Democrats are Socialists?

[ACPS65]

Some RW'r brought this up to me, how do you respond to that? Don't most liberal governments adopt a "socialist'' approach without calling for the end of capitalism?

[Michael Harrington]

1. RWers

Don't know Socialism from Shinola. Anyone saying that is an ignorant ass.

[M0rpheus]

2. Must be a new talking point...

I just heard that on another forum just a few minutes ago...

[Elwood P Dowd]

5. Republicans are corporate socialists

Look at all the sleazy deals their corporate backers get from
Washington.

[bryant69]

19. Nothing new about it

They called FDR a socialist. It was a way of suggesting that the progressive movement was an alien thing brought over from the corrupted Europe. In some ways it still is.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Skidmore]

20. Several RW callers on C-SPAN kept putting this line out

and one of them went so far as to screech away at something like it was time to drag all the liberals out in the streets and "beat their heads in". He also went on to say that it's about time for another civil war.

[prolesunited]

25. Several callers brought it up on CSPAN this morning as well

Rove must have faxed out new talking points this morning.

Frankly, I don't think their is anything wrong with programs that could be labeled "socialist." Social security, public education, subsidized housing, Medicaid, etc. — programs such as these have certainly benefitted society as a whole.

I think they do this because there are so many negative connotations to the word. It is a shame when you have lower and middle class people arguing on behalf of a corporate oligarchy that would ONLY benefit the upper echelon and leave no way for people to enter that system. Feudalism was a BAD thing. I think that's why we got rid of it.

[Gore1FL]

3. There are aspects of socialism,but hardly enough to equate the two

A tiered tax rate, social security, universal healthcare are certainly socialist ideas.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

4. if Dems are socialists then Right Wingers are facists

Those are extremes.
Depends on where you stand.
i'd rather be associated with socialists thatn authoritarian facists!

Send your friends to this site:
if you can take this test to see where you stand politically
Pretty Cool

http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/questionnaire.pl?page=1

[La_Serpiente]

6. Nothing wrong with being a socialist

n/t

[0rganism]

7. Really? Ask the RWr which Democratic candidate....

...wants to nationalize means of production.

Chances are the RW'r won't even know what that means. He just hears limbaugh say it and assumes it has some important meaning.

Stupid fucks.

[tjwash]

8. Ask them if they are aware....

...that socialism is an economic system and not a form of government. Meanwhile, while they choke on that, ask them how they themselves can be so candidly be against capitalism by supporting companies such as walmart, and intel, that are against the very principles of competition and diversity that mark a great capitalist system.

On second thought, just tell your RW buddy to go screw himself...

[bobbyboucher]

10. Nice, and welcome.

Good to have you. Don't be fooled by the DU monicker, it is plenty tough to be liberal around here.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi tjwash!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[aquart]

9. Ask them to define "socialism"

They may have a whole other meaning to the term than you do. Find out before you continue the conversation.

On Free Republic I've read that, as a "liberal" Democrat, I favor Bush's immigration plan, I want American jobs to go overseas, and I've never loved my country.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

11. Wait a minute...

If RWers equate favoring Bush's immigration plan to being a liberal... wouldn't that make Bush a liberal (as it would make sense that Bush favors his OWN plan)

Oh wait a minute, it's Free Republic... logic doesn't apply.

Nevermind.

[dpibel]

12. About that logic

If logic ever got in close proximity to the rabid right, it would be a terrible mess.

I mean, all those heads exploding would be a dreadful sight.

[EV1Ltimm]

24. oh they have logic alright...

Every decision they make, they have to think to themseleves: "How can I handle this situation so i can be the biggest self-serving asshole possible"?

[buckeye1]

13. Republicans are criminals.

They steal and call it capitalism. Republicans are anti-social and they adore crime. It is always easier to steal than work. Anti socialism is pathetic disease( noted in medical journals).

[Piperay]

14. Democrats are capitalists

just the same as repukes are only not as crooked. :argh:

[rman]

15. would a majority of society vote for pro-social policies?

To the extent that this is the case, democracy (principle of majority vote) amounts to socialism, and vice versa. Modern socialism is sometimes called radical democracy.

From another perspective: the opposite of democracy is despotism (lack of the principle of majority vote). Monarchy, totalitarianism, fascism etc are forms of despotism, all opposite to the interests of society, for the benefit of the ruling minority.

Now probably someone will argue that fascism = socialism (and hence socialism does not jive with democracy) because Hitler's party was called "national socialists", but i'll talk about nazi propaganda, censorship and lies if and when appropriate.

[onecitizen]

16. Really, I've been wondering if.......

I might BE a Socialist. I need to do research before I commit.

[blondeatlast]

17. Works for me.

Edit: Political Compass results

Economic Left/Right: -5.75
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.64

Right there with Mandela and the Dalai Lama.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

18. public schools =socialism .......police protection=socialism .....

hi-ways & roads = socialism.........military = socialism .....fed & state judicial systems = socialism ..... FDA (food safety)=socialism....fire protect = socialism......CDC= socialism.....health care = socialism.....EPA = socialism.....


nah there ain't no fucking republican socialist!!!!!

[EV1Ltimm]

21. Right wingers are really stuck on this.

Alot of them like to say that "lefties" are going to do away with private ownership and private property. We would advocate such things if we were really socialists.

They get all bent out of shape whenever we talk about supporting welfare, social security and universal healthcare.

I'll admit, to the untrained eye, we may appear to be socialist. but for the most part, we're all a bunch of capitalist pig-dogs just like everyone else -- except we like to share.

If anything, we're the socialist equivalent of o'douls: we may remind you of socialists, but we are inescapeably not.

Whenever my dad breaks out the socialist line, i always respond: "Yeah, that whole 'caring for my fellow man' is a real handicap of mine".

[ElsewheresDaughter]

22. hmmm.......drive-by

:shrug:

[KG]

23. one can only hope....