General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf a Republican called me a socialist, I would wear that as a badge of honor.
I would thank them, I would say I am proud to support social security and Medicare. I am proud I want health care for all Americans. I am proud I want a clean environment. If that's socialism, then I am proud to be a socialist.
The Democrats in congress need to learn how to fight when the Republicans label them is these simplistic ways. The Democrats run scared when the Republicans try to label them. That's why it works.
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Thomas Hurt
(13,903 posts)just got to the right kind of socialist I guess.
onecaliberal
(32,864 posts)
lpbk2713
(42,759 posts)If Faux thinks it's bad ... then normal people should think it's good.
bullimiami
(13,099 posts)i don't remember any of them talking about the fascist or oligarchic wing of the republican party.
brush
(53,788 posts)and a socialist. Social Democratic countries are thriving capitalist societies which are well regulated and taxed to rrovide generous soccial services like free health care and education for its citizwnsl
In socialist countryies on the other hand, the state owns the means of production . The state doles our goods and services to the people—fron each according to his/her ability, to each according to his need
You sure you want that?
instead why don't we come back at the repugs by telllig them to stop advocating fascism, which is what trump and his sycophants are doing.
shockey80
(4,379 posts)We are not socialists, we do believe in social , government programs that make are lives better.
brush
(53,788 posts)Social Democrat instead, although most repugs are so dumb about both they won't know the difference.
watoos
(7,142 posts)I simply told my Trumper friend, what do you call it when Trump gives billions of your tax dollars to soy bean farmers because his tariffs cut into their profits? I tell them, I call it Socialism. Trump picks winners and losers all of the time, he gives subsidies and tax breaks to the fossil fuel industry while taking them away from renewable energy, that's picking winners and losers, not very capitalistic. Republicans are against Socialism when it benefits the little guy. We just had a nice rain storm in our small borough, thank god the army corps of engineers built our town's flood control project and we maintain it.
That's how you talk to zombies who mouth a word they have no idea what it means, you don't run away from a fight.
Cicada
(4,533 posts)We need a new name.
CrossingTheRubicon
(731 posts)it is the elimination of private enterprise. The "substance" itself is poisonous.
Cicada
(4,533 posts)Markets make a big pie which socialism distributes more efficiently. Think Scandinavia.
CrossingTheRubicon
(731 posts)Two very different underlying ideologies. One liberal, one not.
watoos
(7,142 posts)Right wing talking point.
CrossingTheRubicon
(731 posts)and not the accomplishment of Socialists or Socialism.
It is echoing right-wing talking points to conflate the liberal Democratic Party with Socialism.
This Democratic Party loyalist is quite sick of the dishonest "re-framing" efforts that only undermine our party and our values and play into Republican's hands.
shockey80
(4,379 posts)shockey80
(4,379 posts)CrossingTheRubicon
(731 posts)None of the great achievements of the Democratic Party should be tarred by false associations with Socialism.
watoos
(7,142 posts)but it is a right wing talking point you know?
brush
(53,788 posts)FDR's and LBJ's administrations social program achievements should, as uou say, be trumpeted as liberal Democratic Party accomplishments.
watoos
(7,142 posts)when you know that you are right? Corporations and the rich take way more advantage of our tax dollars than poor people do. If you want to bash Socialism start by not giving billions of tax dollars to soy bean farmers just because their profits went down because of Trump's tariffs. There would not be a single nuclear power plant built in America were it not for Socialism. Name me one private corporation who would insure them?
The problem isn't that Republicans are throwing out the word Socialism and linking it to communism and linking it to Democrats, the problem is that Democrats don't know how to respond to this nonsense.
As I said in my other post, we just had a nice rain storm in our borough of 1500 people, thank god the army corps of engineers built our flood control project. Our little town didn't have the resources to do that on our own. That's how I answer Trumpers from my small town when they call me a Socialist.
The freaking state of Alaska is an example of Socialism. Every citizen in the state gets a check from the oil industry. If you want to run away from Socialism go to Alaska and ask the people there if they want to give up their oil checks?
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)I wouldn't take it as a compliment, especially when it's meant as an insult. I am proud of the socialized programs we do have, but that's not the same thing as being a socialist no matter who's using the word.
Btw, does ANYONE know of a socialist nation that functioned well and didn't fail? Of course not. A number can be named that tried and were taken over by authoritarian government after their people despaired of what they had, though. Venezuela, anyone? Also some nations that were forced to allow capitalism once again in order to avoid collapse.
Nations that use mixed economic structures are easily the most successful. In fact, ONLY nations that use mixed systems are among the most successful. The U.S. is one of them even though we need to go farther.
shockey80
(4,379 posts)They are going to call the Democrats socialists 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week in the next election. The Democrats must turn that against them and you do it with humor and sarcasm.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)SS and MC are considered (at least partially) socialized programs isn't bad at all. 
You're so right, of course, and they're running hard with the socialism boogie now, but after its scare power weakens I think it could backfire on them with a lot of people. They really are gutting and otherwise trying to undo our most valued and needed retirement security programs, something that'll become better understood as the effects are felt ever more broadly.
And their determination to repeal and never replace the ACA's unlimited coverage for new and preexisting conditions is practically muscle memory for a majority of Americans now. They're currently trying to make it unconstitutional, and that's going to end up news even if it fails.
And once our candidates really get going, people will get a better idea of what they're really about.
shockey80
(4,379 posts)stonecutter357
(12,697 posts)watoos
(7,142 posts)Democrats give tax money to the poor and Republicans give it to the rich. Didn't Trump just give billions of dollars to soy bean farmers? Why did he do that? His tariffs cut into their profits and he didn't want rich farmers mad at him.
We have to learn how to talk about this issue not run away from it.
Republicans gave huge tax breaks to corporations and the rich which is running up our deficit to 1 trillion dollars a year and climbing. I can see what's next. Republicans are going to come for SS Medicare and Medicaid which they are going to relate to failed Socialist programs.
Here's an argument re: Socialism. Do you think that health care is a privilege or a right? If you say a right you are a Socialist, and most likely a Democrat. I for one embrace that.
muntrv
(14,505 posts)
ck4829
(35,077 posts)All the different projects he has gotten a lot of money from with public funding for his golf clubs and buildings, only to reap 100% of the profits from them . Its branding for trump , trying to make it sound bad when the government gives anything to the people, but not to him. Maybe some of them now should ask for their money back from him? He's intentionally confusing the people with this. Did the same thing to Hillary too. Its a form of them demonizing others with.
GeorgeGist
(25,321 posts)Sounds socialist to me.
watoos
(7,142 posts)duforsure
(11,885 posts)And it sure beats putin's puppets, fascists, child abusers, criminals, liars, and con artists. Trump and the gop are so corrupt its sickening to watch as none of them are willing to stand up against it . Instead the gop do nothing but enable it even more from him and putin. There desperately trying to demonize the word socialism to use against the Democrats, but when you look at trumps own past he's taken plenty of help from government money for his projects and golf clubs, yet reaps the full rewards from it. Maybe they should demand he pay all that back now.
pwb
(11,276 posts)Society Democrat.
