Why is it that Americans can not accept that socialism has good aspects?

Question

The older generation believes that socialism=communism=bad=soviet russia=our enemies.

Now why can't they understand that they are just beliefs that some have and they necessarily aren't the devil.

Yes, in a socialist society there is no religion, but a democratic socialist country can have one.

So why is it that when that flag is raised immeadiately there is "liberal pinko" this and the reds reproduce in swarms like insects?

A lot of the United States is socialized (Postal Service, schools, fire departments, police force). Why can't we continue that logic and use socialized health care as well?

Wow, I do realize that i was all over the radar there and i'm sorry for that, but conservatives (conservatives, not republicans, meaning people who want to maintain the status quo, so don't start a left/right debate there) always maintain the notion that socialism is bad!

A lot of good responses, but many off topic from my actual question.

Answer 1

Judging by most of the answers here it must be because most Americans are appallingly ignorant and also incapable of even reading and thinking through your question!

Answer 2

You claim that, "A lot of the United States is socialized (Postal Service, schools, fire departments, police force). Why can't we continue that logic and use socialized health care as well?"

The reason we cannot is even in the exapmles you use. Postal Service has competition, Federal Express, UPS, etc. Schools - there are private schools too. The socialized ones, upon close examination are failing to educate our students in skills they need (math, science) so parents with the means send their children elsewhere. Fire departments my be a socialized service, but many businesses take the precaution of putting in sprinkler systems so fire damage is not too bad. If the police are socialized and the only protection we have then why are there private security guards and neighborhood watches. Americans choose to be more involved and take action because they do not trust monoployies.

All socialized medicine will do is protect healthcare worker jobs. Go to an Indian Health Service hospital here in the US, you are just a number that the docs will eventually get to. I cannot find it right now on the internet but there was a study a few years ago between British docs and American one. The America docs being in a non socialized environment, saw more patients on average and, to my surprise, were far more accurate than their British counterparts. Socialism breeds laziness due to the job security. Would you want to be treated by a doc who doesn't have to care about you? Live or die they still get paid and for government employees there are seldom any consequences for poor performance.

Now I know the system is bad right now but I do not think we should go towards socialized healthcare. A more imaginative experimental solution would have my vote faster than the socialized medicine. Even if it could fail.

Answer 3

Why are they scared of socialism? Socialism is in direct contest with commercialism. If each person had the whole lot they wanted, they might'nt want the extras. If you could have just a little auto ( made by means of the peoples republic ) that will get you from A two B, you do want the jeep that appears spectacular & will get you neighbour-envy. The vast-monitor TV, the items & high-priced toys are all side of the yank dream. Socialism takes that away there is not any want for pageant if the state supplies. From what I recognize studying among the traces there may be an detail of snobbery with the wellness-care process within the US. Those that may come up with the money for to pay, folks who can slightly come up with the money for to pay & those who.....good they would come up with the money for it however they would so much alternatively spend their cash on vacations, the vast-monitor TV, items, flash autos, the plastic fake lifestyles that charity hospitals recognize handiest to good. In a nation like the usa you simply are not able to suppose humans loss of life from preventable & treatable lifestyles-risking ailments & illnesses. Alas there have been thousands of guys, girl & kids who've/had no wellness care. For a prosperous nation just like the US, that is shameful & avoidable. You'd consider such a lot americans might be thankful that obama has driven for those reforms. Why Yahoo is gambling up is normal Sat efficiency.

Answer 4

The American Medical Association was founded to fight socialized medicine in the 1930s. It was the doctors who fought this, not congress or the people. More recently, Richard Nixon proposed socialized medicine and it almost certainly would have passed in the 1970s even with an intense fight by the AMA, except there were a few things that congress and Nixon became embroiled in, namely watergate. If you liberals would have cared more about healthcare instead of impeaching Nixon, you would have your Canadian-style system 30 years ago.
Healthcare costs are skyrocketing mainly because of Malpractice or prevention from malpractice. This was proven by a recent study which showed that malpractice insurance and the fear of being sued has driven up healtcare costs more than any other single factor. The second biggest cost is paperwork which eats up 25% of every dollar spent. Next is the outrageous cost of drugs, which congress can certainly do something about. Finally, doctors are also to blame for performing millions of unnecessary surguries to line their own pockets.
The government does already subsidize healthcare for everyone with tax deductions on wages and free healthcare for the poor and of course Medicare is already socialized medicine for retirees. If we go all the way and socialize everything, it will probably go a long way to reduce paperwork costs because no one is bouncing from insurer to insurer, and will reign in greedy lawyers. But government certainly fails miserable at reducing costs. And in order to keep costs low, it will have to impose some draconian rules which will anger a lot of people who go to the doctor every time Jr. has the sniffles or who demand the latest pill they saw on a tv ad.
Socialized medicine will happen sooner than later, for one reason: Globalization. Our companies can not compete with China and other third world socialist countries when they are saddled with paying for their lazy, fat worker's heart surgery and alcohol abuse treatment.

Answer 5

First of all, why do you label conservatives as those "who want to maintain the status quo"? Sorry, not a tenant of the philosophy.
Of course there are aspects of socialism that could be appealing, but overall, if you compare countries who are primarily socialistic with those who practice capitalism and the free market, the latter are more successful in all aspects.
Why would you want to sacrifice your freedom of choice and individual initiative to bigger more intrusive government?

Answer 6

Any time you force people to pay for other people's laziness, it is WRONG.
Socialism has never spurred technological advancement or innovation.
Name some of the inventions/medical advancements to come out of socialist countries. None, right?
That's because ONLY capitalism rewards those who take risks by developing new technology.
Besides, from the horror stories I've heard with socialized medicine, it is not a good system.
Also, why should I be forced to pay for my OWN healthe care AND someone else's?

Answer 7

How about we actually get to experience a constitutional representative republic first(such as we are really supposed to be anyway) before you start preaching socialism? And who's wanting to continue on with the status quo? We're socialistic now(yes this supposed inferior minded Democracy is actually just that.). How about just "restoring the republic"?

Answer 8

I think you need to study up on your definition of Socialism. My main problem with it is that it tends to reduce everyone to the lowest standard. Take a look at public education in this country-that's what happened there. Those who are gifted need to know that there are rewards for hard work. Socialism kills that opportunity. Remember, under socialized medicine you won't be seeing a specialist!

Answer 9

Simple answer, it doesn't ever work. It kills initiative and rewards people for doing the minimum. Should a 30 years experienced high rise steel worker, and a seasoned commercial airline pilot make as much as an entry level 16 year old cashier? That's what socialism gets you.

Answer 10

Socialism = Utopia. It's not realistic.

Answer 11

Socialism has some good intentions but utterly fails in practice and changing the people who administer it will not change the results.