Why 'Socialism' Evokes No Fear (Barf Alert)

RealClearPolitics ^ | October 11, 2007 | Joe Conason

[2ndDivisionVet]

Once among the most frightening epithets in American political culture, "socialized medicine" seems to have lost its juju. Today that phrase sounds awfully dated, like a song on a gramophone or a mother-in-law joke or a John Birch Society rant against fluoridated water.

Yet despite that antique quality, the old buzzwords appear regularly in columns, press releases and speeches. Rudolph Giuliani, Mitt Romney and the rest of the Republican presidential pack run around squawking about socialism whenever anyone proposes health care reform. Syndicated columnist Robert Novak warns that the federally financed, state-run Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is essentially a socialist conspiracy. So does President Bush, who has threatened to veto a modest increase in that program's funding because he doesn't want to "federalize health care."

Although the red threat still triggers an autonomic reaction among GOP true believers, the rest of the country no longer twitches to that high-pitched, far-right whistle. Most polls not only show enormous majorities favoring extension of coverage to every child, but substantial support for a radical change in how we pay and administer health insurance -- including the possibility of a single-payer system.

Why doesn't the traditional propaganda work any more? Perhaps the demise of the Soviet Union and the withering of Communism in China have had a delayed effect on public attitudes here. Both the Russians and the Chinese have turned more capitalist than the West, abandoning their former systems without substituting modern protections. The ex-Communists are more of a threat to the health of their own societies than to us.(continued)

[jabbermog]

“Hillary is following the tactics of the British Fabian Society”.

I have been waiting for a Freeper to mention the Fabians.

NKStarr , everything you say is true - except when you talk of the BRITISH Fabian Society .
It may have started here , but it is now Supernationalist (is that the right word ?) in its outlook . In fact , its primary goal is the erosion of the nation - state with mankind ruled by a Global government based in a third - world city . The FS , though originating in the West , actually loathes Western technology , Christianity , private enterprise , and is comprised of academics who are ashamed of their own societies . And if you think that the FS only has influence in British politics , you couldn’t be more wrong .
Just as the Clintons were made a model for the Labour Party in the early 90s , so the current exchange of ideas is presently making the reverse journey across th Ocean . Why do you think that the Clintons , Gore , Ed Kennedy and Jesse Jackson are all pushing for an American National Health Service ? Because they are members of the Fabians thats why !
In New York 3 years ago before the Pesidential election a very manic woman by the Rockfeller Centre informed me ( well more a case of ranted at me ) that there will be free healthcare , unlimited free housing , and taxation at 70 cents in the dollar because at least 50% of the US population will either (A) be dependent on the Govt for welfare payments , housing , and transport or (B) be employed by the Govt . She continued by saying by this point there needn’t be any opposition party or any elections , since her lot would provide everything and in any case ‘most people in this darned country aren’t fit to make decisions of State’ . At this point I asked her if she meant she would like to be part of a dictatorship .
‘Well yeah if you wanna call it that . And before you mention Mao and Pol Pot the stories about them are just Western bullshit . A few seconds later my Missus came out of a shop and we went on our way . next day I saw this woman’s masculine mug in a newspaper ; it turned out she was head of some Democrat action group in broadcasting , whatever the hell that meant.
Anyway , what puzzles me is the amount of people I’ve met in America’s East Coast cities who seem to hate the nation they were born with and are ashamed of it’s achievements. Mind you when alls said and done , there are a lot of them over here , and where I used to think they were amusing I now regard them as dangerous .

[NKStarr]

>>NKStarr , everything you say is true - except when you talk of the BRITISH Fabian Society ...<<

Thanks for responding. I take it that you are from “the other side of the pond” as we say.

When I talked about the Fabians, I was referring to their tactics - I certainly did not mean to imply that they are confined to Great Britain. Quite the contrary, my point is that the Democrat party generally and Mrs. Clinton in particular is following the Fabian technique of pushing socialism gradually and through subterfuge.

I believe the radical environmental movement is the Fabian movement of the 21st century. Adopt the agenda of the UN climate panel and Mr. Gore (of Nobel prize fame) and you have essentially signed on to total government control of all resources.

As to your charming story of the woman in Rockefeller Center, it brings to mind the famous quote of Schumpeter: “Humanity does not care for freedom. The mass of the people realize they are not up to it: what they want is being fed, led, and amused ...”

[jabbermog]

I couldn’t believe it when I got home from the office on Friday , switched on the News , and sat down . Who’s face did I see ? Nobel Blobbylardbucket himself , gabbling on about the American public should now listen to him . I decided to have my supper later on .

RE the Clintons ; yes well what can I say that Freepers haven’t already . Hilary sounds like she intends to do some damage to the average American voter .
Can’t believe the US public would be daft enough to vote for her after some of the bollocks she has been talking .