Two of capitalism's biggest defenders just confessed that it's no longer working for a lot of

[gratuitous]

13. As the Boy Scouts say, "Be prepared"

Any reform of the dysfunctional system now gyrating out of control in a murderous economic rampage will have to overcome a chorus of "Socialism!" which is the current go-to for Republicans. Anything the rich don't like, any changes to the current situation, any reforms proposed to rein in the more outrageous excesses of the overclass, will all have to clear the "socialism" hurdle.

What is the "socialism" hurdle? It's a surprisingly mobile concept that boils down to the heavy tilt of the economic playing field isn't tilted quite enough in favor of the rich. Anything that might restore balance or promote fairness for more people is anathema to this crowd. The specifics or merits of any proposal are irrelevant; shouting "Socialism!" is enough for now to derail any serious conversation. Nobody will demand a definition of "socialism," and it will remain a slippery concept to cover anything that hinders the rapaciousness of the current system.