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

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

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.

So, it's all about keeping the black man down?

[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.

So, it's all about keeping the black man down?

It's much more complicated than that.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

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..

The socialism thing is hilarious if you consider that the only truly Socialist countries are in South-East Asia, South/Central America, Africa and Eastern Europe.

Western Europe and countries like Australia, Japan (even Russia) are fundamentally capitalist market economies driven by the private sector, the only differences are in what provision exists for social services and to what extent the government intervenes in the economy. Socialist it ain't.

Edited August 12, 2009 by Private Pike

[Heracles 417]

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.

So, it's all about keeping the black man down?

It's about keeping the poor down. There are just as many poor whites living in trailers as there are blacks.

We tell the poor to pull up their boot straps yet give them little or nothing to do so. Even on a psychological level, it's hard to do so when you feel others don't give a #######. When I see people being shot up in poor neighborhoods and other people living in the areas response being that no one gives I ######, I now believe them. I work with rich fucks and they don't care. As long as they're driving their new range rover or X5, the quality of the roads or misery of others doesn't mean much to them. I cannot stand that attitude here. As an Australian, when one of us is down, we're all down. Anyone who profits off the misery of others is punished. Whereas, in America they are considered champs / capitalist. That is why someone earning minimum wage at walmart deserves nothing while a Walton earning billions for doing absolutely nothing, apart from flying around in their private jets and going to the country club is a solid worker and deserves tax cuts.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

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.

So, it's all about keeping the black man down?

It's about keeping the poor down. There are just as many poor whites living in trailers as there are blacks.

We tell the poor to pull up their boot straps yet give them little or nothing to do so. Even on a psychological level, it's hard to do so when you feel others don't give a #######. When I see people being shot up in poor neighborhoods and other people living in the areas response being that no one gives I ######, I now believe them. I work with rich fucks and they don't care. As long as they're driving their new range rover or X5, the quality of the roads or misery of others doesn't mean much to them. I cannot stand that attitude here. As an Australian, when one of us is down, we're all down. Anyone who profits off the misery of others is punished. Whereas, in America they are considered champs / capitalist. That is why someone earning minimum wage at walmart deserves nothing while a Walton earning billions for doing absolutely nothing, apart from flying around in their private jets and going to the country club is a solid worker and deserves tax cuts.

Well said - I agree with you!

[Peikko 1,575]

Is it a little chilly in here?

[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.

So, it's all about keeping the black man down?

It's about keeping the poor down. There are just as many poor whites living in trailers as there are blacks.

We tell the poor to pull up their boot straps yet give them little or nothing to do so. Even on a psychological level, it's hard to do so when you feel others don't give a #######. When I see people being shot up in poor neighborhoods and other people living in the areas response being that no one gives I ######, I now believe them. I work with rich fucks and they don't care. As long as they're driving their new range rover or X5, the quality of the roads or misery of others doesn't mean much to them. I cannot stand that attitude here. As an Australian, when one of us is down, we're all down. Anyone who profits off the misery of others is punished. Whereas, in America they are considered champs / capitalist. That is why someone earning minimum wage at walmart deserves nothing while a Walton earning billions for doing absolutely nothing, apart from flying around in their private jets and going to the country club is a solid worker and deserves tax cuts.

Well said - I agree with you!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Hey - as long there's no racism or bigotry and along as we're not talking about who said what when about *that* issue (regardless of what was actually said and without consideration of context) - I have no problem with him.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Hey - I have no problem with him.

[Heracles 417]

The socialism thing is hilarious if you consider that the only truly Socialist countries are in South-East Asia, South/Central America, Africa and Eastern Europe.

Western Europe and countries like Australia, Japan (even Russia) are fundamentally capitalist market economies driven by the private sector, the only differences are in what provision exists for social services and to what extent the government intervenes in the economy. Socialist it ain't.

These guys confuse social capitalists for socialism. Social democracies or social capitalism means you can earn however much you like but not by exploiting others. Instead of earning $5 billion for shareholders you earning $4 billion and pay everyone a fair wage. Prove them with time off to take care of their families. Give them at least weeks vacation. People should not need to work two or three jobs, over 60 hours a week just to survive.

The other thing I realized the other day is that people like to mention the unemployment rate of social democracies, which ironically Australia's is at 5.8%. The biggest difference is in unemployment in itself. At least those human beings receive basic services. Whereas here you are left for dead. Pull up your boot straps you loser. I have never seen someone driving holding the mattress on their their car with their possessions in their car, as I have seen here. That is when it hit me and I realized that I could have been him if I was born here. The guy was white. With his kid too. Shame on you America. Shame on you. I pulled over and help this guy secure his mattress and even gave him a few bucks. Everyone else wouldn't even look at him. Like he was some piece of #######.

The following is part of the Australian visa process.

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This includes understanding that the English language, as the national language, is an important unifying element of Australian society. Australian society is also united through the following shared values:

• respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual;

• freedom of religion;

• commitment to the rule of law;

• Parliamentary democracy;

• equality of men and women;

• a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces mutual respect, tolerance, fair play and compassion for those in need and pursuit of the public good;

• equality of opportunity for for individuals, regardless of their race, religion or ethnic background.

--------

AUSTRALIAN VALUES STATEMENT

This statement must be signed by the main applicant and each person aged 18 years or over who is included in this application.

I confirm that I have read, or had explained to me, information provided by the Australian Government on Australian society and values.

I understand:

• Australian society values respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, freedom of religion, commitment to the rule of law, Parliamentary democracy, equality of men and women and a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces mutual respect, tolerance, fair play and compassion for those in need and pursuit of the public good;

• Australian society values equality of opportunity for individuals, regardless of their race, religion or ethnic background;

• the English language, as the national language, is an important unifying element of Australian society.

I undertake to respect these values of Australian society during my stay in Australia and to obey the laws of Australia.

This is what every visa applicant has to sign.

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Edited August 12, 2009 by haza

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As I say, it seems that if you fall in this country - you fall a heck of lot further than you would somewhere else and there's no safety net.

The sky's the limit though - at least, that's what people say...

[Peikko 1,575]

Hey - I have no problem with him.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The sky's the limit though - at least, that's what people say...

Oh, it's true. Tons of people I know, immigrants, who are much more well off than I am. They do things and lead lifestyles I'm too spoiled to even consider. But it pays.

[baron555 934]

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)

True Socialism does not exist and can not exist with human beings and money involved.

Those two will soon transform it into a dictatorial or militaristic state.

The People will lose their rights and freedoms and then a few will make all the decisions. History shows this to be true.

so when they talk against socialism they know that true socialism as defined is impossible.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Ok it seems this thread has turned into a "let b1tch about how bad America is" thread. Seems to happen alot here at VJ, although the original poster led it in that direction with the spend money on war and not health comment. We also have the Aussie telling us how great his country is, how cute.

One of the biggest reasons many people don't want a NHS is we have seen how incompetent the government is and know better than to put them in charge of our health care.