Because they've been said to, without knowing anything of this.

I always wonder this too!

And don't even mention the word liberal...

And why do you think you'll be getting anything like socialism from Obama?

Tont, I don't think that - it's more that the concept/word is used as an accusation against him as though it is the worst thing that you could be...

I don't think socialism is bad, but I'm a left-wing Scottish guy, so socialism is tied into my upbringing and culture.

But I don't think Americans have anything to worry about - introducing socialism to the USA would be like introducing pandas to the arizona desert. No symbolism intended.

And Obama isn't a socialist. He's really, really not.

Besides, after seeing the chaos wreaked in the USA and the rest of the world by 30 years of rampant free market Friedmanite economic policy, I'm amazed so many Americans are still so keen on it.

But I think a lot of it comes down to culture. Try convincing the average Chinese person that communism is a bad thing, and see what response you get.

I don't

I'm an Ice Cream Socialist

haha, it's really sad at the amount of people on this planet who are so ready to shit their collective pants at the mere mention of buzzwords like socialism, liberalism, communism etc etc, without having any clue what they mean, or worse, bothering to find out.

it's really sad to see *

The American Dream isn't about social ideals, it's about private gain, and private security. I'm not surprised the average American can't handle the idea of social values.

Probably many reasons, our own motto is "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" while our upstairs neighbors is "peace, order and good government".

But mainly the word still has bad connotations with the Cold war, Vietnam, etc. even though we obviously have bits of socialism with subsidies, the current bailout and what not.

Staffell, people shouldn't shit their pants at the mention of socialism, but at the mention of communism it's another story.

on paper and in theory, i think socialism and communism and stuff are fine. the idea of sharing what you have with your neighbors just seems like a natural, good-hearted thing to do. the problem that people have comes when government tries to intervene and take their hard earned money and give it to people who don't work hard. they feel like the government is just stealing from them and the lazy people are getting off easy. americans love their sense of ownership and many don't want to share.

personally, if i had millions of dollars, i'd have no qualms about helping other people out and paying more taxes. it makes sense to me. but not everyone sees it that way.

please also note that i said these are good ideas in THEORY. i'm not a communist, so please don't send mccarthy's ghost after me.

It seems that in the US liberalism and socialism are considered being in the same political boat (true?), while here (Netherlands) they are considered opposites in the political spectrum. strange.

that's because no one in the US actually knows what we're talking about. we just pretend we do.

Even though the seeds were planted about 400 years ago, the whole spirit that guided the creation of this country was freedom. Pilgrims wanted religious freedom and then the colonies wanted to secede from Britain because we wanted taxation without representation. The idea of freedom, liberty and basically being left the hell alone to do what you want is woven into the very fabric of what makes us a country. It worked okay back then but there has been a world wide shift towards a desire to help out your fellow human being and the United States just hasn't caught up with that. I could go into greater detail but that's basically the gist of it. The country was founded so that we could NOT pay a lot of taxes and have the opportunity to make a name for ourselves.

danrule hit it on the head

and to add to tracerbullet's comment - i think ppl don't mind giving if they have extra, but they want some kind of choice in the matter

I personally like socialism. I've been told that I "should just fucking move to Afghanistan" a lot.

*sigh*

you should just fucking move to philadelphia a lot

Do they have chocolate chip cookies there? I like those things.

Oh yeah also I find it funny that Americans think we're so "free". I find the fact that our society is so incredibly litigious really limits what we can do.

America has been a hybrid of capitalism and socialism for decades, it's the idea behind income tax, tax refunds, medicare and welfare. I believe the people scared of socialism don't know the definition, they link it to communism. Socialism means to me that you focus on social uplift programs, you tax fairly and those making way above their means can afford to pay more. That's fair and American to me. The free market can not operate on the idea alone, we see that from the recent 700 billion dollar bail out. What really needs to happen is spending wisely and regulations on big business and individual income, someone shouldn't be able to own 7 houses (McCain) especially when others can't even afford their apartment rent. But as for government spending wisely, that should start with cutting military programs and spending more on health care and education. We could have funded a universal health care system for the next 20 years with the amount we have spent on the Iraq war, for too long Bush has pushed our credibility down but our priorities can and will change! Go vote today!

I can't believe I'm hearing this from so many people! You like socialism? No you don't. Socialism leads to Communism. It doesn't reward anyone for working hard, and everyone is considered equal. It isn't fair. It means you can go out and work your ass off, and someone else can sit at home doing nothing, and they get the same things you do. That's bullshit. The government controls everything and tells everyone what they can and can't do. That isn't freedom. And freedom is why I live in this beautiful land of ours.

I don't think Obama is a socialist, I think he loves America as much as every other red-blooded American

Universal health care doesn't work. It hasn't worked anywhere.

Staffell, people shouldn't shit their pants at the mention of socialism, but at the mention of communism it's another story.

That's what I'm saying. They shouldn't, but they still do.

^^ Ooh there it is!

two comments up

yes, we have chocolate chip cookies. we'll give you one big cookie, but you'll have to share it with your neighbors.

I think everyone should get the same cookie so I can sit on my fat ass and shoot out babies and eat gummint cheese and still get my cookie.

Tom Cruise 08!

Right, cause every socialist country is exactly like a Wachowski brothers movie.

No! Socialism doesn't punish hard working people. It basically says if you make a few million or couple hundred thousand a year, that you can afford very comfortably to pay a larger sum of taxes into the pool of services we all share, ie: police, firemen, health care, etc. And for people that don't make as much, maybe even struggle to afford basics, they don't have to pay as much, and sometimes yes, get a refund. It was invented by a republican of all people , Regan. The government doesn't tell you what to do, they don't say you can't work harder and make more money, you can and will see the benefits, that's America. But I think a healthier America is when people living very comfortably can afford to help those that struggle and why do you assume they are sitting on their ass? People break their back for crumbs and yes some don't work as hard, but they get what they put in, and deal with situations that hold profits back like an illness that makes them bankrupt or someone stealing their car and losing it because they couldn't afford insurance, things happen in this life where even if you worked 24/7 that you could end up needing financial help, anyone who has gone to college with financial aid knows this. The fact is people getting more should have no problem giving more, unless they are too greedy.

I would say Americans are already pretty not free, in between lack of choice for government representations, not being able to do anything fun due to threat of constant litigation, having pretty high taxes on a lot of stuff that *doesn't* go to anything useful, only missiles and shit.

...yeah

snaggletooth, - if universal health care hasn't worked (I don't know what you mean by that) then why do 41 other industrialized countries who have universal health care have a lower death rate then the USA?

I'd consider the NHS in the UK as a good model for how national health care can work. It's not perfect by a long shot, but I'd wager for every person who has been fucked over by the NHS, there are at least 10 people who have their lives to thank for it. That's something I'm willing to contribute to.

Socialism leads to Communism

Just keep shouting, and eventually someone will pay attention to you.

I'm a hard working person who does a shit job to make only just enough money to pay for everything I need to pay for. Next to that I spent hours working on my designs, and art projects, that I just so happen to not make much money with.
I could not afford to pay the rent of even the cheapest social housing if there was not such a thing in the Netherlands as a subsidy for rent.
Not everybody who does not make much money does not work hard.

because they don't have as many McDonald's and Burger Kings.

that was osrt of directed at snaggle tooth but this blog mover fast.

Anyone who has studied world history knows Socialism and Communism go hand in hand.

According to the World Health Organisation, America has the 37th best healthcare... Are you sure that universal healthcare doesn't work???

Lonkiponk- my point exactly, it's complex which is why when I hear McCain say shit like I want to lower everyone's taxes it pisses me off because it doesn't take into account the variables of situations people are in and that the really wealthy would only get much much more wealthier and the poor would not really see a difference.

my roommate was a history major

and he's a registered socialist

Lowering everyone's taxes is fucking irresponsible anyway. Are they going to have a bake sale in China to pay off our national debt or what?

snaggle tooth- that is not correct. sigh, ignorance and opinions go hand in hand.

You can get another job. You can change what you do for a living. It isn't someone else's responsibility to take care of you. Be responsible for yourself.

*Someone* has to do those jobs. We can't all be oil tycoons and Silicon Valley CEOs.

And who will serve you your meals in restaurants, collect your rubbish (or trash) - these people are looking after you...

right kookaberry. We already have that problem, we need bush and his old policies out, mccain is the same. Vote for obama today, yea that's right I endorsed him. We all need to if we are not benefiting from the millions of profits for big oil co's and the endless war.