"you're a socialist, you don't belong in America anyway. Kindly leave or kill yourself, please"

[white_wolf]

Those were the words said to me in an argument with a conservative. Now he is comparing me to radical Islamist and saying I need to leave the country or die. Have I mentioned I really really hate the right wing? This really proves that they are no better than the Fascists, they would kill us all if they could. I don't give a damn about his opinion of me, but it really shows how sick and hateful these fools are. Oh and this was my first death wish, so I feel special.

[aquart]

1. Next time make him define the word "socialist."

It is really impossible to talk with people who are using the same words to mean completely different things.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

31. Or "radical Islamist."

The authoritarianism inherent in radical Islam should fit like a comfortable shoe to a winger.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

54. in the teeny tiny minds of Tea Baggers, they're the same

[coalition_unwilling]

2. Whenever a rightwinger say such things to me, I tell him or her to either STFU or

get themselves back to Nazi Germany (or to enlist if he or she is an all gungho military fetishist)

I've been physically assaulted when protesting by myself, so do be careful. Safety in numbers and all that :)

[white_wolf]

3. Haha speaking of that, here is my response to him.

"haha you are pathetic. The difference between me and you is, that I don't wish for you death for simply disagreeing with me,but the far right has always wished death upon it's enemies and as the Third Reich proved they are perfectly willing to kill anyone who disagrees with them. You are really no better than the Nazis, anyone who disagrees with you is the enemy and needs to die." "Oh and call me you ever do anything half as useful as that socialist Albert Einstein."

[southernyankeebelle]

27. Funny thing as soon as his facist overlord take over and put the

nail into the coffin and see all the things he likes getting because his taxes pay for them taking away from him because they privatize everything from Fire dept, police dept or even education. Then the topper will be social security, medicare and then medicaid. They you will see how liberal he'll become.

[white_wolf]

39. The really great thing is he's bragging about being in the army so I asked him if he was going

to take that socialist veteran affairs healthcare when he gets out or if he will stick to his principles and stay with the free market.

[Erose999]

50. I had one who was in the Navy go on a rant about how necessary the wars are and how great the MIC is

I asked him "So if its so awesome, are you gonna re-up when your enlistment is up?" He shut the fuck up after that.

[Fumesucker]

4. You're not a socialist on DU..

You're a Firebagger.. ;)

Isn't that a great improvement?

:hi:

[white_wolf]

5. Hell I could be an Eisenhower Republican and those Fascists would call me a socialist.

Granted, I am a socialist, but they still have no fucking clue what the word means. He just called the New Deal socialism and says we should all go back to Russia.

[Fumesucker]

8. My point was a little more subtle..

Not only do the Republicans hate you, the entire Democratic establishment and their boosters hate you too, probably more than the Republicans do unless I miss my bet.

Personally I'd never be a member of any organization that would have me. ;)

Oh, BTW, you're dead right, you could be a Reagan Republican and they'd call you a socialist anyway and they would't have a clue what they were talking about.

[Fuddnik]

26. Oh, a Marxist, eh?

That's what Groucho said to the House Un-American Activities Committee.

[Mr Deltoid]

13. Supply side economics is NOT capitalism

Borrowing money and handing it out to the rich is NOT capitalism.

[Odin2005]

35. That is pure Capitalism as it really exists, not the ideological BS of Capitalism's sycophants.

[JHB]

18. I've referred to myself as an Eisenhower Socialist in that situation

Then I ask them that if we were "socialists" back then, what were the Soviets?

[Odin2005]

34. Geez, that guy must be in his 60s if he's doing the "go back to Russia" crap.

[Mr Deltoid]

38. A guy I work with refers to Russia as, 'The Soviets.'

They are brainwashed.

[AlienGirl]

6. Was this said to you in person, or online?

I have this idea (not built-up enough to be a theory yet) that online interaction disinhibits people to the point where they will reveal more violent thinking than they would ever say aloud.

Tucker

[white_wolf]

7. It was online. If it was in-person I'd be a little worried as I really think these

fools can be dangerous.

[Kalidurga]

9. They are bullies

but if anything ever happens in their life where they need help they become the biggest cry babies.

[DesertFlower]

10. my facebook profile has my political views as

"socialist democrat". a friend set me an e-mail and suggested i change it to "liberal democrat". i explained that "socialist democrat" defines my views better.

why does the word "socialist" scare people?

[white_wolf]

11. Because people are fucking idiots.

The right in this country is really a dangerous movement, they are starting to resemble the Fascists more and more.

[Skittles]

14. they have no clue what socialist really means

go on - ask them - they are fucking clueless

[tblue37]

16. Because many decades of propaganda have gone into making sure that

people are horrified by the word--but without knowing what it actually means.

The words "liberal" and "feminism" have also been treated in such a way that people consider them dirty words.

[Selatius]

17. Why? 5 decades of anti-communist propaganda promoted by, above all, capitalists. nt

[BiggJawn]

22. Because of the National Socialist Worker's Party and...

...the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

All they know is 2 "Bad things" had "Socialist" in their names, even though they were anything *BUT* socialist...

[white_wolf]

Oh and the best part is, what started this conversation had nothing to do with socialism.

Someone posted about being sick of American exceptionalism and he posted saying "well here you have the right complain so that is why we are the best." I pointed out that the English bill of rights passed in 1689 guaranteed freedom of speech a 100 years before the U.S. existed and that's when he went on his rant.

[demwing]

12. I got a death threat once

Michael Moore did a rally at my college, I ended up in the newspaper commenting on his appearance. The next day, a copy of the article was left on my desk at my employment - with a nasty note threatening me and my kids if I didn't get my socialist ass out of America. It was quite graphic.

I framed it and still have it. Badge of honor....

[markpkessinger]

15. I've been known to pull pedigree rank in conversations like this ;)

Mind you, I do NOT believe that genealogical background of any sort makes anybody any more or less of an American, so this is a tactic I use ONLY when a teabagger type suggests I am somehow less of an American than s/he is based on my political views. Usually, it goes something like this:

Really? I'm not sufficiently "American" for you? My father's family was in this country a good 40 years prior to the revolution, and part of my mother's line traces back to the original Plymouth settlement. When was it you said your family came here? Oh, and two of my direct ancestors (one on each side of the family) were Revolutionary War soldiers. And several direct ancestors fought in the Civil War (all on the Union side). My Dad and his two brothers all served in WWII (Dad in the Navy, in the Pacific, and his two brothers in the Army in Europe). So, tell me again how it is that I'm not "American" enough?

That usually shuts down the "un-American" line of argument. Again, this isn't something i typically trot out for the purpose of bragging about it. From where I sit, I regard it as little more than an accident of history. The fact that I am aware of the history has mostly to do with the fact that most of my ancestors made their way to central Pennsylvania and stayed there, as did subsequent generations. But I do pull it out whenever some teabagger type starts in with the "un-american" line of argument; if they're going to play that game, so will I! ;)

[WinkyDink]

21. I ust ask them why they hate the Bill of Rights.

[hobbit709]

24. I can't claim that but once some RWer called me a communist.

I told him that if he knew anything about me he would know better. when he asked what do I mean about that I told him that some of earliest memories are of the Soviet occupation troops in my home town. I didn't tell him there were French, British and American troops too.

[OnionPatch]

29. To them it means something.

Because they are what they accuse us of being....elitists.

I have very much the same sort of pedigree (ancestors mostly all here before the Revolution) which makes me proud but I don't feel it gives me any more say-so than any other American. You're right, though, it does make the righties stop, pause or back off, being the racist elitists that they are.

[socialist_n_TN]

45. I use this sometimes too......

My pedigree isn't quite that far reaching, but it does go back to the late 18th century in this country. And guess what? They were ALL working class. Not an aristocrat in the bunch. Fuck 'em. This commie is more American than MOST of them.

[HughBeaumont]

19. Said the user of a tax-dollar-created entity.

"Really? I'M the socialist? Do me a favor. Next time you get in your car, DON'T, because that's a whole socialist can of worms a rugged he-man like yourself just doesn't want to open. Just walk. Matter of fact, you can't even do that, because you'd be using public-funded pavement to walk on. Also, don't take your trash out, just let it pile up. Stop using sissy libraries, don't send your kids to school, build a well, grow your own food. Raise your own livestock for cooking, because you know best. When you lose your job, forget that unemployment insurance nonsense. Cancel your mail service. Stop that paying taxes crap. Take that goddamned "support your troops" ribbon off your car. THEN, maybe you can live like a REAL MAN on that lil' ol' island of yours!"

[cali]

20. well, for what it's worth, you won the argument- whatever it was about

Anyone who resorts to that type of vile idiotic shit clearly got trounced on the idea front.

[Darth_Kitten]

23. You don't need to take this crap.

Seriously, that's disturbed, abusive shit. :(

[blindpig]

25. Big deal...

Been told the same thing here many times, sans the death threat, and I suspect that in some cases that was only due to site rules.

[socialist_n_TN]

46. That's a good point pig.........

I've also been called that here. Actually, I'm sure wolf has too.

[The Wizard]

28. Pox News and hate radio

have the right wing stooges brainwashed and turned Americans against each other for cheap political gain that benefits the wealthy elites at the expense of the working class.
The only way we return to any semblance of normal is for Pox News to cease operations and a foreclosure on Rash Limbaugh's health.

[Broderick]

30. I say similar things about them

shrug.

[Shagbark Hickory]

32. Was this an *online* argument or did they say it to your face?

[Odin2005]

33. Back in 2008 when I was still an Obama-supporter...

...I was called a "traitor" by a coworker who then went on a rant about how Obama was going to "give everything over to The Blacks" and other such racist garbage. This lady claimed to be a Hillary supporter, she was probably a PUMA of some sort.

[raccoon]

36. Typical...they don't know what to say so they resort to abuse. nt

[kctim]

37. The base of the argument is

government running and controlling individual lives. Once Republicans and Democrats learn how to respect the fear of that, the debate becomes much more civilized.

[RandomKoolzip]

40. Yeah, but how exactly does the "government" "control" "individual lives?"

Those all sound like compelling concepts, and that kind of rhetoric is often bandied about verbatim in political discussions, but what does it actually mean? How, exactly, and precisely, using references to specific agencies, does the quote-unquote government control (as in, prescribe a specific menu of behavioral choices and actions and force us to act accordingly) individual lives? I mean, you KNOW that when you hear right wingers express fear of "big government" and "spending" what they mean is three things: a) "I hate minorities and poor people;" b) "I hate paying taxes," and c) "I hate that my tax money is being used, in part, to keep minorities and poor people alive and functioning." That's it. They don't give a fuck about defense spending or any real government waste - they've created a "BIG GOVERNMENT" spectre and whipped up a public fear of this imaginary monolith, which to them is all-powerful, ever-present, and limits their freedom to...uh, I dunno, make a cheese sandwich or something. And they never get specific about it, because they know getting specific means they'll lose sympathy from others. I'm still trying to understand, exactly, how the right wing's irrational fear of government is something we need to respect at all. I mean, these assholes are fucking crazy - why do we need to bow down to them and say, "yes, I understand that big government shat in your Wheaties - how can we soothe your widdle boo-boos?"

[kctim]

41. That's why I said Reps AND Dems

Republicans need to understand that not all Dems want to tax them into oblivion and Dems need to understand that not all Republicans are against all taxation.

To be honest, the 'irrational fear of government' is really no different than the irrational fear of corporations.

Your rant is representative of a small number of Republicans and is just as silly as people claiming all Democrats are socialists. Both take the extremes view and apply it to the majority in order to try and discount them.
Talking points are opinions with a political motive and should not be used to 'understand' the other side. We need to speak with each other in order to understand to each other.

[RandomKoolzip]

57. I'm sorry, I don't do the false equivalency thing.

One side is completely irrational and dangerous and they have all the power, the other milquetoast and barely effective, and though they're powerful in name, they can't get shit done.

I don't need to CONTINUE speaking to more right-wingers - I do that enough in my day-to-day life. These people are fucking nuts; there is simply no negotiating or converting possible. We either need to work toward some sort of secession or give up on politics entirely, because there's no way out of this impasse.

[kctim]

58. False equivalency?

Tell me, why is the fear of some evil corporation any less irrational than the fear of our government?
Why are people "fucking nuts" for not agreeing with everything you do, but it is ok for you to disagree with them?
Why should they convert to your views, but you can ridicule their views?

The ONLY thing false in this equation is the belief that common sense and respect won't work.

[krispos42]

42. "You're a fascist, you don't belong in America" would have been a nice response

"Corporations, business, profits, war, and nationalism are your priorities. Ergo, you're a fascist."



I get enough of this shit from my uncle.

The one who got his masters in health education from a PUBLIC university back when they were dirt-cheap, and make six figures as a UNIONIZED PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

[hamsterjill]

43. The best thing to do?

Forget him if you at all can, but remember him when you step into the voting booth.

[Matariki]

44. Someone like that is too stupid to hold a conversation with.

You'd be better off just walking away from them and not engaging.

[polmaven]

47. And I'm willing to bet

he will/has railed against Jim Hoffa and called his remarks yesterday "violent rhetoric"!...

[Taverner]

48. Conservatives are Sociopaths

[ChairmanAgnostic]

55. Tea Bagger definition of sociopath:

the road taken by librul socialists to destroy America.

[area51]

49. "socialist"

Since he probably believes in a socialist fire dept., a socialist police dept., a socialist military, a socialist Medicare, socialist libraries, socialist schools, socialist roads to drive on ... :shrug:

[B Calm]

51. Corporate bail outs, tax cuts to millionaires, and subsidies to corporations is all socialism

[Dawson Leery]

52. These are the same trash bags that

threatened violence against the current President, the Dixie Chicks, The Beatles, Civil Rights activists, Union activists, etc...

[B Calm]

53. You should have said and you are a predatory capitalistic fascist pig

[Initech]

56. I'd tell him to go turn off Limbaugh and Hannity and join the real world.

[ck4829]

59. This guy knows that the Pledge of Allegiance was written by a socialist, right?

[hifiguy]

60. LOL! Bright children make better arguments than that

and I am sure, wolf, that you have scraped smarter things off your shoe after walking near the dog park. There's no sense even trying to speak logic or reason to 30-35% of this country and we shouldn't even bother trying. Doing so is like trying to teach your cat calculus. They are in delusional denial and just plain dumber than rocks. We need to work on the sane ones.