I think I'm a socialist.

[cliffordu]

Because I want to redistribute the wealth in a downward direction for a change.

Because when I was a kid and unions were strong, working families bought and PAID FOR homes and cars and lived in places they gave a shit about. Stuff had value beyond the next ipod.

Because in this world, people USED to matter more than corporations. Now corporations matter more than people. I want to go BACK to the former.


But mostly.....


Just because it really fucks with the right.

Greetings, Comrade!!

[Vickers]

1. The more I hear assclowns like Glen "Crybaby" Beck use "socialist" as

a pejorative, the more I identify with it.

:patriot:

[defendandprotect]

2. Me, too -- If Medicare is Socialism . . . Bring it on!!! Economic democracy . ..

you can't have democracy without it --!!!

:)

[Skittles]

3. I WILL KISS YOUR SOCIALIST ASS

I MEAN KICK :7

[cliffordu]

5. You know I do love you, skittles, don't you??

:hi:

[Skittles]

6. EVERYONE LOVES ME

THOSE WHO CLAIM THEY DO NOT SECRETLY LOVE ME FROM AFAR I TELL YOU :hi:

[cliffordu]

7. Well, you're all the rage out here on the west coast, I tellya.....

[Critters2]

14. And deserve to have their collective ass kicked. nt

[Eric68601]

4. That's nothing

I think I'm a Nazi. I agree with Obama's position. So I have decided to show a TRUE image of myself and my personal website to reflect that.

[Euromutt]

54. Don't you know that's the same thing?

After all, "Nazi" is an abbreviation for "National Socialist," and nobody would ever falsely claim to be a socialist in an effort to appeal to the working classes, surely?

Congratulations on making captain, by the way.

[Selatius]

8. Have you ever looked at Democratic Socialists of America?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Socialists_of_America

They tend to work within the Democratic Party, trying to get a bigger left wing foothold in the party and supporting left wing Democrats with strong labor backgrounds.

[cliffordu]

9. Kewell...I'll be doing more reading.....

thanks!!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

43. Me too. Sounds like my kind of people.

[Democracyinkind]

18. One thing I don't get - all the world over we are called Social Democrats. Only in the US

is it the other way around. I like the term social Democrats better. But maybe there is too big a rift between foreing social democrats and the Democratic Socialists of America. No matter the label, good of you to point out that there is such a thing as Socialists who aren't on the extreme fringe.

[I Have A Dream]

10. Yes, I''ve been proudly describing myself as a Democratic Socialist...

for a while now. I'm also a proud liberal.

:thumbsup:

[grantcart]

11. I like the Swedish system - is that socialist, capitalist or mixed?

[RoyGBiv]

16. Mixed n/t

[grantcart]

37. Yes and that is my point

all systems are mixed.

Even China and Vietnam are now mixed systems.


The only place that is not mixed is North Korea.


Cuba probably would prefer to be more mixed if it weren't for the embargo.


Most people would be surprised to find out that on any linear graph Singapore would have to be considered one of the most socialist countries - allowing for almost no private property for residence and universal employment guarantees and universal housing.

[RoyGBiv]

41. I agree ...

Sorry. I didn't catch on that this was the point you were making.

[Selatius]

17. Previous poster is correct. It is a mixed system leaning toward the left.

To lean further left, the government over there in Sweden would have to set up market-based socialism or establish a co-op sector where mostly employee-owned companies exist and are supported by some type of public banking mechanism or some type of agency like the SBA here in the US, except for labor co-ops. It would bring Sweden much closer to the definition of socialism.

[cliffordu]

26. Six foot blondes with viking axes??

Who cares??

:shrug:

[billyoc]

12. I never thought you were anything else.

:rofl:

[cliffordu]

27. Well....

:rofl:

Right back atcha, ya little union troublemaker you.......

[Libertas1776]

13. The first

step is admitting it. The second step is seeking help :sarcasm:

Aw, just kidding, give me that old time socialism, democratic socialism, progressivism, left of center, etc et al. any day, its all good, all in the spirit of great Americans like Eugene Debs and La Follette. If only this country could have a revival of the progressive movement again. Its been more than 90 years, I think we are due for another.

[cliffordu]

28. I think you are exactly right.

[NoSheep]

15. I'm sick of subsidizing executives' 4th homes with the high prices I pay for the shit they sell.

[cliffordu]

29. Those houses and the golf courses they sit on need to be redistributed

to the homeless mentally ill that Reagan tossed into the streets 30 some odd years ago.

CHeck that - we have to give all that stuff to the CHILDREN of those throwaways.

The OG's are all dead of living in the gutters an prisons by now.

[bobbolink]

66. Only the 16% of homeless people who are "mentally ill", or can OTHER homeless people apply?

[zippy890]

19. Hmmm.."redistribute income". I like the sound of that

How to do that? :think:
Yeah, thats it- higher taxes on the rich! Use it for better schools.

Hey I think I'm a socialist too. its called caring about the common good.

:hi:

[cliffordu]

30. Strange how that works, inn't it??

Health care, education, public works.

Serious commie shit, man.....

[Mnemosyne]

20. I was in a discount store yesterday and found an Obama dvd that someone wrote

SOCIALIST on the plastic cover. I took it to the service desk and the clerk actually laughed. Morans everywhere!

[WVRICK13]

21. I AM A SOCIALIST

We have socialism now. However, it is a perverted kind of socialism where the poor give everything to the wealthy. I used to have an upper tier job with a major defense contractor and nothing speaks more clearly of white collar welfare than defense contracting. The government pays ungodly sums of money to these companies for very little product. The Boards of directors of major defense contractors read like a retiree list of Pentagon Generals, CIA Directors and retired politicians. They have the largest and most secretive group of power lobbyists in the country. Our company, in 1995 had a contract to maintain two low-level websites for the government to the tune of $28 Million per year. That my friends is a profit of almost $27 Million a year even counting the overstaffing of the project to make it look like a value to the government. That is just one example of your tax dollars at work. I quit because I was sick of hearing colleagues bad mouth food stamps and welfare while they received huge paychecks to produce very little of value. When I left I told the company I could no longer work in an industry so corrupt and supported by huge amounts of white collar welfare. They looked at me like I had three eyes.

True Socialism is where everyone works toward a better life for everyone. As a result, citizens and business both benefit. The main difference from the current system is a more equitable distribution of wealth. America looks a lot like feudal europe when you analyze the distribution of wealth. We are not in a recession we are in a redistribution. The middle and lower classes are losing even more while the wealthy buy it up at a reduced price. When the redistribution is over we will have more people working, but for lower wages than before. We will have more people renting their former residences because they were bought by the wealthy at foreclosure sales. We will have a weakened citizen base who are to busy trying to survive to pay attention to the political scene. The poor are paying for the Wall Street Bailout while living with a declining standard of living. It sure feels like paying the lords and kings so they can live in luxury while the serfs toil to survive. Ladies and gentlemen, unless their is drastic change we are screwed.

[inna]

33. good post. nt

[WVRICK13]

22. I AM A SOCIALIST

We have socialism now. However, it is a perverted kind of socialism where the poor give everything to the wealthy. I used to have an upper tier job with a major defense contractor and nothing speaks more clearly of white collar welfare than defense contracting. The government pays ungodly sums of money to these companies for very little product. The Boards of directors of major defense contractors read like a retiree list of Pentagon Generals, CIA Directors and retired politicians. They have the largest and most secretive group of power lobbyists in the country. Our company, in 1995 had a contract to maintain two low-level websites for the government to the tune of $28 Million per year. That my friends is a profit of almost $27 Million a year even counting the overstaffing of the project to make it look like a value to the government. That is just one example of your tax dollars at work. I quit because I was sick of hearing colleagues bad mouth food stamps and welfare while they received huge paychecks to produce very little of value. When I left I told the company I could no longer work in an industry so corrupt and supported by huge amounts of white collar welfare. They looked at me like I had three eyes.

True Socialism is where everyone works toward a better life for everyone. As a result, citizens and business both benefit. The main difference from the current system is a more equitable distribution of wealth. America looks a lot like feudal europe when you analyze the distribution of wealth. We are not in a recession we are in a redistribution. The middle and lower classes are losing even more while the wealthy buy it up at a reduced price. When the redistribution is over we will have more people working, but for lower wages than before. We will have more people renting their former residences because they were bought by the wealthy at foreclosure sales. We will have a weakened citizen base who are to busy trying to survive to pay attention to the political scene. The poor are paying for the Wall Street Bailout while living with a declining standard of living. It sure feels like paying the lords and kings so they can live in luxury while the serfs toil to survive. Ladies and gentlemen, unless their is drastic change we are screwed.

[TransitJohn]

23. Socialists believe in the social welfare.

It's that simple.

[JonLP24]

24. Good for you

Every-time I hear the RW(AKA the party for the rich) bring up socialism I'm frequently used used quote with different variations depending on who said it. I believe MLK frequently used it as well, "Socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor."

[Vidar]

25. Works for me.

[eleny]

31. In the 1960s my folks worked in factories sewing coats and put me through private college

Try accomplishing that today.

[cliffordu]

34. My stepdad ran a printing press, fed five and bought a house, paid cash for

a new car every 6 years.

[Jakes Progress]

32. Welcome. nt

[Xenotime]

35. I am happy to find so many like minded progressives here.

Thank you everyone for sharing.

[MindPilot]

36. More and more I'm declaring myself a socialist

If for no other reason than it pisses off the Beckerheads.

You surmised the issue very succinctly and I want to post that as my status on Facebook. May I steal it?

[cliffordu]

44. "beckerheads"

:rofl:


Absolutely, you can pretty much repost any screed I make around here. Just don't let the adults know where you're getting it....

:rofl:

[scarletwoman]

38. Back atcha, Comrade.

I gave up labels a long time ago and simply call myself a lefty. But I wholeheartedly agree with fucking with the right -- "You wanna freak out about socialism? *I'LL* show you SOCIALISM!"

:thumbsup:
sw

[seabeyond]

39. lack of integrity, honesty and ethics.... doesnt matter

what system we have in play, with out lassck of these three things, a disdain for any of this, we will continue to have problems that wont be good for any of us

[flamingdem]

40. Viva el socialismo, patria o muerte venceremos! nt

[cliffordu]

45. Uh......

What YOU said!!

[Fire1]

42. I don't 'think' I KNOW I am!! n/t

[bc3000]

46. I used to be a moderate Republican

I'm not ready to go all the way and call myself a socialist, but I am now apparently a far left liberal. The funny thing is my positions haven't really changed all that much. The scale changed.

[paulsby]

47. i think socialism sucks

but i appreciate your right to choose it.

[windoe]

48. I'll call myself a socialist just to make GBeck cry.

Though I support a mixed system. with the best of capitalism, socialism and a little anarchy thrown in for fun.

[burrowowl]

49. I don't think

I AM A SOCIALIST!

C'est la lutte finale ....

[hfojvt]

50. you are wrong about that last part

If you call yourself a socialist, it does not fock with the right at all, it plays right into their hands, and they are laughing all the way to the bank.

The reason they love the S-word is the same reason we love the other f-word (the one that sorta rhymes with racism) - because it is the easiest way to discredit the non-socialist left and empower the right.

[cliffordu]

57. I don't care what the right thinks of me in reality./....The sooner they

shuffle off the dead end of failed political experiments (thanks, Ronnie!!) the better..

[hfojvt]

59. try to keep up

It is not what the 'right' thinks about you. It is about what the voters think about the Democratic Party. There are very few districts where a candidate can win if he/she is associated with socialism. The more the rightwing can aaociated socialism with Democrats or Democratic Party policies, the less success our candidates or policies will have at the polls. You might as well admit that you are a traitor because it ticks off the rightwing.

"If you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't gonna make it with anyone any how."

[cliffordu]

61. Blah de blah deb lah.

Same old same old.


If you don't know the difference between Mao's communism and socialism, you need to read a little.


And:

I don't really give a fuck what you think of me, either.

I earned my 'patriot' stripes at the and of a sniper rifle in a free fire zone.

Traitor that, skippy.

[hfojvt]

62. same old same old

are we discussing, or are we fighting?

I suppose 'try to keep up' was not an offer of peace, but it is a statement that you totally missed my point. And you are still doing it.

1. I did not say that Maoism is the same as socialism. However, it probably is in the minds of lots and lots and lots of registered voters.

2. I did not say you were a traitor. I said that calling yourself a socialist would sell about as well with most voters as calling yourself a traitor.

As far as you, my big RED sleepy dog getting jumped over by my quick gray fox, all I remember is that I was joking with you on Christmas Eve past (okay, so a ghost reminded me last night) and that you seem to be friends with the inestimable Grantcart.

So, although I snarl and hiss when ignorance is compared to bliss, I am not really trying to pick or engage in a mere exchange of insults.

[cliffordu]

63. As far as I'm concerned we are friends -

But I'll not be dictated to by the right on any level whatsoever, and the sooner the word 'socialist' gets watered down to mean nothing the better.

I was shocked at your reaction to MY definition of socialist in the OP, and will not easily tolerate tiptoeing around a word I have every right to use and grow impatient with those of my party who seem willing to appease the name callers on the other side.


*****

My misguided love of this country and naive expression of patriotism in my youth cost me more than I can easily put into words, more than some can imagine.


If any of the Pugs want to call me a traitor over my views, let them come and take my little ribbons. They should bring lunch. It'll be a long day.


******

Unions are socialist by nature. The ones that have been routinely busted since Reygunn crapped on the flight controllers gave the workers in THIS country the best lives they ever had - the '50's and the '60's were the golden years for the middle class... I lived through them.

Funny how so many shitheels on the other side were educated in the same liberal classrooms I was.

[hfojvt]

64. I spent a few years actively trying to change the definition of socialism

Change it from meaning "Russia" to what it actually means. What it meant historically, at least before 1917.

"Socialists are looking for the way to end ignorance and spread knowledge, to end poverty and equalize plenty, to end haphazard living and substitute planning, to end chaos and bring order, to end war and make peace." Scott Nearing "The Educaton of a Radical" p. 274

Well, I had another quote about it that I cannot find, something about the long line of thinkers and activists demonstrating that socialism is not primarily about economics. That it is more about justice and compassion.

However, words mean what they mean, and they can no more be stopped meaning what they mean than the Niagara river can be stopped by one person or by 100 people pushing back by hand. If you want to avoid bleeding to death from the slings and arrows of the masses of voters, then it is better not to embrace the porcupine of 'socialism' and try to explain things. Any Democrat who wants to actually have a chance to win office and actually make a difference absolutely needs to distance themselves from socialism.

That is a sad fact of American politics, and any fight to change that would be a huge uphill battle and probably does not need to be a priority at this time. If you actually want to acheive those things, it's better to label them as Jeffersonian or coming from Lincoln and to disavow any connection to the S-word.

[Joe Chi Minh]

51. How can you be! They want you and your family looked after

from the cradle to the grave, by the rich people you spend you life making money for!

Surely you'd prefer your country being turned into a vast shanty-town of hamburger stalls, as it has been these last 30 years? To live on the scraps of your society and die a perhaps painful, drawn-out, premature death through malnutrition and medical neglect.

Only a fool would want "fair shares", like they get in those hell-hole Scandavian countries!

[cliffordu]

55. Yep - I could NEVER be happy with no medical costs.

That would suck major big time.

[Union Yes]

52. Solidarity Comrade! Welcome aboard.

:patriot:

[cliffordu]

56. Backatcha!!!

:patriot:

[and-justice-for-all]

53. I too am a Socialist...

but within reason, I do not think EVERYTHING should be socialized, but a lot more should in fact be Socialized.

[Capn Sunshine]

58. Socialism made more progress under Bush than any other president

It wasn't Obama's agenda, it was the freaking neocons who socialized the banks and auto industry.

Because it was the ONLY WAY OUT.


So, it's only evil if your party isn't the one imposing it, comrades.

:bolshevik: <------ Elad, please activate this smiley

[ipaint]

60. Have been since reagan. n/t

[bobbolink]

65. GET OFF MY PHONE!!!

:hi:

:hug: