Do you think the people on here that are calling Hillary Clinton a socialist even know what it means?

Question

C'mon people don't get angry I just asked a question. Some of you are so touchy. Maybe you aren't so sure after all.

Answer 1

It's a catch-phrase just like 'liberal' or 'Communist'. It's used to try to discredit someone.

Instead of discussing the relative merits of a particular idea such as universal health care, those opposed simply call the proposal 'socialist'.

It's debating for dummies...

Answer 2

As a capitalist, what I find most worrisome is the fact most socialist leaning people don't even know what socialism is.



MikeR, Mr Tucker appears to be, as do you, operating under the false assumption that wealth is finite, a fixed amount to be fought over, controlled and/or destroyed.

Recognize that the freedoms a wealthy man needs to retain wealth are the same freedoms a poor man needs to create wealth. Socialism does not create wealth; its only desire is to redistribute wealth created by capitalism.

I'm living proof that one does not need to be a wealthy man to be a capitalist.

You would have me believe that a person who thinks an "earnest anarchist is a firm friend of liberty" is believable on any point in regards to socialism vs. capitalism.

That's hilarious and simultaneously dangerous.

Make a deal with you. You let me keep what I earn and do what I want with it and you do the same. Deal?

I didn’t think so.

You would rather I do what you say wouldn’t you? Or at the least what others would have you believe I should do? Socialism in a nutshell.

Stuff that idea where the sun don’t shine, my friend.

Answer 3

No.

I'm going to cut-and-paste parts from one of my other answers which involved defining socialism:

A socialist is someone who supports social changes to reduce or remove economic inequalities. Not all socialists will support the same changes or will oppose the same inequalities. Most socialists argue that the ruling classes and their allies exploit the working classes and their allies.

In practice, socialism divides into two main camps:

State socialism (including most forms of Marxism, social democracy, democratic socialism, Fabian socialism, Bellamy's model, Lasalle's model, etc.)

Libertarian socialism (including mutualism or individualist anarchism in the older sense, collectivist anarchism, anarchocommunism or libertarian communism, anarchosyndicalism, revolutionary unionism or industrial unionism in the Wobbly sense, council communism, autonomous Marxism, etc.)

Socialism doesn't mean government control, and government control doesn't mean socialism, okay?

P.S. Crunch, that's just wrong. Capitalism, in the original sense of the word, has nothing to do with individual rights and everything to do with legal privileges for the holders of capital. Socialism, conversely, refers to the abolition of these privileges. I suggest you read some of Tucker:

http://fair-use.org/benjamin-tucker/instead-of-a-book/socialism-what-it-is

http://fair-use.org/benjamin-tucker/instead-of-a-book/should-labor-be-paid-or-not

Answer 4

i think most conservatives on here know what they're talking about when they call hillary a socialist and insult liberal for supporting her and socialism but if they know the definition of socialism then they should know the def of fascism,and the patriot act is a classic example of fascism.

we give up a few civil rights and individual interest-government can listen in on phone calls,check our emails,fbi agents can write their own search warrants without a judge,detain us without any reason deny a reason as to y we are detained,deny us a lawyer or any other counsel.the is by definiton fascism put into play by president bush.does that make president bush a fascist or anyother conservative that supports bush,i don't think so but thats what kind of position conservative take up with hillary on socialism.just because i like hillary i'm a socialist,then ur a fascist for supporting bush

Answer 5

Absolutely...

Problem is, some don't care that she is. Some say, so whats wrong with socialism?

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined."   Patrick Henry, 1788

or better yet...

"The history of liberty is a history of limitation of government power, not the increase of it."  Woodrow Wilson

She does not have a history of protecting public freedoms or liberties. She does have a history of standing for redistribution of wealth, government intrusion into public life. Govt sponsored (socialized) health care. Not to mention her husbands administration. Her returned campaign contributions... And shes not even in office yet.

Calling it a "universal health care program", does NOT make it anything other than socialized health care.

Answer 6

Most of them couldn't identify a real socialist if their lives depended on it. It's just the latest smear phrase from the Republican character assassination machine. They gleefully ignore that we have used socialistic programs to supplement our capitalistic society for many years - Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. Universal Health Care is just another one - and despite their hysteria it won't lead to erecting a statue of Karl Marx in Washington. The other thing they cite is her saying "We're going to take things away from you for the common good" (paraphrasing). Again ignoring she is talking about taking away the tax cuts Bush gave to the rich to help pay for the UHC and forcing the oil companies to put their money where their mouths are and really start investigating alternate fuel sources instead of giving it just lip service. They instead use it broadly to claim she means turning the U.S. into a socialist state. They also point to her college thesis, in which she did an examination of a man considered to be a socialist/communist by many. Never mind that she offered more criticism of his beliefs than approval in that thesis. The subject matter itself MUST make her a socialist lol.

Half the time I can't figure out if they know they are full of it, or really buy that crap hook line and sinker. If you notice, it started with Hillary, but now the idiots call ALL Democrats socialists and/or communists as the fit takes them. It tells me right away they are either lemmings or just plain idiots. Hillary Clinton has always been and will always be a good old fashioned American capitalist.

Answer 7

No. Most Americans don't really know what socialism is. On the contrary, if I asked you to define liberty, would you be able to do so? I'm not talking about examples. I'm talking about a definition. Learn what socialism is and what true freedom/liberty are. Freedom is synonymous with liberty. Freedom is not synonymous with democracy. Watch this segment of a constitution class. Break the conditioning.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4870224407360952135

Answer 8

yes, I think people understand the term Socialist in the context of US politics to be a position in support of expanded social and governmental programs.

While maybe not the traditional interpretation of socialism, I think when someone refers to Clinton's policies as socialist, people know what is meant.

Wikipedia says: "Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that visualize a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community"

If the government is the "community", then some of Clinton's policies are Socialist. Why does everyone have a problem with it?

When Clinton wants Socialized Healthcare, Social Security (instead of private retirement), and higher taxes for corporations and businesses, then the term Socialist is appropriate in the context of US politics

Answer 9

it is possible...

she was called a socialist because of her failed national health plan... and her second attempt years later

but the bottom line is that we Americans would rather spend tax $$$ on the war than on Schip or any proposed national health plan.

the american irony

Answer 10

Obviously not. This is typical, though. The right wing types have a penchant for trying to attach derogatory labels to anyone they don't like (which pretty much means anyone except themselves). And the way they sue the words--socialist, communist, "Islamofacist," etc.-- shows they don't know what the words mean. They've jsut been told these are "bad things"--and assume everyone else thinks the same.