Why is SOCIALISM popular in Europe?

Question

Spain, France & Germany all run socialist candidates for president. In the United States are scocialists don't even call themselves socialists. They call themselves liberals. Now that liberal has become unpopular they want to be called progressives. In the United States republican candidates fight over who is the most conservsative candidate. They all want that title. Democrats NEVER fight over the title of most LIBERAL. It would be the kiss of death come election time. Why is Socialism so popular in Europe and so unpopular in the United States?

My Favorite

Liberal/Progressive/Socialist;


"We are socialists, we are enemies of today's capitalistic economic system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we are all determined to destroy this system under all conditions." --Adolf Hitler

(Speech of May 1, 1927.)

Answer 1

I'm with Patrick -- Higher taxes! We demand higher taxes! Take our money! What the .... ?

So ... Americans are flocking to Europe for their expert medical care, huh? Or is it the other way around?

Answer 2

First off Hitler was a an anti-socialist, and a great liar Secondly Socialism is not a form on governing it is a economic ideal. It is a way of managing a counties money. The only true Socialistic county in the world is the Vatican. There are not true Capitalistic county in the world. As far as the rest of your statement a liberal is someone that let you make up your own mind, the root of the word is liberty. A progressive is some one that think we can improve the world. A Socialist want everyone to be paid the same. In no way could these Ideas be considered the same, except by error. Just so we are clear a Conservative believe that this is as good as thing can be and any changes mean that we are Sliding down hill. In the words of the Movie Pleasantville, "Where's My Diner!!!!" is true the call of the Conservative.

Answer 3

Comparing today's liberals (or conservatives for that matter) to Hitler, is simply ignorant.

China is officially called The People's Republic of China but does anyone outside of China actually consider them a republic? Of course not.

Hitler may have called himself a socialist but his actions made it clear that he was not a socialist.

I don't know why socialism is popular in Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland or the Netherlands. I know those countries enjoy a standard of living equal to or better than the USA, but then, they are much smaller and less diverse which I think lends itself to a greater likelihood of success.

I do know that making the argument that you did only increases the divisiveness among us and that "divide and conquer" is an old military axiom. Therefore, our enemies, like Al Qaeda, want us to be divided.

So congratulations, your ignorant rhetoric is helping the terrorists. Well done!

Answer 4

Since when is liberalism “unpopular”? Liberals are one of the fastest growing political segments in America, in recent years. Liberals in this country, however, would be considered moderates in many European countries.

As far as Hitler is concerned, actions speak louder than words. The Nazis favored the big German industrialists and worked closely with them. The Nazis eliminated German worker representation by eliminating independent trade unions and putting trade union leaders into concentration camps.

Hitler appealed to the German workers before his election in order to gain their votes but, once in power, helping capitalists was his first and foremost economic concern. Hitler had promised the capitalists that there was no threat from him or his party to their wealth. He kept his promise and the rich got richer.

Hitler wrote in The Road to Resurgence that:

"Capitalists had worked their way to the top through their capacity, and on the basis of this selection they have the right to lead."

The Road to Resurgence was circulated among the large German industrialists and financiers in order to reassure them that the Nazis had the interests of capitalists first and foremost. The Nazis lived up to their promises to the big industrialists and abandoned their promises to the workers.

Answer 5

Socialism in Europe works only because of compassion for other human beings of the same nationality, they have been war ravaged since settlement. Perhaps in some areas we could learn from them , somewhere there is a happy middle gound where the go getter can get a head and those in need are fed, it begins with national pride.

Answer 6

What a stupid question. A thinly-veiled dig at Socialism....
The current Republican administration in the US is as close to the Nazi regime as I hope it will ever get. (Hitler was nothing but a thug hiding under the socialist flag, but at least he had more intelligence than George W. Bush).

"Oh America, don't you wonder why in Estonia they say, Hey you, big fat pig, you fat pig"
"Steely blue eyes with no love in them, scan the world. A humorless smile with no warmth within scans the world..."

Answer 7

Ah, good old Hitler. He also disarmed everyone, for their own safety and we all know the end result of that.

I don't care what anyone says, this is precisely what is taking place in our own country and people refuse to open their eyes and see it. But, I also caution what true capitalism means anymore. It appears as though that is turning into one huge monopoly.

Any way you look at things, we are truly facing a double edged sword.

Answer 8

We can't afford more socialism with our lower taxes and massive military budget. They can afford it, so they have better education and universal health care. Liberals are not socialist, but they are more socialist than a con. A little socialism is necessary to prevent a society from crumbling. Europe is simply a little more socialist than we are. A purely capitalist system would fail just as quickly as a purely socialist one.

Answer 9

Cold war ended 20 years ago mate.

Answer 10

its popular in America too, have you ever seen American socialist protectionist trade laws and rules, now that is socialism. actually every single country in the world has laws, or programs that could be considered socialist, its not really a big deal.

Answer 11

In the US, we know capitalism works. Socialism is idealistic. It promises something for nothing. We know the value of hard work. For us, it pays off. In Europe, you get creamed with high taxes, so the incentives are taken away.