Rebuttal for the 'scary' word of socialism.....millions of Americans get a check every month from

[merbex]

Social Security.

They get Medicare when they are 65.

Americans pay for, but might never use, a Fire Department.

We have police departments.

We have public libraries.

Every one of those things are 'socialistic'.

Aren't you SCARED?

Be afraid, be very afraid.

Maybe they don't have those things where Claire McCaskill is from........but I'm pretty sure they do have them.

Here's a big secret: those institutions make life BETTER for Americans.

[merbex]

1. Big ooops moment! I forgot PUBLIC EDUCATION - that has to be added to the list as well. n/t

[redstateblues]

2. The word is toxic in Middle America

Explain it all you want but it's not a winner in the GE. If Bernie wins the nomination Republicans win the White House

[merbex]

3. If you can't defend Social Security and Medicare I feel sorry for you

Those programs I listed are by their very nature are 'socialistic' - they involve public money and a service is rendered by a government agency.

Whenever I say the bit about libraries - wingnuts suddenly have a 'light bulb go on' moment- they understand it.

That you can't be bothered to explain it, says a lot.

[redstateblues]

7. That's not my argument. The "word" Socialism

Has negative connotations for a majority of Americans. It's a fact. About Social Security and Medicare: I have paid a lot into them over the course of my working life. I deserve what ever I get from them. Progressive income tax is Socialism. I have no problem with it. My point is that a majority of Americans consider Socialism toxic whether it's fair or not. 'Polling proves it. The Republicans will demolish a self avowed Socialist in the GE

[Wilms]

8. This just in...

Nor is this sort of thinking confined to comparatively liberal, Democratic Iowa. A national Gallup poll last June found that 47 percent of all voters surveyed nationwide would vote for a socialist, with the number rising to 59 percent among registered Democrats. A New York Times poll taken last fall found that 56 percent of Democrats were comfortable with socialism as a governing philosophy, while only 29 percent were not.

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/22349-is-america-ready-for-socialism

[SheilaT]

4. Technically, we don't get a check, but

a direct deposit into our checking account.

But yeah, I get one of those.

Of course the classic ignorance is the "Keep your government hands off my Social Security" signs we saw a while back.

[Uncle Joe]

5. The military is a socialist institution, the Republicans should love that.

Thanks for the thread, merbex.

[silenttigersong]

6. Beware beware

Sen.Sanders wants edjucated ,healthy citizens,people to eat well.Its so scarey !