But you probably should.
When it comes to socialism, there are many different varieties, and some economic systems that call themselves "socialist" aren't really. The former Soviet Union was not "socialist" in the most common sense of the word, any more than North Korea is "democratic".
Those who say that socialism destroyed Venezuela are overlooking the fact that an incompetent populist leader who promised to Make Venezuela Great Again by kicking out all those nasty capitalists (yes, some people believe that capitalism is the scourge of the world), then allowed his powerful friends to loot the country, to suck its lifeblood dry for their own profit, and to destroy its economy, all the while tamping down on such inconveniences as a free press which was critical of the regime. Not that THAT is happening here in the US of course. Because ...
The US MOST certainly is NOT going to become SOCIALIST! Nope. Never.
Well, ... let's see... Assuming that "socialist" at least includes people pooling their money to benefit themselves, others, and society in general, here's what we have. And those who believe in this type of socialism are responsible for many facets of our everyday life
75 Ways Socialism Has Improved Americahttps://www.dailykos.com/stories/2012/3/29/1078852/-75-Ways-Socialism-Has-Improved-America==========================================
Socialism. There is nothing more feared and hated in America. The word alone sends shivers down the spine of the American people.Those three syllables conger up images of Big Brother Government ruling over us all, telling us what to eat, wear, buy, and think. Our children in national uniform being indoctrinated with propaganda in government education camps that use to be schools, turning them into little slaves. While their parents work twelve hour shifts in the concentration camp that slaughters rich successful billionaires, as the poor and needy get a million dollars a month in welfare. A murderous government waging a war against freedom and liberty to gain complete control over everyone and everything.
You know, the way things were under that socialist Bill Clinton. And the way things were under that socialist Barack Obama.
They imagine the USSR and how Democrats are turning America into it because our government will give money to poor people so they don't starve to death. (Giving money to billion dollar corporations is NOT socialism somehow. You would be a communist and a hippie to think otherwise.)
This is scary stuff!
And it's about to get scarier, because I have some terrifying news for you.... Socialism is alive and well in America and it has been here for a very long time! Oh, that's not all. it gets much worse! I hope you're sitting down...
As it turns out, You love socialism and you use it everyday, and you may not even know it! It may have even saved your life. I know, this is bad... Now relax and breath. It's going to be okay! We are going to get through this.
You see, we are still a capitalist nation. In America, you can still make a billion dollars, get a giant tax cut, and pay your employees barely enough to survive while you sail in your yacht to escape any guilt that might inconvenience you. So don't freak out just yet!
The thing is, socialism is all over America and people actually like it. Even you... Yes you!
I know, I know. You're a conservative that believes in freedom and the constitution. You hate handouts and believe in hard work and the individual. You think government should get out of the way and let you live your lives and allow you to prosper on your own. You know that all rich people must have worked hard and all poor people are lazy. There is no other reason why they could be poor considering life is completely fair and all people are born into situations and environments that allow them to have all the opportunities and blessings that you had. There is no fathomable way they could have 2 or 3 jobs they work very hard at but still can't make ends meet. You got it all figured out.
But still, even you get your kicks from a little socialism every now and then.
Socialism is taxpayer funds being used collectively to benefit society as a whole, despite income, contribution, or ability. Sounds horrible, huh?
Well I hate to be the one to tell you, but Socialism, which you have been told to fear all your life, is responsible for all this...
SOCIALISM HAS CREATED, through legislation, public taxation or personal membership,
Social Security
Medicare
Credit Unions
Electric Co-ops
Public transportation
The Grange and other cooperative organizations
The eight hour day
The forty hour week
Unemployment and other types of insurance
Worker's Compensation
Public hospitals
Public health agencies
Public libraries
Public parks
Public beaches
Public utilities commissions
Social welfare programs
Police and fire protection
Postal service
The GI Bill
Government scholarships and grants
Garbage collection and public landfills
The Environmental Protection Agency
Public museums
Public schools
School lunch programs
Public jails and the prison system
Public parking
Sports mega-stadia, professional, college, high school, etc.
Progressive taxation of income
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA (in general or to a greater or lesser degree) SUPPORT
Capitalism but not unrestrained
Resources to meet human needs not just to make money for the wealthy
Market forces determining demand for most consumer goods
Planning to shape major social investments like mass transit, housing, and energy
Workers' unions
Ownership or control of means of production for benefit of people
Freedom of speech and assembly
Productive and meaningful work
Higher pay for the least desirable jobs
Community health centers
National universal health care
Nationwide child care
Child nutrition programs especially for the poor
Free college education
Raising the minimum wage
Reproductive freedon
LGBTQ and other minority groups
Profit sharing
Military defense
Highways
Ending child labor and exploitation
Equal pay for equal work
Legal immigration
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA OPPOSE
Unregulated corporations making economic decisions for everyone
A centrally-planned economy
Corporations exporting jobs and production overseas
Corporate pollution and destruction of the environment
Dictatorial regimes that call themselves "socialist" or "democratic" when they are neither
Suppression of dissent
Multi-national corporations which control economies of poor countries for the benefit of bankers and the rich
Private jails and prisons
Extreme wealth disparity
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ReplyDeleteLet me try again. Sorry for typo errors in previous comment.
ReplyDelete****Bravo Mike! I'm 62. I was educated during the 60's and 70's. I was taught that communism and socialism were bad and that they are the same thing. I was taught that they were what the evils of the USSR. I was not taught about authoritarianism. I was not taught that what socialism means is for the workers and for the greater good. I was not taught that National Socialism (Hitler's party) stressed the word and concept "National" meaning Socialism was for those who belonged to the right nation (blonde hair/blue eyed) but no one else. I was taught that capitalism was good. Capitalism was powerful enough direct all my education to be about the above. Even in college I didn't learn what the economic meaning of socialism was and that authoritarianism is NOT socialism. Thank you Mike for posting this. We as a country have been carefully brainwashed by the powers that be (aka the ultra rich). We have been taught against wanting an economy that give resources to the people. We are to believe it/socialism is wrong because that would mean the greedy at the top would have to share. They obviously failed "How to Play in the Sandbox 101" when they were in Kindergarten.