Is voting for a Democrat a vote for socialism?

Question

People say that Democrats are for socialism.

Well are they?

Answer 1

Yes they are and and yes it is.

Answer 2

People? The only people who say this are Republicans who have adopted this as their new smear tactic, and those who believe anything they say. Democrats are not socialists. This all started with the Universal Health Care thing. If you want to see everyone in our country have health care then you must be a socialist. Funny, they never comment on the "socialism" of such U.S. programs as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. We, and the Democratic candidates, remain firm capitalists. We in this country have used certain aspects of socialism for our social programs, such as the ones I've listed. But we're in no danger of turning into a socialist country because of UHC. The war cry of "socialists!" is simply a tool they are using to try and discredit the Democrats, who seem to have a leg up on the '08 election. I'm willing to bet if you picked ten of these people at random and tested them they couldn't give you a correct definition of socialism if their lives depended on it.

Answer 3

In many ways Democrats are for socialism. Any time you have a group of people advocating government involvement in social or economic issues, you have a group of people who are advocating socialism (even if they don't realize it). Democrats support a universal health care system run by the government, heavy taxes on the rich that will supposedly be used to support the poor, heavy restrictions on businesses (like Hillary's idea of taking half of the profits of Exxon/Mobil and supposedly putting those dollars toward research into alternative fuel sources), and other social programs like welfare and social security. Here's the problem: Every time we the people hand a problem to the government and say "Here, fix this" we're handing over a little piece of our freedom. At the same time, we're giving the goverment that much more authority over the private citizen. See, people think welfare is good for the impoverished and social security is good for the elderly, but programs like these make people more dependent upon the government. If universal health care is passed, EVERYONE will be more reliant on the government. The more you rely on the government, the more control the government exercises over you. And it doesn't take long before the scales tip. Instead of you telling your government what's wrong and what you want fixed, your government is telling YOU what's wrong and what is going to be fixed. And once the government gets that powerful, the only way you can get your freedom back is through a bloody revolution. Better to take a hard look at the issues now and elect leaders who support strict limitations on government power and authority.

Answer 4

Scare tactics from the radical right. They are scared to death that they are losing their grip and their plot to turn this country into a Fascist style dictatorship is falling apart that they launch all the propaganda tools they have. Prepare for more BS from them as the election nears. Most wouldn't know true Socialism if it jumped up and bit them in the butt. We don't have Socialism of any sort in the US today and I doubt we will start any time soon. Just because a program is managed by the government doesn't necessarily make it Socialist. Socialism is an economic system nothing more. We have Capitalism in the US. Confusing socially responsible, caring programs that make life better for ALL our people with true Socialism shows pure ignorance on the part of those making such assertions.

Answer 5

Yes, I think the Democrats have many socialist aspects in their platform. But so do Republicans.

A public road, a bridge, a sewer, a school, a university, a hospital built with public funds all have socialistic aspects to them. Bush pre-declaring much of the Texas coast a Federal disaster area during the last hurricane was certainly an example of socialism. On my travels during the Cold War I would often see donation jars for disaster aid to Socialist countries proudly claiming "Socialist Solidarity." Our country couldn't function without Socialist features.

Republicans in particular are some of the biggest socialists when it comes to national defense, taxing and spending trillions for what they see as the benefit of the many (but benefiting the rich with traditional war profits).

Answer 6

Being a socialist is different from being a democrat. Everything is a matter of degrees. Rather than give a civics lesson, I'll say research socialism and the democratic party

Answer 7

No, of course not, socialism is the government taking control of major industry in a nation for direction and decision making. Democrats support social program spending (and so do Republicans), there is a huge difference.

Answer 8

democrat, republican....neither is any better than the other and BOTH are wolves in sheeps clothing. Why don't you try to remove the LABELS and vote for whomever you feel most comfortable and connected with.

Democrats will raise taxes, to fund programs. Republicans like to waste money while hoarding their own and use money on wasteful programs. Do you really think one is ANY better than the other?

We have a republican in office right now, and look how much money is being wasted. Our taxes might not be raised, but we are in serious debt because of it. Republicans want to do away with social security (because they are usually weathy and greedy).

A vote for EITHER is a vote wasted...not that our votes mean much anyway. It's a business, bought and sold. It's sickening.

Answer 9

The people who say that are so ignorant it is a miracle they can reproduce. It is also a tragedy.

Since Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon demonstrated that you could build a career in the Republican party on red baiting, and demonizing any socially progressive action as communism, there have been ambitious sociopaths who have followed their trail to the top. Their propaganda has neither conscience nor scruple.

Consider what a socialist John Kennedy was. He was the President who stood up to the Soviets and backed them down over the Cuban missile crisis, the pivotal point in the Cold War, for with the loss of Cuba as a missile base the Soviets were committed to a policy of naval buildup that eventually wrecked their economy. Kennedy went to Berlin and drew the line in person. Still, his name is now blackened by sexual innuendo and family smears, and his liberal politics branded as socialist.

These "people" know the differences between a compassionate capitalist and a communist, but will admit to none. They lie. They defame. They are beneath the contempt of every decent American.

Answer 10

I am a democrat, & I am not a socialist, or do I believe in socialism...I don't believe in any ism.
You shouldn't believe everything you hear, didn't your mommy ever tell you that?? Mine did, & that is why I don't believe everything I hear about republicans. I research it & come to my own decision. But, it has been said that democrats have an overall higher IQ, maybe that is why!
My IQ is in the 150's...where does yours sit?

Answer 11

Socialism

A system of social and economic organization that would substitute state monopoly for private ownership of the sources of production and means of distribution, and would concentrate under the control of the secular governing authority the chief activities of human life. The term is often used vaguely to indicate any increase of collective control over individual action, or even any revolt of the dispossessed against the rule of the possessing classes. But these are undue extensions of the term, leading to much confusion of thought. State control and even state ownership are not necessarily Socialism: they become so only when they result in or tend towards the prohibition of private ownership not only of "natural monopolies", but also of all the sources of wealth. Nor is mere revolt against economic inequality Socialism: it may be Anarchism (see ANARCHY); it may be mere Utopianism (see COMMUNISM); it may be a just resistance to oppression. Nor is it merely a proposal to make such economic changes in the social structure as would banish poverty. Socialism is this (see COLLECTIVISM) and much more. It is also a philosophy of social life and action, regarding all human activities from a definite economic standpoint. Moreover modern Socialism is not a mere arbitrary exercise at state-building, but a deliberate attempt to relieve, on explicit principles, the existing social conditions, which are regarded as intolerable. The great inequalities of human life and opportunity, produced by the excessive concentration of wealth in the hands of a comparatively small section of the community, have been the cause and still are the stimulus of what is called the Socialistic movement. But, in order to understand fully what Socialism is and what it implies, it is necessary first to glance at the history .