He is not a communist. Whether he is a socialist depends on you definition of a socialist. The line between liberalism and socialism is not always entirely clear. He has advocated socialistic policies, but during this campaign he has taken more 'moderate' approaches. If elected I believe Kerry will take the country closer to socialism, but not all the way. (I actually would argue that a large part of our country is socialistic now, example: our education system). Republicans are not withut faults either, this medicaid bill that Bush passed was socialistic.
hope taht answers your question. did you read my whole article? did it seem like I was implying that he was a communist? (he may have been when he was younger, I don't know)
Yes, I read the article, it is a nice resource, actually. I think I'll bookmark it.
I happen to agree with your assessment of Kerry, the Republicans and the state of socialism in the US.
It's hard to tell what principles Kerry has, if any. It would seem that they are leftist, but he is coy. The history that you've assembled gives an indication at least.
My definition of socialism is pretty standard, I think: a democratic political system in which everyone works for the common good of the community, this goal being achieved through an egalitarianism which not only seeks equality among men, but seeks common ownership of the means of production, in other words, collectivism. The fact that such a system is by definition totalitarian seems to escape most liberals, but, IMO, is appreciated by many politicians on the left, if not the right.
Many liberals that I talk to will tell me that their guiding principles are the same as mine, individual freedom!
But they always vote left, no matter what, "by the issues," as they say. The fact that liberals are tricked into voting, in the service of various causes, for giving arbitrary and increasing power to central government has led me to the recent conclusion that "liberals" actually do not have any political principles at all.
Of course here I am drawing a distinction between "liberals" and true socialists or leftists who do actually have political principles, the principles of socialism.