2006-11-16 16:34:12 · 14 answers · asked by IRunWithScissors 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Unlike the the depraved rantings of previous posters, I'm going to try to give you a real answer.
Socialists, like in France, Sweden, and a lot of other European countries, believe that the government should provide a certain level of basic services for all citizens. This includes universal health care, social security retirement savings, and a host of other programs. They tax heavily to pay or all this. In some nations, the tax rate is 50% or higher.
In the United States, Liberals believe that the government has a mandate to help the most unfortunate in our society. While they don't all believe in universal health care, they don't understand why the richest nation on Earth cannot provide medical services to any citizen who does not have insurance. They believe that the government should step in and help people who are unemployed or underemployed. US liberals are NOT socialists, but they are closer to socialism than the conservaives are. Conservatives believe that every citizen should look out for themselves, with no support from the government; that America is the land of opportunity, and if you don't take advantage of those opportunities, that's your problem, not the problem of society in general.
2006-11-16 16:53:32 · answer #1 · answered by Chredon 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The same as the difference between an apple and a Toyota.
The two are unrelated. A socialist believes that the government should own the means of production and industry, and that such resources should not be privately owned.
A liberal believes in civil liberties, and lack of government intrusion into private decisions. Liberals believe in personal freedoms, and that government should allow change and diversity.
Yes, some liberals also happen to be socialists. Just as some conservatives are also socialists. And like some liberals are also rabid capitalists. A person's economic beliefs do not necessarily have anything to do with their believes regarding liberty and change.
2006-11-17 00:45:07 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
What is , then, the difference between a socialist and a communist? It is all the same line of thought and it gets more pronounced as we g from Liberal to Socialist to Communist, but these are really only words, (semantics). The lines can be so blurred!
2006-11-17 00:44:22 · answer #3 · answered by motohype 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One smells, the other stinks.
Both systems are designed with one thing in mind, to take away your freedom. It's about CONTROL. It gets deep and cannot be explained in a paragraph or two to understand.
But the smell should keep you away from both of them.
Why is it still here then and most of the world is under the stench of both of them? Glad you asked. Again, it gets deep and cannot be explained in a paragraph or two. But, I can tell you after living with the stink for awhile you get use to the smell, right?
But meaning also, once you become a stink liberal, it's not hard to smell like a socialist.
2006-11-17 00:59:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Liberalism is a broad political beliefs system, whereas Socialism is a single, succinct political party platform, with specific ideas and concepts applied in their form of government. Socialism believes that property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. It is also theorized as the first stepping stone towards a Communist society, as envisioned by the founder of the Marxist movement, Karl Marx.
2006-11-17 00:45:56 · answer #5 · answered by phototraingeek 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Liberals wrote the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution. Liberals were the leaders of the American Revolution. They had to fight not only the British, but the conservatives in America who supported the Crown. Then, as today, conservatives were anti-American traitors.
2006-11-17 00:57:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Socialists want (even) more taxes than liberals.
2006-11-17 00:44:21 · answer #7 · answered by ardorafiore 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Liberals can retain their wealth, a socialist is doomed to share it with everyone else.
2006-11-17 13:38:31 · answer #8 · answered by Shogun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a socialist thinks the Central government is
responsible for everyone via the taxpayers
a liberal thinks that everyone is responsible
for the Central government via the taxpayers
2006-11-17 00:48:10 · answer #9 · answered by bullet head 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Liberals are Communist and Socialists are Socialists.
Socialists believe in partial governmental control.
Communists believe in total governmental control.
U.S. is socialistic.
2006-11-17 00:43:08 · answer #10 · answered by SPITTINGBLOOD 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋