Socialism: refers to broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and the creation of an egalitarian society. (wikipedia)
America: Please use a dictionary or encyclopedia before using a word you don't know.
I can't stand what Republicans have done to the name of socialism. It's slanderous and it is sickening. But what I really can't stand is how stupid they make us look. So really, and I'm looking at you, Republican hacks:
Don't make me look dumb because you don't have a working knowledge of the English Language.
Socialism is not:
A redistribution of wealth.
("An "economic, social and political doctrine which expresses the struggle for the equal distribution of wealth by eliminating private property and the exploitative ruling class. In practice, such a distribution of wealth is achieved by social ownership of the means of production, exchange and diffusion." -- http://www2.truman.edu/...
A progressive income tax.
(A progressive tax is a tax by which the tax rate increases as the taxable amount increases. "Progressive" describes a distribution effect on income or expenditure, referring to the way the rate progresses from low to high, where the average tax rate is less than the marginal tax rate. [Note: says nothing about collective ownership.] -- http://en.wikipedia.org/...
The Democratic Party.
(Well, DUH. Their plank does not include collective ownership of jack diddly. The Republican President, on the other hand...)
Communism.
(http://www.romm.org/soc_com.html -- Draws a very good comparison: Socialism:Communism :: Republicanism:"Compassionate Conservatism")
Barack Obama's tax policy.
(See Progressive Income Tax.)
What Republicans say it is.
(A totally bad idea.)
Perfect.
Socialism is:
Nationalization of Industry.
Collective Ownership.
(And what is owned collectively in America: AIG...Freddie and Fannie...GM..., and all of that was pushed by
AIG, and now half of Wall Street.
George W. Bush's mistress.
(See above.)
not Un-American.
Better than "naked capitalism."
(A most contentious statement. My reasoning here is the performance of the constrained market the US had after the New Deal vs the free market of the last 10 years. Also, notice how in a time of crisis, we embrace socialism. Maybe extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, but if it works so well even in normalcy, why chuck it except because of some calumny cast upon it.)
Seriously. Socialism is not some bugga-boo. Socialism has nothing to do with "social welfare" except for the first six letters of its name. Social welfare, like Medicare, Social Security, Public Education, etc. is a beloved American institution. Obama advocates some fucking awesome social welfare programs. He pays for those by taxing those who are making a lot of money on the backs of those these programs will aid. Seriously, there is not one profession that makes more than $250,000 that is not made possible by a slew of worse-paying jobs. If you are making $250,000, you are not a "self-made man." And those social welfare programs are making the hard-working, "real Americans'" lives easier.
That is not socialism.
So seriously. STFU already.