now.
It was the Democratic Party that created and passed minimum wage laws. Republicans hated it then and they hate it now.
It was the Democratic Party pushed for the 40 hour work week. Republicans hated it then and they hate it now.
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We could go on for hours about this …
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Well, the NFL owners are a bunch of fat cats that vote socialist on football matters:
- Salary caps,
- No Promotion nor relegation
- Revenue sharing
- Draft talent equitably from same pool
- High Minimum wage
- Active promotion of equality of outcomes
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Socialism is defined as the Government owning the means of production.
Or to put another way, Bernie Sanders is NOT a socialist in the true meaning of the word.
Combined with Republicans calling everything that is other than Feudalism, (mass concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a very few with everyone else fighting for table scraps) including public schools a requirement of Capitalism, Socialism, and the fact that current poster child for Socialism, Bernie Sanders is just not as scary as the old poster children for Socialism to include Joe Stalin, calling someone or something “Socialist”, well who the hell is afraid of Bernie Sanders.
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But I think republicans are the biggest socialists of all. Remember, with them every accusation is a confession. They like to privatize their profit when times are good. Then they socialize their losses with no strings attached bailout slush funds financed on the back of the American taxpayer when times are bad. Republicans LOVE socialism. Who are they kidding?
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califdemdreamer, I would not say Republicans love “Socialism”.
What I would say, and your post demonstrates, is that to be a Republican you must have two sets of morals and standards, one for yourself and another for everyone else. Furthermore, the reason you are a Republican is you think the “favored” or preferential standards apply to you and God damn everyone else including other Americans.
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When given the choice between: Feudalism, Socialism, or Fascism, Socialism ALWAYS WINS.
The Nazi’s even cynically named themselves “The National Socialist German Workers’ Party” because Socialism is ALWAYS more popular than Fascism.
The Wealthy few prefer Feudalism, but will accept Fascism as an acceptable substitute.
The rest of the world prefers Socialism, for obvious reasons.
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“words”
Caught a discussion last night about the debate and commentator said if you don’t read right wing blogs or listen to right wing radio a lot of the words Trump was using don’t make sense to the average layperson.Good point I thought.
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All of the GOP ads for the Senate race and OK District 5 (held currently by Kendra Horn, a Dem) feature Nancy Pelosi or Elizabeth Warren and have the lady with the scary voice intoning that “Socialist Kendra Horn” or “Socialist Abby Broyles” want to come to your house, I guess, and take all of the food out of the pantry so that your children go hungry, and then make oil and gas illegal and force you to have an abortion, regardless of your gender or age. We don’t have any issues here in Oklahoma; we just have scary Socialist women.
(And as a Progressive here, we can add the “Green Corn Rebellion” to our list of things that we weren’t taught in Oklahoma History class. The list also includes the Tulsa Race Massacre and the Black Kettle Massacre ,sometimes called the Battle of Washita River, and almost everything else that Custer did while he was stationed at Fort Supply. )
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I travel. (or did, before the plague hit) I’ve been in many ‘socialist’ countries that are better run with MUCH happier citizens than here. Much better educated, I might also add.
Oh, BTW, do you know when the first first federally subsidized ‘socialist’ hospital was built in the US? 1792. Know who had it built? Jefferson.
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Exactly. I kicked over a real hornet’s nest recently when I suggested in an online discussion that Social Security and Medicare were variations on a socialist theme.
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Why Is Socialism Becoming Less Scary?
Perhaps because the vast majority of people living in FREE countries worldwide are thriving, more healthy, more productive, and generally more happy living with certain so-called “socialist” institutions such as universal health care, labor unions, general welfare, minimum wages, etc.
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In a very short series of comments, we’re able to see the misconceptions associated with the term “socialism.”
Socialist policies can and do exist under a capitalist order. But that obviously doesn’t equate with socialism. Milwaukee has a very long and progressive city government run by socialist parties and leaders, but business operated under capitalist ownership.
Social democracy is based on a stable capitalist system to provide the taxes used to fund the social programs. The squeeze on northern European corporations from global competition led the political leadership (and unions to some extent) to implement neoliberal reforms with reductions in tax revenue in order to keep capitalist businesses competitive on the world market. Social democracy in those countries is a thin version of what it once was and most Americans mistakenly believe it is today.
Socialism doesn’t require that the state owns all private businesses. A corporation could be owned by the state, by a city or by the workers and stakeholders as deemed appropriate by the electors.
Many small businesses would best be exempt from collective ownership until they reach a financial and social scale that has significant impact. That would maintain incentives for entrepreneurial activities and small operations like restaurants, retail shops, etc. A threshold of $250,000,000 of income per year or more than 250 employees could serve as a reasonable discussion point. Obviously, the games with subsidiaries, off-shoring, etc. wouldn’t be acceptable.
My own preference is for large corporations to be owned and managed by councils of workers and community stakeholders and retain tax obligations to the state, at least during a long transition period.
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Many do not know what socialism is. Sean Hannity says it is bad so they believe it.
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Sorry but I don’t buy it and I wish TPM was not promoting it. There are no dirty words but those who call themselves democratic socialists will never get a vote from me. Sanders was rejected by the democratic voters in the last two primaries. Get the hint?