Is America a "socialist country" yet?

Rob — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:58:05 GMT

Have we moved to SOCIALISM in America, since Obama became President?

Do you think its best for America to have the government take over private corporations, fire executives (GM), set executive salaries and bonuses, give out money to help poor people get new cars, control what is said on our radio and tv shows?

Should the government run the health care system and push private insurance companies out of business? Should the government decide what is covered, what is not and how much will be paid for our illnesses; isn't that "government rationing of health care"?

Are we a SOCIALST country yet, or what more will it take before you would call America a "socialist country"?

ROB

RE: Is America a "socialist country" yet?

Tyco — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:09:18 GMT

If we are not yet, we are certainly getting there. When the white house begins banning conservative networks from coverage to the point that even the liberal networks step in on behalf of all news organizations, seems even they are starting to see where this is going. I can't name one organization that the government has run efficiently. Look at medicare. What a mess. What about these great bail outs? Yikes!

My parents immigrated from communist Russia and remember it all two well. It would be very funny to watch my mom cringe when she hears the little school children sing their hail to Obama if it were not so damn frightening.

RE: Is America a "socialist country" yet?

A Brown — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:34:26 GMT

We are very close, but I don't know if people are waking up from their sleep finally and taking notice, but I think there is definately a change in the making. People are showing they don't like the health care that Obama is trying to push through. If we make the mistake, then let us keep paying our own insurance as we are now.I don't feel that I can afford anyone elses at this point.When everyone that gets all their health care paid for by the taxpayers have to use the same doctors and hospitals that the common person (us) have to then I might(might,I say) rethink by views. Untill I am being bull headed about this.

RE: Is America a "socialist country" yet?

peter — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:29:09 GMT

When we stop being responsible for ourselves and depend on the government from cradle to grave we certainly take the risk of being enslaved by others' ideas as to what is good for us and our families. Remember--"I'm from the government and I'm here to help you!" Time after time and program after program, the government has demonstrated it's inability to run anything better than private enterprise. I would suggest that where we find problems on Wall Street it is all of the goverment's doing and it's allowing those "special people" who have supported the political system to run amuck. Term limits is the only answer and we need to wake up before it is too late. Serving in public office was never meant to be a lifelong career.

RE: Is America a "socialist country" yet?

Alex Z. — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:41:36 GMT

Exactly which of these questions do you want answered? Most of us have a tendency to get all worked up emotionally about these issues-- usually based on our particular brainwashing by our family, business associates, etc. over the years.

But if we sit down and think it through, we can get to the principles involved. Your general question is not simple and can't be answered by a slogan. You need to define what you mean by "socialism" before you can start to look for an answer-- but you won't take the trouble. You're not interested in a real answer.

RE: Is America a "socialist country" yet?

tennisguy — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:44:17 GMT

Not even close! Every other advanced country has universal health care, which hardly makes them socialistic. Health, like the post office, schools, roads, the FBI, etc., are too important to leave to the unstable private industry. When private industry can't cope in important things, that is when the government steps in and runs things in a reliable and efficient manner. Government has been demonized by people like yourself, and it is a huge mistake. Obama has not made a dent in private industry.

RE: Is America a "socialist country" yet?

The Judge Says: — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:31:43 GMT

The Judge Says:

We are pretty close here is a def.

The meanings of the terms 'socialist republic', 'socialist state' and 'workers' state' tend to vary according to the adherents of variants of Marxism, Marxism-Leninism, and non-Communist socialist theories. Most of these theories (but not all) require at least the "commanding heights" of the economy to be nationalised, usually operated according to a plan of production, so that capitalism and the procurement of wage labor for private profit is abolished at least in the major productive and social spheres,[1] although there are some socialist economic theories promoting varying levels of market relations, in combination with public ownership and/or worker cooperatives.

Sure looks like it to me