Why is 'Socialism' such a dirty word in the USA?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Last time I was in school, we learned about nomenclature. Heck, everything has a name: an idea, material goods, sexual organs, et cetra.

Socialism does not equal democracy. Both groups in the US are not moving into socialism. Period. However, there are those who accuses one group over another group. An example can be from threads that posts rhetorical ideas that were probably researched using secondary sources such as the media commentaries. Although, I remembered in college that any research I do must be primary source. Reading about someone opinion is not really objective.

Its kind of like the difference between science and religion. They're two different systems of thought altogether. The more histrionic can't seem to understand this.

*Some* people have a real hard time differentiating economics from political systems of guvmint.

Naw. I am also a student of religion. They both serve the purpose, to explain the universe. Science and religion are two dancers, often intertwined.

[HAL 9000 96]

Last time I was in school, we learned about nomenclature. Heck, everything has a name: an idea, material goods, sexual organs, et cetra.

Socialism does not equal democracy. Both groups in the US are not moving into socialism. Period. However, there are those who accuses one group over another group. An example can be from threads that posts rhetorical ideas that were probably researched using secondary sources such as the media commentaries. Although, I remembered in college that any research I do must be primary source. Reading about someone opinion is not really objective.

Its kind of like the difference between science and religion. They're two different systems of thought altogether. The more histrionic can't seem to understand this.

*Some* people have a real hard time differentiating economics from political systems of guvmint.

Naw. I am also a student of religion. They both serve the purpose, to explain the universe. Science and religion are two dancers, often intertwined.

One break dances while the other waltzes...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Last time I was in school, we learned about nomenclature. Heck, everything has a name: an idea, material goods, sexual organs, et cetra.

Socialism does not equal democracy. Both groups in the US are not moving into socialism. Period. However, there are those who accuses one group over another group. An example can be from threads that posts rhetorical ideas that were probably researched using secondary sources such as the media commentaries. Although, I remembered in college that any research I do must be primary source. Reading about someone opinion is not really objective.

Its kind of like the difference between science and religion. They're two different systems of thought altogether. The more histrionic can't seem to understand this.

*Some* people have a real hard time differentiating economics from political systems of guvmint.

Naw. I am also a student of religion. They both serve the purpose, to explain the universe. Science and religion are two dancers, often intertwined.

One break dances while the other waltzes...

Oppenhiemer found great comfort in the Bhagavad Gita.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I asked this of my very conservative husband some time ago, he knows my political stance and has come to terms with it and vice-versa. I spent some years with my grandparents in Wales who were staunch old school Labour supporters, my father's family were all miner stock, my father worked the mines until he joined the Air Force for 25 yrs. I saw very early on the difference in political views between my own parents and grandparents, and despite my informative years spent with my parents I always remembered and held my grandparents passion.

My husband immediately associates 'socialism' with 'fascism' 'nazism'....and I get offended by that, and the first time he called me a liberal I was HUGELY offended also. I don't regard myself as a liberal in the British term.

I am undecided about the 'change' in this country, I am unsure about Obama...I don't dismiss his policies offhand, I think it is a very interesting and exciting time. But I do find it interesting that most liberal thinking people here also dismiss and shy away from the word 'socialism'....why is it such a dirty word? as really that is what is happening here right?

Happy to hear your thoughts B)

Because many Americans see themselves as rugged individualists. While Socialists are seen as dependent on the state and unable to make their own decisions. Therefore, weak.

[HAL 9000 96]

Last time I was in school, we learned about nomenclature. Heck, everything has a name: an idea, material goods, sexual organs, et cetra.

Socialism does not equal democracy. Both groups in the US are not moving into socialism. Period. However, there are those who accuses one group over another group. An example can be from threads that posts rhetorical ideas that were probably researched using secondary sources such as the media commentaries. Although, I remembered in college that any research I do must be primary source. Reading about someone opinion is not really objective.

Its kind of like the difference between science and religion. They're two different systems of thought altogether. The more histrionic can't seem to understand this.

*Some* people have a real hard time differentiating economics from political systems of guvmint.

Naw. I am also a student of religion. They both serve the purpose, to explain the universe. Science and religion are two dancers, often intertwined.

One break dances while the other waltzes...

Oppenhiemer found great comfort in the Bhagavad Gita.

Oppenheimer was tailed by the Feds for suspicions of being a Red.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I asked this of my very conservative husband some time ago, he knows my political stance and has come to terms with it and vice-versa. I spent some years with my grandparents in Wales who were staunch old school Labour supporters, my father's family were all miner stock, my father worked the mines until he joined the Air Force for 25 yrs. I saw very early on the difference in political views between my own parents and grandparents, and despite my informative years spent with my parents I always remembered and held my grandparents passion.

My husband immediately associates 'socialism' with 'fascism' 'nazism'....and I get offended by that, and the first time he called me a liberal I was HUGELY offended also. I don't regard myself as a liberal in the British term.

I am undecided about the 'change' in this country, I am unsure about Obama...I don't dismiss his policies offhand, I think it is a very interesting and exciting time. But I do find it interesting that most liberal thinking people here also dismiss and shy away from the word 'socialism'....why is it such a dirty word? as really that is what is happening here right?

Happy to hear your thoughts B)

Because many Americans see themselves as rugged individualists. While Socialists are seen as dependent on the state and unable to make their own decisions. Therefore, weak.

Pithy and correct, IMO.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I asked this of my very conservative husband some time ago, he knows my political stance and has come to terms with it and vice-versa. I spent some years with my grandparents in Wales who were staunch old school Labour supporters, my father's family were all miner stock, my father worked the mines until he joined the Air Force for 25 yrs. I saw very early on the difference in political views between my own parents and grandparents, and despite my informative years spent with my parents I always remembered and held my grandparents passion.

My husband immediately associates 'socialism' with 'fascism' 'nazism'....and I get offended by that, and the first time he called me a liberal I was HUGELY offended also. I don't regard myself as a liberal in the British term.

I am undecided about the 'change' in this country, I am unsure about Obama...I don't dismiss his policies offhand, I think it is a very interesting and exciting time. But I do find it interesting that most liberal thinking people here also dismiss and shy away from the word 'socialism'....why is it such a dirty word? as really that is what is happening here right?

Happy to hear your thoughts B)

Because many Americans see themselves as rugged individualists. While Socialists are seen as dependent on the state and unable to make their own decisions. Therefore, weak.

Pithy and correct, IMO.

Humans are social animals, not loners. At least naturally. We are our brother's keeper and the family unit itself - that most cherished icon of the Right Wing, is a model of socialism. We could start demanding that each family member fend for themselves, use their own refrigerators and stop cohabiting in a bed.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I asked this of my very conservative husband some time ago, he knows my political stance and has come to terms with it and vice-versa. I spent some years with my grandparents in Wales who were staunch old school Labour supporters, my father's family were all miner stock, my father worked the mines until he joined the Air Force for 25 yrs. I saw very early on the difference in political views between my own parents and grandparents, and despite my informative years spent with my parents I always remembered and held my grandparents passion.

My husband immediately associates 'socialism' with 'fascism' 'nazism'....and I get offended by that, and the first time he called me a liberal I was HUGELY offended also. I don't regard myself as a liberal in the British term.

I am undecided about the 'change' in this country, I am unsure about Obama...I don't dismiss his policies offhand, I think it is a very interesting and exciting time. But I do find it interesting that most liberal thinking people here also dismiss and shy away from the word 'socialism'....why is it such a dirty word? as really that is what is happening here right?

Happy to hear your thoughts B)

Because many Americans see themselves as rugged individualists. While Socialists are seen as dependent on the state and unable to make their own decisions. Therefore, weak.

Pithy and correct, IMO.

Humans are social animals, not loners. At least naturally. We are our brother's keeper and the family unit itself - that most cherished icon of the Right Wing, is a model of socialism. We could start demanding that each family member fend for themselves, use their own refrigerators and stop cohabiting in a bed.

But Rich's explanation of why America is the way it is, is correct. IMO.

[Heracles 417]

What is funny is that it is socialist countries that are kicking the United states butt in most rankings. Not one US style country is doing well. The each to their own types are usually third world countries like Kenya.

Australia for example is not socialist, they are social democracies. Actually, we have more private industries than does the US, like SS and private education. Only difference is, like Obama is proposing for health care, the government sets the rules rather than a handful of corporate board members. Government, as in people we vote in or out. I've never received anything on voting for Anthems management. Maybe others have..

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Humans are social animals, not loners. At least naturally. We are our brother's keeper and the family unit itself - that most cherished icon of the Right Wing, is a model of socialism. We could start demanding that each family member fend for themselves, use their own refrigerators and stop cohabiting in a bed.

I agree with you but we like to choose which social groups to cohabitate with. Many don't like social groups forced on them. Of course we choose our friends but not our family.

[Peikko 1,575]

I asked this of my very conservative husband some time ago, he knows my political stance and has come to terms with it and vice-versa. I spent some years with my grandparents in Wales who were staunch old school Labour supporters, my father's family were all miner stock, my father worked the mines until he joined the Air Force for 25 yrs. I saw very early on the difference in political views between my own parents and grandparents, and despite my informative years spent with my parents I always remembered and held my grandparents passion.

My husband immediately associates 'socialism' with 'fascism' 'nazism'....and I get offended by that, and the first time he called me a liberal I was HUGELY offended also. I don't regard myself as a liberal in the British term.

I am undecided about the 'change' in this country, I am unsure about Obama...I don't dismiss his policies offhand, I think it is a very interesting and exciting time. But I do find it interesting that most liberal thinking people here also dismiss and shy away from the word 'socialism'....why is it such a dirty word? as really that is what is happening here right?

Happy to hear your thoughts B)

Because many Americans see themselves as rugged individualists. While Socialists are seen as dependent on the state and unable to make their own decisions. Therefore, weak.

Pithy and correct, IMO.

I agree that's what American's believe - they couldn't be more wrong though

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I asked this of my very conservative husband some time ago, he knows my political stance and has come to terms with it and vice-versa. I spent some years with my grandparents in Wales who were staunch old school Labour supporters, my father's family were all miner stock, my father worked the mines until he joined the Air Force for 25 yrs. I saw very early on the difference in political views between my own parents and grandparents, and despite my informative years spent with my parents I always remembered and held my grandparents passion.

My husband immediately associates 'socialism' with 'fascism' 'nazism'....and I get offended by that, and the first time he called me a liberal I was HUGELY offended also. I don't regard myself as a liberal in the British term.

I am undecided about the 'change' in this country, I am unsure about Obama...I don't dismiss his policies offhand, I think it is a very interesting and exciting time. But I do find it interesting that most liberal thinking people here also dismiss and shy away from the word 'socialism'....why is it such a dirty word? as really that is what is happening here right?

Happy to hear your thoughts B)

Because many Americans see themselves as rugged individualists. While Socialists are seen as dependent on the state and unable to make their own decisions. Therefore, weak.

Pithy and correct, IMO.

I agree that's what American's believe - they couldn't be more wrong though

Perception is Reality.

Behaviour is Believable.

Expection is Energy.

Logic is a tweeting bird that smells terrible.

Edited August 12, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[HAL 9000 96]

Humans are social animals, not loners. At least naturally. We are our brother's keeper and the family unit itself - that most cherished icon of the Right Wing, is a model of socialism. We could start demanding that each family member fend for themselves, use their own refrigerators and stop cohabiting in a bed.

I agree with you but we like to choose which social groups to cohabitate with. Many don't like social groups forced on them. Of course we choose our friends but not our family.

An actual opinion without a lame one-liner! (applause dude).

I agree. I'd say nobody likes any particular social group thrust upon them. Not everyone can learn to be nice or be unselfish or even co-habitate in society without particular artificial feelings ruining any chances of a mature community developing.

[Heracles 417]

Together you do better. America had this spirit prior to the 60's. It's also what helped you win the rev war. if you guys had the each to their own philosophy back then, that breach would have eaten you up and spit you out like gum. Also keep in mind that it was the mateship of the Spanish, French and Dutch who gave you a hand, that helped you beat the British.

Confusing social democracies with Socialism is wrong. Helping each other out also makes sound business sense. Take China for example. Should they keep people poor or should they improve the prosperity of their middle class? The middle class is what drives the growth of a country, as it drove America. The growing middle class it what will lift China and help them surpass the United States. While China is enriching their middle class, we are impoverishing our own. Unfortunately in 2009 America is becoming second world like, with the few mega rich and everyone else being pushed into being poor.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I agree with you but we like to choose which social groups to cohabitate with. Many don't like social groups forced on them. Of course we choose our friends but not our family.

Together you do better. America had this spirit prior to the 60's.

haza, put the two responses together and you'll know why all the resistance today. Americans of certain demographic backgrounds oppose health care reform because they do not wish to help people of certain other demographic backgrounds who they imagine will disproportionately benefit from said reform.