Straw-man is the word. They’ve tried to make the argument about whether Obama and/or McCain are socialists or not.

No need to go into that at all. Joe just used the wrong term, but so what? The answer is, “No it isn’t socialism, and it’s not a tax cut either, it’s government-paid welfare, based on taking money from one group of people and giving it to another.”

Taxation by anybody other than the government is called extortion.

Why can’t we re-recommend when we accidentally Un-Recommend a diary?!!!

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in Washington—Fred Thompson

GC…sometimes I’m terrified at the way we think alike…I’ve been chewing on the same arguement for weeks but I’m not posting at the moment because of time and state of mind i.e. not wanting to unload on Republicans with what I have to say to them this close to the election…

Anyway…great job saying what needs to be said so concisely and clearly…and I would recommend it if I could!

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in Washington—Fred Thompson

Excellent column, and I would also say it is better to describe capitalism than merely affix the label. I stumbled across this article, Adam Smith a Patron Saint for 21st Century Trade Unions . An excerpt and quotes from Adam Smith -

It may surprise some but anyone who bothers to read The Wealth of Nations, will find that this participant in the Age of Enlightenment, was far from an apologist for what is termed unbridled capitalism.

It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.” The individual is driven by private gain but is “led by an invisible hand” to promote the public good, “which was no part of his intention. Adam Smith

It is not very unreasonable that the rich should contribute to the public expence, not only in proportion to their revenue, but something more than in that proportion. Adam Smith

In every country it always is and must be the interest of the great body of the people to buy whatever they want of those who sell it cheapest. The proposition is so very manifest that it seems ridiculous to take any pains to prove it; nor could it ever have been called in question had not the interested sophistry of merchants and manufacturers confounded the common sense of mankind. Their interest is, in this respect, directly opposite to that of the great body of the people. As it is the interest of the freemen of a corporation to hinder the rest of the inhabitants from employing any workmen but themselves, so it is the interest of the merchants and manufacturers of every country to secure to themselves the monopoly of the home market. Hence in Great Britain, and in most other European countries, the extraordinary duties upon almost all goods imported by alien merchants. Hence the high duties and prohibitions upon all those foreign manufactures which can come into competition with our own. Adam Smith

Whatever be the soil, climate, or extent of territory of any particular nation, the abundance or scantiness of its annual supply must in that particular situation, depend upon … the productive powers of labour. Adam Smith

Knee-jerk protectionism should be a thing of the past for trade unionism. Adam Smith promoted free trade, good conditions for workers, progressive taxation and competition to benefit the public.

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Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

But I do think there is some value in using Reverse Alinsky on these fools. Some are so dense, I think it is better sometimes just to laugh, mock, and freeze them as fools in the minds of others enduring their spiel. This creatively uses Rules for Radicals against them like Scooby Doo uses a mirror to reverse a mind spell back onto the bad guy. This makes the experience more enjoyable for other conservatives in the area and may just plant the seeds of change in the minds of libs who aren’t too far gone and want not to be considered morons anymore. Hence, Alinsky’s strategy can be used as a souce of good over evil in the right hands. An enemy’s weakest link is their playbook, and it’s good fun to make them look like the asses they are.

The state of Alaska taxes the oil and natural gas companies and the gives a check to all Alaskan residents. Palin supports this- is she a socialist?

nt

From extreme libertarianism to the communal ideals of socialism. The problem is this particular continuum seems to be circular, since man’s base nature inevitably wins out over the ideal of egalitarian models, thus the slide from the ideal socialistic view to utter selfishness of “every man for himself” regardless of the needs or those around him is relatively short.

For instance, you stated, “the straw man of ranking issues” which can lead in the direction of inequality more swiftly when an authoritarian body decides who needs what more. This is one of the reasons why socialism as an absolute ideal always fails. It doesn’t account for human nature, which is naturally selfish, and tries to force an idealistic model that goes against nature.

If left to the individual or small community groups that address particulars within that community, socialism works to an extent that charitable works are done. On a large scale, “the truly needy” works only if there is the understanding that a distant authoritarian body is incapable of accurately determining what is truly needy beyond the base needs of food, shelter and clothing.

Without those clear definitions, the government’s role in such determinations inevitably leads to more inequality while increasing human misery over larger swaths of the general population as fewer and fewer actually receive the bulk of the wealth being produced and distributed. In addition, it leads to a class-based society or caste system with little to no movement from one status to another. When there is no incentive to improve one’s status, production suffers. Over time, when there is little likelihood that one will be allowed to enjoy the fruits thereof it begins the short slide into the libertarianism.

In other words, it doesn’t work and never will work on a national level.

How about the New Party philosophy, of which Sen Obama was a member, and of whose endorsement he sought.

A democratic community committed to the equal moral worth of each citizen will socially provide the cultural and economic necessities food, housing, quality education, healthcare, childcare for the development of human individuality.

The government provides for the proletariat from cradle to grave.

Achieving this diversity and opportunity necessitates a fundamental restructuring of our socio-economic order… democratic socialists argue that the values of liberal democracy can only be fulfilled when the economy as well as the government is democratically controlled.

Central state-controlled economy — like what has worked so well in Europe and Russia.

We cannot accept capitalism’s conception of economic relations as “free and private,” because contracts are not made among economic equals and because they give rise to social structures which undemocratically confer power upon some over others.

From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.

This is why Sen Obama’s Socialism is important.

In this post, you write:

“Socialism refers to a 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.”

Anyone able to use Google can verify that you plagiarized the Wikipedia entry on socialism. This is illegal. (Not to mention embarrassing. If you’re so concerned about the meaning of ‘socialism’, why should you have to rely on Wikipedia for help in defining it?)

This link might be worth clicking:

“Wikipedia Plagiarism Ends Journalist’s Career”

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/01/15/1513216&from=rss

But it is also necessary to explain to people why they will benefit from lower taxes on everybody, including the wealthy. More investmen, jobs created, etc.