Comments on: Socialism = Fail

By: Updates From The Free World | Cory Collier

Updates From The Free World | Cory Collier — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:19:32 +0000

[...] that was for me. Politics aside, I do have a family to provide for. So, if President Obama is handing out money, I’ll take it until I can get stable cash flow back in the [...]

By: Unemployed | Cory Collier

Unemployed | Cory Collier — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:46:41 +0000

[...] was laid off at Hydra Studio today. I kinda knew it was coming. This crazy economy definitely has a lot of people in some difficult positions lately. The process went pretty [...]

By: Alex Rudloff

Alex Rudloff — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:14:35 +0000

@JHarr,

“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But under the name of ‘liberalism,’ they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.” ~ Norman Thomas, former Socialist Presidential Candidate

I agree that we aren’t totally there yet, but I think the fear folks have on this is legitimate. The “other side” seems to take the position of calling those who speak out against it paranoid or simply dismissing them as “the chattering classes.”

But when is it that government, more specifically human beings in positions of power, have given up that power once gained? Very rarely, and in our history, it’s happened mostly because people rose up and demanded it. In order for that to happen, people need to understand the path that we’re on. If we’re not careful it’s only a matter of time until our government, specifically the executive branch, will hit a tipping point. If we aren’t indeed socialist now, we’re sure as hell pointed that way.

You’d think after the last 8 years, folks might be a little more willing to believe that the concentration of power is a bad thing Amazing what happens when the team jersey changes.

“Moderation in the pursuit of liberty is no virtue, extremism in the pursuit of justice is no vice.” ~ Barry Goldwater

By: Cory Collier

Cory Collier — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:32:26 +0000

Jharr,
First of all, I’d like to thank you for making your point so elegantly. Usually, talk of politics erodes all sense of manners. So thanks again for speaking with such grace.
Regarding the use of parallels and analogy: I do not apologize for comparing what may wind up being potentially similar scenarios. There are a number of institutes that are now starting to refer to the United States as a socialist nation, simply by virtue of the ratio of government control over markets, vs private control.
I would be more likely to temper my words, if any of this was being reported on the news. Instead, the entire bill has been glossed over without critical analysis by media outlets. I can’t begin to describe my frustration with that.
When Bush successfully argued for the troop surge in Iraq in 2006, news reports of the failure were unrelenting. Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama were repeatedly holding news conferences claiming the Surge was a failure, just days after it had started.
Contrast that type of reporting with a far more important event occuring right now. Where’s the reporting? It simply doesn’t exist.
The vast majority of republicans do NOT agree with this bill. When the Obama administration had a chance to consort with them on key issues, they failed. Some tax incentives were included on the bill, but far less than what republicans were asking for. That’s not bipartisanship, that’s a lie.
Regarding the reference to Chavez and Castro: If you recall, the references made about Bush to Hitler are far too numerous to count. Comparitively speaking, Chavez is a much better guy than Hitler (which is saying a lot).
Again, I’d be less dramatic in my rhetoric if any of my concerns were reported in major news media outlets. The fact that I (and many others) are so concerned about these issues, and there is zero reporting about it, screams of news bias.

By: jharr

jharr — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:20:09 +0000

We need to be very careful how we throw some of these words and comparisons around. I don’t think stating we on a path towards more government control or nationalizing key elements that are currently public is incorrect, but it’s not really socialism. And the states you mention being ‘socialist’ aren’t or weren’t socialist at all. Comparing this bill – which is a monumental ruse and not all a stimulus but spending bill – with the USSR is hyperbole and hurts the point. Spending is out of control and there are efforts to nationalize parts of our system – but even key Republicans are supporting this for banking.

To your last point – “The American people are just as susceptable to manipulation by the lure of compelling leaders, as any other country in the world” well America was certainly gung-ho for following Bush into Iraq, etc. and if you’re trying to compare Obama to Chavez or Castro, et al. then you know as well as I do that’s just wrong.

By: John Raser

John Raser — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:51:19 +0000

Great post! Well said! Tremendous insight! I like the way you think. I’m appalled by this pork laden bill. Frankly, I’m insulted as an American citizen that Obama and his cohorts think they can grease this phony stimulus package under the radar. The American people are quickly seeing why Obama was nothing more than smoke and mirrors; an unqualified, overhyped, extremist, socialist held up by the biased media. What a joke.