You don't even know what socialism means obviously.
That's when the government runs everything. In fact there is not a single nation on earth which is not partly socialist. And the US is one of the least socialist countries on earth. Since WWII the US has been about 30% socialist. That is, providing Social Security, Military etc. but not running any corporations, though they come close in the defence industry. European countries are about 50% socialist. Less than before when the states ran the phone and oil companies. Communist countries are about 90% socialist. Right-wing dictatorships are about 80% socialist.
There is not a single person in either major party advocating the US be more than 5% more socialist than it is now. The GOP says 5% less, the liberals 5% more. No big difference except that in the GOP's case privatization often means a straight ripoff of public property, cash and assets such as we saw suring the S+L debacle and the recent energy gougings. That is where the corruption lies and where corporate soft money is the root of all evil.
There used to be more corruption in the welfare programs but that has been minimized now thanks to both parties. It is very tough to cheat on welfare these days. Even a poor single mother who needs help must work before she receives any welfare check. You are either living in the past or under some kind of right-wing delusion. And by the way, the european socialism programs work very well, especially in northern Europe. In those countries which you probably find too liberal, if a single mother without a job comes down with a severe medical condition she is taken care of by the state. They also get free education, day-care and basic health care so long as they work and promise to payback by being productive citizens. True their taxes are 10% higher than ours but they also don't have poverty, unemployment, homelessness or single mothers in distress. Socialism is a very good idea for women especially as because they make less and have to have kids they need more security. In our society a single mother who's not very good looking has a very hard time making it through. You should have more compassion and thnk about these things.
Maybe you don't need help from the government but many people do and it doesn't mean they are bums wanting hand-outs. And as we know "A Thousand Points Of Light" and "Faith-Based" don't work. It's not nearly enough and it all depends on the rich to give more to charity. But when you lower the taxes on the rich they give less because you take away the incentive. And a lot of rich people are cold-hearted misers like Cheney who gives 1% to charity and votes against Headstart, School Lunches, etc. That's why when Bush talks about "compassion" it's just a smokescreen to cover up one of his weaknesses. shrewd politics but absolutely dishonest. He wants to cut help to the needy not increase it. |
