I hope some of our American cousins can answer this Question!
Why does the word "socialism" strike fear into the hearts of American voters? To label democrats as communists is akin to labeling republicans as fascists, there are many socialist governments in Europe, non of which could be described as being remotely communist and which function very well.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.It all began during the Red Scare in the 1950's. Some republicons decided to make political points by demonizing communists and socialists. People were "black listed" and their careers were ruined. Propaganda at the time equated Socialism with Communism, and made it anti-American, anti-capitalism, and anti-"God".
Mention Socialism in this country and you get treated like a child molester.
BitFlipper
Level 8
Mar 5, 2020
2
From your post to dumbass' brains....oh, wait......
AnneWimsey
Level 9
Mar 4, 2020
1
Our educational system has failed because we are not socialists. We are greedy, kleptocrats, who "want it all & want it now" to quote a Grub Hub commercial. Most Americans believe socialism IS communism tho we tout "community" which is communal.....ist. Bunch of dumb boneheads we are. All of the New Deal safety "social...ism" nets implemented by FDR/LBJ/Carter/Clinton/Obama are being dismantled or hobbled. They love Reagan, Bush, Bush, & now this crook , all the while they are losing the legacy of the demon socialism that takes care of grandma, the indigent, our veterans. The rightists here say the homeless veterans are a result of failed socialism. It is really due to the evisceration of socialist programs that are now dismantled. Capitalism run without checks equals more mentally challenged homeless in the streets, & AMAZON pays no taxes. No Justice! No Peace! 1% owns 84% of the stock market. The rest of us get to scramble for the 16% left as crumbs.
Mooolah
Level 8
Mar 4, 2020
1
There are NO socialist governments in Europe. You are mistakenly calling free market economies with a welfare state as socialist.
Even with very good and honest people in charge, socialism just doesn't work. You need a free market to accurately value capital investments (von Mises) and only the free market can utilize widely dispersed economic information (von Hayek). Central planning can't do it. Over a period of decades, socialism=poverty.
doug6352
Level 7
Mar 4, 2020
0
'Socialist Paranoia' in the U.S. is a real phenomenon. It can be said to date from the 'Great Upheaval' of 1877, the First Red Scare of 1918-1925, and the Second Red Scare of 1947-1992. It is transmitted down to children by their parents, who were inculcated with it by their parents. In America's two-party system, the Democratic Party is currently the preferred party of Libertine (Liberal)- minded bourgeois. While the Republican Party represents the Philistine ("conservative" )-minded bourgeois. Third parties haven't had much of a chance for the past 120 years. So, voters are left with a choice between the pretty stupid, and the extremely stupid. Not much of a choice, eh?
Why is there no strong 'Left', or 'Right' party? Former Reichsfuhrer of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, decided that the best way to prevent the rise of a strong third party, was to keep the Left, and the Right divided, and at odds with one another, by keeping them good and riddled with informants, and agents-provocateurs.
Is the Democratic Party remotely "socialist"? No. But Left-minded types cling to their coattails. Is the Republican Party "fascist"? Traditionally, it was made up of extremely stupid bourgeois, who knew their limits. Now, it is comprised of extremely stupid bourgeois who, under Trump, have now decided there are no limits.
I could rant on, but you get the idea!
davknight
Level 8
Mar 3, 2020
2
I certainly do get your idea, many thanks for your insight, very enlightening for a Johnny foreigner like me. My heart goes out to the American people who are suffering from the effects of extremely poor politicians!
Americans are alarmists. And ignorant.
PondartIncbendog
Level 8
Mar 2, 2020
1
Because the word/concept has been demonized for 3+ decades by unrepentant capitalists who want to make a penny off of everything.
1of5
Level 8
Mar 2, 2020
3
Well said, especially as communism is dead as a political force in the modern world, a good new expression for it should be government by "Mafia" as they now have in Russia!
@Austin-Cambridge Kleptocracy
It is a generational thing, mainly the Boomers, some older Gen Xers, and some older than we Boomers. Unfortunately the Boomers are still a huge voting block and vote in large numbers. The younger conservatives, not a bright bunch to begin with, buy into that bullshit their parents and grandparents have sold them. American ignorance and arrogance all to often blinds us to what is going on outside of our own borders. IMO
Sticks48
Level 9
Mar 2, 2020
2
Seeing the wood for the trees is difficult for most people, thanks for that!
Yeah, remnants of Cold War propaganda.
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