Republican Crypto-Socialism What do I mean by "crypto-socialist"? It's actually quite simple. I mean hidden socialism. The basic principle of socialism is government control and domination of society. Things which tend in that direction are socialist by nature. Things which tend to return power, responsibility and control to people themselves -- as individuals, in their businesses, and in their families and communities -- are what oppose socialism and promote the agenda of self-government. Many so-called conservatives today put forth policies which, when examined, turn out to contribute to the consolidation of government control and domination of the society. Whether it be targeted tax cuts, educational approaches that emphasize government dictation of standards, or other encroachments on our liberty, these policies are socialist in principle even when "conservatives" or "Republicans" propose them.