Please tell me, to a degree that really matters, how Bush's compassionate (yes) conservatism (not) differs from socialism.
Under the GOP, the US has slid steadily, but slowly, towards socialism -- the slowly boiled frog syndrome.
I keep hoping that the collective frogs will jump, but it seems that soon there will be a huge supply of frog legs to dine on.
The difference between the parties is only that the dems will turn up the heat and some frogs will get out of the pot that they are so comfortable in right now.
Both parties love big government to enforce what they want and think that it is a good think. I expect that of Democrats. I find it abhorrent in Republicans.
"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence - it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master: never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." -- George Washington
It matters not that government is doing what you want. The government large enough to give you what you want is big enough to take whatever it wants.
I truly do not believe we have slid toward a socialist society due to this President's compassionate conservatism. Two terms of BJ Clinton did that. If you want to see true socialism, see to it that Hillary and her crowd get control of Congress this year and the Presidency in '08.
Then you will see Marxism in action in our government.