Why is 'Socialism' such a dirty word in the USA?

[Peikko 1,575]

I asked this of my very conservative husband some time ago, he knows my political stance and has come to terms with it and vice-versa. I spent some years with my grandparents in Wales who were staunch old school Labour supporters, my father's family were all miner stock, my father worked the mines until he joined the Air Force for 25 yrs. I saw very early on the difference in political views between my own parents and grandparents, and despite my informative years spent with my parents I always remembered and held my grandparents passion.

My husband immediately associates 'socialism' with 'fascism' 'nazism'....and I get offended by that, and the first time he called me a liberal I was HUGELY offended also. I don't regard myself as a liberal in the British term.

I am undecided about the 'change' in this country, I am unsure about Obama...I don't dismiss his policies offhand, I think it is a very interesting and exciting time. But I do find it interesting that most liberal thinking people here also dismiss and shy away from the word 'socialism'....why is it such a dirty word? as really that is what is happening here right?

Happy to hear your thoughts B)

Very good question. Personally I don't find it offensive and am very amused that The Dems who are now blindly following that ideology hate being called what they are. I say they need to embrace it and revel in it. I personally have never associated Socialism with communism but they do when I call them that term. Very strange and also very telling.

'The Dems'? Mostly people label others Dems or Republicans whether or not they have any actual political affiliation based on some very spurious anecdotes. Putting that aside, if we are talking about actual Dem politicians, they should be offended by being labeled 'socialist' becaause not one of them is socialist if you actually stick to political definitions. They are mostly centrists and some are progressives but socialist, not a one.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm just curious since you never answered me before whether you have a college degree - for someone who claims to know so much about Socialism, tell us what college courses have you taken on the subject?

C'mon, he doesn't have to answer that.

[Tinkerbell TX 0]

Whether or not we pay taxes for public schools, the poor who cannot afford to goto public schools can enroll in private school free of charge with the "No Child Left Behind Act"

With that Act, it also uses tax payers monies.

HUH????

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Whether or not we pay taxes for public schools, the poor who cannot afford to goto public schools can enroll in private school free of charge with the "No Child Left Behind Act"

With that Act, it also uses tax payers monies.

HUH????

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm just curious since you never answered me before whether you have a college degree - for someone who claims to know so much about Socialism, tell us what college courses have you taken on the subject?

C'mon, he doesn't have to answer that.

In the context of the thousands of posts he's made using the word 'socialism', oh yes he does.

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm just curious since you never answered me before whether you have a college degree - for someone who claims to know so much about Socialism, tell us what college courses have you taken on the subject?

C'mon, he doesn't have to answer that.

Having a college degree clearly does not mean one has attained any actual learning, and not having one does not preclude one from learning and understanding political terminology.

That said, I think it's perfectly obvious that he has no clue what 'socialism' is, or means

Edited August 12, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Heracles 417]

Really and is this sort of posting you would call constructive criticism? Alot of good people here in the USA and if you could just get past all of your stereotypes you might see what a great country this is, perfect no but nevertheless a great country.

I know that and that is why I am speaking up for those who are silenced due to poverty, those who are made to be the loser sub-class outcasts. I care, us Aussies are like that. We also look out for our bros. If you take my comments as hating on the country, you are totally missing my point.

I live and work with the mega rich and can without a doubt say many are ruthless bastards. People with spoiled kids who couldn't care less if the country burned down, as long as their wealth was protected.

Edited August 12, 2009 by haza

[Niels Bohr 72]

Hold on a minute!

The districts in my area will give out private school tuition vouchers to those who want to goto private school. I don't know if that is part of the "no child left behind act"

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I asked this of my very conservative husband some time ago, he knows my political stance and has come to terms with it and vice-versa. I spent some years with my grandparents in Wales who were staunch old school Labour supporters, my father's family were all miner stock, my father worked the mines until he joined the Air Force for 25 yrs. I saw very early on the difference in political views between my own parents and grandparents, and despite my informative years spent with my parents I always remembered and held my grandparents passion.

My husband immediately associates 'socialism' with 'fascism' 'nazism'....and I get offended by that, and the first time he called me a liberal I was HUGELY offended also. I don't regard myself as a liberal in the British term.

I am undecided about the 'change' in this country, I am unsure about Obama...I don't dismiss his policies offhand, I think it is a very interesting and exciting time. But I do find it interesting that most liberal thinking people here also dismiss and shy away from the word 'socialism'....why is it such a dirty word? as really that is what is happening here right?

Happy to hear your thoughts B)

Very good question. Personally I don't find it offensive and am very amused that The Dems who are now blindly following that ideology hate being called what they are. I say they need to embrace it and revel in it. I personally have never associated Socialism with communism but they do when I call them that term. Very strange and also very telling.

Not if you read the other post about the meaning of the word having different cultural connotations. No mystery at all really.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm just curious since you never answered me before whether you have a college degree - for someone who claims to know so much about Socialism, tell us what college courses have you taken on the subject?

C'mon, he doesn't have to answer that.

In the context of the thousands of posts he's made using the word 'socialism', oh yes he does.

No... he doesn't. Stop being a #######.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm just curious since you never answered me before whether you have a college degree - for someone who claims to know so much about Socialism, tell us what college courses have you taken on the subject?

C'mon, he doesn't have to answer that.

Having a college degree clearly does not mean one has attained any actual learning, and not having one does not preclude one from learning and understanding political terminology.

That said, I think it's perfectly obvious that he has no clue what 'socialism' is, or means

That's not what I'm saying. If you, however, went on and on about how you know the ins and outs of car mechanics while saying some grossly inaccurate things about engines, it would be reasonable for someone to ask you where you are coming from.

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm just curious since you never answered me before whether you have a college degree - for someone who claims to know so much about Socialism, tell us what college courses have you taken on the subject?

C'mon, he doesn't have to answer that.

In the context of the thousands of posts he's made using the word 'socialism', oh yes he does.

No... he doesn't. Stop being a #######.

Is it that time of the month A.J?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm just curious since you never answered me before whether you have a college degree - for someone who claims to know so much about Socialism, tell us what college courses have you taken on the subject?

C'mon, he doesn't have to answer that.

In the context of the thousands of posts he's made using the word 'socialism', oh yes he does.

No... he doesn't. Stop being a #######.

Is it that time of the month A.J?

What is this, payback time?

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm just curious since you never answered me before whether you have a college degree - for someone who claims to know so much about Socialism, tell us what college courses have you taken on the subject?

C'mon, he doesn't have to answer that.

Having a college degree clearly does not mean one has attained any actual learning, and not having one does not preclude one from learning and understanding political terminology.

That said, I think it's perfectly obvious that he has no clue what 'socialism' is, or means

That's not what I'm saying. If you, however, went on and on about how you know the ins and outs of car mechanics while saying some grossly inaccurate things about engines, it would be reasonable for someone to ask you where you are coming from.

You wouldn't need to ask, you could reasonably conclude that I was talking ####### and ignore it. No one is giving this person's posts more credibly than they deserve and if they do, well, more fool them blah blah blah.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm just curious since you never answered me before whether you have a college degree - for someone who claims to know so much about Socialism, tell us what college courses have you taken on the subject?

C'mon, he doesn't have to answer that.

In the context of the thousands of posts he's made using the word 'socialism', oh yes he does.

No... he doesn't. Stop being a #######.

You're right. Let our resident Rainman tell us what socialism is no matter how wrong he is. As long as he believes he's accurate, that's all the matters.