Social Darwinism? 'Radical’ Ryan Budget Spends 46% More than Clinton Did

Investor's Business Daily ^ | 4/6/2012 | John Merline

[IBD editorial writer]

Even in a city known for hyperbole, the attacks by Democrats on Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan stand out. It’s “bad news in every single direction,” said New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney, and “extreme and divisive,” according to Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado. President Obama went furthest, saying in a speech this week that Ryan’s “draconian cuts” would “impose a radical vision on our country.” So does Ryan’s budget proposal live up to this radical billing? Not at all. That is, not unless you’d call Obama’s Democratic predecessor, Bill Clinton, an even more extreme radical.

[srmorton]

Obama has never been one to let the facts interfere with his rhetoric.

[afraidfortherepublic]

As the risk of sounding like the child who cried, “The empoeror has no clothes...” what the heck does “social Darwinism” mean? Will someone please provide a definition?

[afraidfortherepublic]

empoeror=emperor

[mo]

The “problem” is that its a Republican budget.....

[Oshkalaboomboom]

I’ve always understood it to mean the people with the strongest social systems survive while the relatively weaker ones die off. So poor Americans grow fat while poor Africans starve to death. In Obama’s case he’s trying to paint a picture of the evil rich living it up while the downtrodden die from lack of medical care, dirty air and not enough food stamp money to survive.

[ctdonath2]

Darwinism = the weak die off.

He’s saying republicans want the weak (poor, elderly, unemployed, etc) to die.

[BitWielder1]

He’s saying republicans want the weak (poor, elderly, unemployed, etc) to die.

Yep, that's exactly what he would have us believe.

Now, the REVERSE social and economic Darwinism of endless government handouts hasn't worked out too well, has it?

[CPT Clay]

Great Job IBD puts the lie to the MSM talking point.

[Dr. Sivana]

what the heck does “social Darwinism” mean?

Social Darwinism would be the notion that societies should not interfere with the weak suffering and dying, as that would make for a stronger society over time.

REFORMED Social Darwinism acknowledges that the weak would die off without assistance, but maintains that point of having an advanced society is to overcome the forces that would normally kill off or impede the weak.

Both are naturalistic views, the first anticipating the Ayn Rand mindset, the second secular humanism. These terms were largely bandied about in the late 19th century, as some purported variation on Darwinism was being used as a basis for explaining everything.