Socialism

[MissHoneychurch]

Please explain that to me.

The Republicans are screaming "Socialism" the whole time. I know they scream it since the 1950s. But by now Socialism is dead. Latest since the 1990s everyone knows Socialism in this form is not working. For someone who grew up in a Socialist country (I grew up in the GDR) it is not understandable that they still get away with it. What Obama is doing is social but not Socialism. There is a big difference and Republicans need a history lesson if they don't understand the difference.
Why do they do that??

[CTLawGuy]

1. they don't need to know what it is

all they need to know is that it is "bad". That is how the puppetmasters control the slow-witted Republican base. Call something "socialist" or "socialism" and the rabble will be against it.

[MissHoneychurch]

5. So thinking by oneself

is something the Republican base isn't able to. How can they be so stupid??? Even the intelligent people? Don't they see that the Republican world view is out of order and that they are still crying for a time that isn't anymore?

[CTLawGuy]

10. conservatism does not require a lot of brainpower

Conservatism is the idea that society's institutions and its "natural order" should be preserved because prosperity hinges on such preservation. (Liberalism is the opposite -- society should undergo change to become fairer and more equal, that society, as it is, is UNFAIR and needs to be improved to have real prosperity.)

There are a few of types of conservatives, but I will talk about two types:

1. The "sheltered conservative": these people are "the rabble" of which I speak. They are nearly all white, generally older, and live in rural areas with little education. Their world is extremely regimented and homogenous -- they encounter pretty much only people exactly like them. They love religion because it gives them the structure they need emotionally to survive. The concept of change frightens these people because of sheer lack of exposure to diversity in general and because of their lack of critical thinking skills. They hate anything different, anything new, anything that upsets the natural order of things which has not changed in their entire lives.

2. The "winner conservative": these people are more educated and smarter, but they like society as it is because they are on top. They feel that any change from the social order will "punish" them for their "hard work" (even if "hard work" has zero to do with their wealth). You can find smatterings of these people everywhere, even in very blue areas like NYC. These people are the heart of the R party and they are excellent at marketing. They train the sheltered conservatives and other types to hate the word "socialism," mostly using talk radio, and then tar anything they don't like with the word, even it makes no sense to do so.

[MissHoneychurch]

11. Thank you

that explains it a bit.

Do they know that we live in the 21st century and not in the 1700s as they still seem to think?

[CTLawGuy]

12. you're welcome

they know only that they live in their own world and they are safe. They fear that any change from that might threaten their safety.

[MissHoneychurch]

13. But how can they think they are safe

if the economy is crumbling and they lose their jobs and savings??? Wouldn't you start thinking then??? That maybe the old ways aren't working anymore?

[CTLawGuy]

14. many of them did so

but many do not. They might blame liberalism for the bad times and be even more resolved to be conservative. They might think Bush wasn't really conservative and if only he had been more conservative, this wouldn't have happened.

[rucky]

2. It's a trigger word.

They've been programmed to hate anything labled "Socialist", so they use the word when they want people to reject something without thought.

It works.

[MissHoneychurch]

6. It makes me cringe

to see that people are still believing that bullshit.

[zippy890]

9. I wonder how much it works nowadays

Methinks the name calling doesn't matter to most people the way it used to. (except to dull-witted 25%)
Most people have a sense that perhaps we've been going in the wrong direction since Reagan - resulting in the mess we're in. AND that something different is needed.

the 'socialist' bogeyman just doesn't have the skeery sound to it that it used to. Maybe people wouldn't mind a little socialism?

:think:

[Droopy]

3. They do that to try to scare people

I used to post on a board dominated my conservatives and they are absolutely convinced that all Democrats are closet socialists. When they hear it from their leaders it just confirms in them that what they believe is true. And anyone who is not familiar with politics and/or sitting on the fence might be inclined to believe the Republican's dishonesty and be scared into voting for them if they don't look into the issue for themselves.

Socialism is a dirty word here in America and if you can link someone to that ideology they will probably not be trusted.

[MissHoneychurch]

8. You know

I just wanna scream "STOP IT!! WAKE UP!!" but I guess I am just too soft to be a politician.

[eridani]

22. They think of all public goods as "socialist." They don't think there should be any public goods

--with rare exceptions where they benefit personally and they're pretty sure that people not like themselves don't benefit. Strictly speaking, socialism is having all economic activity be controlled as a public good. Myself, I don't think that iPods belong in the public good category, but health care does.

[Exilednight]

4. The term "socialism" is not black and white ..........

Depending on what use of the word you use, one could argue that a country like France is a socialist country. To be fair about it, France is a democratic-socialist country.

On the other hand, Republicans do have a habit of hyperbole, and the form they are talking about is more along the line that Karl Marx emphasized on a march to Communism. Marx theorized that socialism would be the bridge that crosses a country from its current form of government to communism. They fail to realize that Marx also stated that any hybrid of socialism was not true socialism, in his opinion.

[MissHoneychurch]

7. I wouldn't call France a socialist country

it has - like Germany - the Social market economy. A tid more social than Germany. But far away from socialist.
And that economy seems to work - for the time being. Yes, there are flaws but everyone has health insurance and there is a net when you get unemployed. If that is socialism for Republicans then I welcome Socialism. It just isn't.

[Exilednight]

16. Like I said .....

it depends on what definition of socialism you use. France would fall into the Bevan, Beveridge or Max Weber model of socialism. (or possibly a hybrid of all three models)

Marx believed socialism to be a bridge - as opposed to a permanent style of - government to take root so that full blown communism could evolve.

The fact is, Republican intellectuals view socialism the same way the view pot. They believe pot to be a gateway to more harmful drugs, just as the view socialism to be the gateway to communism. The sad part is, the average person can not tell you the difference between socialism and communism and Republicans use this to their advantage by playing on people's fears. Most people also fail to understand that China, the former Soviet Union, Cuba, and North Korea are/were not communist countries.

[MissHoneychurch]

18. And humankind failed horrible

with the idea of Socialism. People are greedy, nothing will change that. The idea of Socialism and Communism might be a good idea. But that is all it is. An idea.
Marx sure helped the world to move in a direction that is more social. But to believe all people will be equal will never happen.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

15. They are stupid

they don't bother to study and learn word definitions or learn from history. They rely on buzz words to frighten others who are equally ignorant.

[MissHoneychurch]

17. That is really scary

They would be sheep when there is another Bush or even worse ... Hitler. As long as it isn't social :eyes:

[harun]

21. They take great pride in their ignorance and fear those who don't.

[Clio the Leo]

19. And can any of them explain to me what the early Christians were doing in Acts...

.... if it wasn't socialism? We all know how the right loves their Bible!

"And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need." ~ Acts 2: 44-45

"Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet." Acts 4:34-37

Of course their answer is that they dont think GOVERNMENT should be the one managing the wealth to which MY question is always, "so, when did you guys decide to stop legislating morality, 'cause some of y'all missed the memo."

They never have an answer for that one. :)

[MissHoneychurch]

20. Selective reading of the Bible

like old people or kids who only hear what they want to hear.

Morality???? Only if it fits them.