"We're not socialists!!" the leftys wail. In the next breath they tout the virtues of socialized health care or any number of half baked wealth redistribution schemes to ensure "fairness".
What part of socialism don't they understand?
2007-07-12 09:25:43 · 13 answers · asked by RP McMurphy 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
And you expect people to take you seriously? Oh by the way, we got the good old apples / oranges thing going on when you equate it with police and fire protection, which is one of the legitimate functions of government. Good try, sport, have a lollipop and don't forget to wash behind your ears.
2007-07-12 09:56:34 · update #1
magicman, not a republican. Notice how I said leftys? Plenty of leftys in the Republican party.
2007-07-12 09:57:26 · update #2
For the same reason they stand on everything else... They seem so naive and blind to what their thoughts and views actually translate into.
2007-07-12 09:36:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
At least you know there's a difference between liberalism and socialism. Puts you one up on most cons these days! :)
Not all liberals favor programs such as you describe. Including me. But we are liable to end up with a far more socialized health care system--and quite frankly, ts going to be more due to conservative's actions than liberals.
Here's what I mean (1 example only, though there are dozens):
>Reductions in public health programs. These programs, reviled by the right as "socialist" and "wasting tax money on the welfare bums" are in fact extremely cost effective--they get people in for preventative care and early treatment. Its a lot cheaper to spend $50 on that than $5000 for a hospital stay down the road. And--regardless of the rhetoric, the American people are not going to countenance any system that simply denies care entirely--so one way or the other, we will be paying for this.
How does this lead to a more socialized system? Because one of the tendancies of the liberals is to implement large, overarching programs. And that's what you'll end up with, instead of the approach we used to take in this country: a mixed state/federal/private nonprofit approach that promoted such care--with some federal funding, but most--and the administration--kept at the state and local level.
In short, by dismantling that system, and not finding an alternative, the right has created an opening for increased government intervention/control. And--you'll see the same pattern in many other areas. The right has sharply restricted the oversight ability ofthe FDA--and now you hear of e Coli outbreaks, contaminated food from China, etc. Now what do you think a Democratic Congress is going to do? We[ve had a growth in dependancy on foreign oil, soaring gas prices, and so on. Now we hear that our wonderful automakers aren't building cars with gas mileage any better than it was 25 years ago. And the environmental concerns to boot. So Congress is considering mandating improvements. What the HELL did you expect?
These things need to be addressed in a bipartisan way--and without kowtowing to special interests or simplly turning themover to governmetnt bureaucrats. But that hasn't happened. So what we're going to get is more regulation and government intervention. If the right wants to know why--look in a mirror.
2007-07-12 10:00:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Calling the left's ideas for change socialism is just a label the wing nuts use to make those ideas look bad to other wing nuts. It's similar to the democrats saying the republicans are "out of touch" with the average citizen. It's just a set of politically charged words designed to gain more support from their base. UHC is not socialism unless you also think every other public service is too including the fire and police departments.
2007-07-12 09:52:55 · answer #3 · answered by Matt3471 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No a socialist economic system can't prosper due to massive government intervention while the free market system can be exploited by executives of big corporations very easily. It is better to take the best of both worlds and create a mixed economy. * The US economy is a mixed one. Not a free market economy.
2016-05-20 23:29:58 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the problem isn't that they don't understand socialism, but that socialism and communism still have negative connotations left over from the Cold War. They're affraid that ignorant conservatives and moderates (since, anyone who's not a liberal must be either ignorant or evil in thier minds, and they generally like to give you the benefit of the doubt), don't understand socialism, and would react only to the negative connotation of Cold War anti-communist propaganda.
Without that negative connotation, I'm sure they'd be willing to tout socialism more openly.
2007-07-12 09:30:42 · answer #5 · answered by B.Kevorkian 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
For the same reason North Korea calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
2007-07-12 11:26:37 · answer #6 · answered by Eukodol 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why don't Republicans admit they are fascists? They claim to hate big government and yet create the largest government entities ever. They claim to value the Constitution and yet they ignore it and abuse it every chance they get. Here is a famous quote from Sinclair Lewis that seems to describe Republicans perfectly:
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in patriotism and carrying a cross."
2007-07-12 09:43:14 · answer #7 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 4⤊ 4⤋
Their beliefs are socialist, but they don't like the label because Americans don't like socialism.
2007-07-12 09:29:02 · answer #8 · answered by Sam G 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in patriotism and carrying a cross." ....Read any article or book by ann coulter,listen to sean hannity...you will be scared by the similarities
2007-07-12 09:56:28 · answer #9 · answered by ericktravel 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
touting socialized health care does not make one a commie.
2007-07-12 10:46:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋