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So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations. - Barack Obama, 2008
Remember this little snippet by our President during the election a while back? Hee hee . . . that caused a little brew-ha-ha among people of all political stripes (especially the “anti-trade” piece. Let’s face it, I’m as anti-free-trade as it comes).
I know something, however, that Republicans annoyingly and steadfastly cling to above all else. And it’s especially confounding and downright idiotic considering it’s 2009 and all.
I’m of course talking about their favorite ad hominem canard . . . .
THE RED MENACE!!!
“Socialist!” “Comm’nist! Obama’s a Soshulist Comm’nist! ALL Democraps are COMM’NISTS!” “Stalinist!” “Obama’s a MARXIST!” “Lib’ruls = socialists = Democraps = Marxists = Leninists = COMM’NISTS! No worse than a turrurist . . . thur all the SAAAAMMME” (as he wags his wrinkled fist in the air)
:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:
Really, old man river? In 2009? Seriously? I’m finding, however, that not only is this idiotic label used by grizzled old “Reagan Democrat” (read: Republican) bastards but by the younger GOP and right-libertarian lobotomy patients as well. You know, those whom you’d think would know better.
What GIVES?
Let’s get past the fact that many of them have absolutely no idea what these terms actually mean or how they differentiate in definition and their specific place in history and economics. What I want to know is why are they still using these ridiculously outdated Evil Empire-era “burns” from the early to mid-80s? The words themselves really should have no emotional significance to anyone under the age of 45 at this point.
The U.S.S.R has long since dissolved into individual republics. Totalitarianism with the Communist mask died there with hardly a whimper. The Berlin Wall came down. Russia is now just another former superpower with its own problems and crumbling infrastructure. America’s largest creditor is, by definition, a repressive and somewhat still Totalitarian “Communist” nation that practices some aspects of western capitalism. They’re also one of our most massive trading partners (have been since the days of Prescott Bewsh), one that puts acidic junk in the stores many conservatives shop at.
It’s been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that mixed economies with socialistic practices in Scandanavia, Canada and western Europe are doing a far better job of surviving the global economic downturn than America is. Their universal health care thrives to the benefit of their citizenry with very few major issues. No one gets thrown out of their homes or has their finances ruined for the crime of getting sick. Their college educations are covered, unlike the average American student who enters the work world multiple-thousands in debt out of the blocks. Their social safety nets are something only we can envy; far better than our 26-week less-than-poverty pittance.
Even America itself practices some forms of (gasp) socialism and only the most off-the-charts Bircher fascist would oppose it. Public transportation, Police, Fire and Water departments, libraries, the military, schools, road crews, waste treatment, social security, unemployment insurance (which Reagan once called “a pre-paid vacation for freeloaders” . .. charming guy :eyes: ) . . . we take all of these societal aspects for granted because we expect them to be there for us when we’re most in need.
Knowing all this, why do Republicans adamantly refuse to let GO of the RED MENACE (well, besides the painfully obvious)??
Is it their petulant and bitter need to always have some enemy to cling to? If not Muslims, Hollywood or gay people, does it have to be “Reds undah th’ bed”?
Also, is it hilarious to anyone else that they find a system of economics “evil”? Here’s another point that was brought up before, I forget where: If conservatives hate communism SO much, then why are they so supportive of the type of economic system that led to its rise? I don’t think Communism (if it was practiced correctly) was ever really inherently “evil”, per se. It’s probably just not the right fit for what America’s needs are . . . kind of like “unbridled corporatism”.
Either way, has anyone ever received a straight and/or correct answer from any of their right-wing relatives/friends/enemies as to why they keep comparing Democrats to all things “Soviet” and sound like downright morons in the process? Once again, explain this to me like I’m a COMPLETE idiot because I don’t get it!
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