Why are Americans so Terrified of Socialism?

Question

Just mentioning the word is enough to make people's jaws drop. Considering that most other Western countries are socialist, why is it so alarming?

Is it the high taxes they have? Is it our phenomenal health care system we just couldn't go without? Is it the 1 month vacations they get that we are appalled by?

I don't want to live in a socialist country personally. Had to add that in there, though I know many people will be typing their response before reading that and will say "then move". But I don't see it being THAT much worse. In some ways it is better, some ways worse. But I don't think it warrants the gut reaction it gets in the U.S.

As Americans, we have been conditioned to have a knee jerk reaction to the idea of Socialism. I think it's a left over from the cold war mostly, and not much based on logic.

Answer 1

Necessities should be socialized.

The rest - good ol' capitalism.

Answer 2

First, our opponent during the cold war was communist, not a socialist. Communism is an extreme form of socialism which results in equally extreme negative results.

I have lived in a 'socialistic' country, Australia. Australia is not socialist, but has a high degree of socialism. As a reasult, it's income taxes are in the neighborhood of 65%. Add to this the other taxes on food, goods and government licenses and you can take it up to 70 or 75% easily. Now, I don't know about you, but that alone is enough to drop my jaw. Do you really want to work 9 months out of the year to pay your taxes?

Then there's the services. With the exception of the childrens hospitals, the medical system sucks. The general hospitals are as bad or worse than the worst inner city hospital.

And despite the exorbidant taxes and extremely poor medical care, the country is..or was when I was there...going broke. They were 'encouraging' those who could afford it to buy private insurance even as they paid their taxes for socialized medicine. The encouragement was a veiled threat because if folks didn't there was the certainty that they would eventually be forced to.

So, extremely high taxes and subpar government services. Sound like a deal to you? That's socialism every where it's tried. Think Canada's better? Here's what a Canadian doctor has to say. Also, ask yourself, how many Americans go to Canada to get medical care? How does that compare to the number of Canadians coming to America for care? Those facts alone should convince you of a reality that the left has yet to accept.

Answer 3

Because we have been conditioned to the fact that "socialism is bad" for almost a century and are constantly given France and Canada as examples of "failure" Did you know that the US almost went socialist at the turn of the last century? All the workers got together in unions and demanded fair wages and a fair workday. It wasn't just a small group,either, it was men, women, blacks, Native Americans...they actually all got together and they almost won too....they did get some concessions like the 40 hour work week and child labor laws passed. People were actually communicating and getting together regardless of race or gender.... corporate America couldn't have that, so they crushed the unions once and for all. I'll get lots of thumbs down for my answer but I truly believe that the rich poisoned us against any form of socialism because they were afraid of losing their money. Can't have anyone running the country except rich white men, right?

Answer 4

Americans work 40 hours per week and still can not manufacture a car that runs.No one in America is denyed medical care even Murderers in this Country Illegally or Fags in the Pen can and do get Medical care including Sex change operations in some states.The Government is already stealing enough tax money from Americans.You will soon understand when the Hill is Elected President How your way of living will change Big time.Be care full what you wish for.

Answer 5

Because socialism is a proven failure.

-Is it the high taxes they have?

That is one aspect. You know we did go to war over taxes.

-Is it our phenomenal health care system we just couldn't go without?

I don't know about where you live. My healthcare is pretty damn good.

-Is it the 1 month vacations they get that we are appalled by?

I get a month off and I'm not appaled.

-I don't want to live in a socialist country personally.

Wise choice

- But I don't see it being THAT much worse.

It's the possibility of it getting better here that is the difference.

Answer 6

If anyone would read the 8 planks of Marx's communist manifesto, they would realize how close we already are. Slowly but surely we are getting there and when we do we still won't admit it. Already half the population sits on their collective butt and looks to the government to solve their problems. Ultimately the end resoult can be found in the closing chapters of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged".

Answer 7

Ignorance breeds fear. And there are few things the Americans are more ignorant about that the notion of socialism. They confuse it with communism, and pick the examples pointed out by conservative, capitalist media sources.

The fear of Castro and Cuba is exactly the same....no one in the US really knows why they are supposed to hate Castro, as they know nothing about him. But make no mistake - they hate him...because they are told to hate him.

Average Americans are not much further ahead than Pavlov's dogs on certain issues...

Answer 8

There was a deliberate attempt by Republican 'talking points' to slur any government public service and public service recipient as a lazy layabout, and to promote the refusal of government services as a virtue of 'self reliance'.

It is an important talking point from their business backer lobbyists.

After all - if the government performs a service directly for the public, then there is no opportunity to get between the service and the recipient and charge a markup.

Answer 9

Socialized economies historically have been totalitarian. Once the governments control the economy and the military of a nation, they have the country in a stranglehold. Just take a look at the examples of the past: the National Socialist Party (Nazis) in Germany, Stalin's socalist regime that killed millions, Cuba's propaganda machine etc.

America was founded on the radical notion of individual liberty and the individuals right to self-govern. The trend towards increased power of the federal government and increased socialism in this country is alarming - it is regression into economic slavery.

The government can't even deliver the mail on time - lines at the DMV are miles long - and you want the government to control your healthcare? You want to give them more power and influence? I don't think so.

Answer 10

Socialism is based on untested and unchecked idealism, which history has shown us, is a bad thing.

It's easy to build a philosophy, it doesn't have to run.

Don't feel too bad, though; I feel the same way about the conservative "alternative" we have.

No one's a fan of thinking things through anymore, it seems.

Answer 11

It really boils down to fear and conditioning.

Although I do agree with another answerer here that once you factor in good old human frailty and greed any system can be corrupted.