Posted on 08/06/2015 8:01:45 AM PDT by Kaslin
Socialism, according to Dictionary.com, is defined as: "A theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole."
Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, recently appeared on MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews." Matthews asked, "What is the difference between a Democrat and a socialist?"
Wasserman Schultz laughed, looked stunned, and began hemming and hawing. Matthews helpfully interjected, "I used to think there was a big difference. What do you think it is?" Still, Wasserman Schultz refused to give him a straight answer. "The difference between -- the real question," she said, "is what's the difference between being a Democrat and being a Republican."
Matthews tried again: "Yeah, but what's the big difference between being a Democrat and being a socialist? You're the chairwoman of the Democratic Party. Tell me the difference between you and a socialist."
Still, Wasserman Schultz wouldn't answer the question
A few days ago Chuck Todd of NBC's "Meet the Press" offered her a chance for a do-over. He replayed the exchange with Matthews, then asked: "Given that (Democratic presidential candidate) Bernie Sanders is an unabashed socialist and believes in social democratic governments -- (he) likes the ones in Europe -- what is the difference? Can you explain the difference?"
And again she either could not or would not answer, and wanted to discuss the difference between Republicans and Democrats.
On the one hand, Wasserman Schultz might have refused to answer because she did not want to put her thumb on the scale of the self-described socialist candidate Bernie Sanders or the likely nominee, Hillary Rodham Clinton. No matter what Wasserman Schultz would've said, it would injure one while helping the other.
That's one explanation. But the more likely explanation is simple. There is no real distinction between today's Democrats and socialists. A few years ago Congresswoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., conducted hearings in which she grilled oil executives for alleged price fixing. She threatened to nationalize their business. Did any Democrat speak out against her threat? No.
Newsweek, in 2009, ran a cover story with the headline: "We Are All Socialists Now." Jon Meacham wrote:
"The U.S. government has already -- under a conservative Republican administration -- effectively nationalized the banking and mortgage industries. That seems a stronger sign of socialism than $50 million for art. Whether we want to admit it or not -- and many, especially Congressman (Mike) Pence and (Sean) Hannity, do not -- the America of 2009 is moving toward a modern European state. ...
"... If we fail to acknowledge the reality of the growing role of government in the economy, insisting instead on fighting 21st-century wars with 20th-century terms and tactics, then we are doomed to a fractious and unedifying debate. The sooner we understand where we truly stand, the sooner we can think more clearly about how to use government in today's world. ...
"... This is not to say that berets will be all the rage this spring, or that Obama has promised a croissant in every toaster oven. But the simple fact of the matter is that the political conversation, which shifts from time to time, has shifted anew, and for the foreseeable future Americans will be more engaged with questions about how to manage a mixed economy than about whether we should have one."
Polls, too, show that most Democrats are quite comfortable with socialism. A recent poll found 52 percent of Democrats had a favorable opinion about socialism.
Bernie Sanders has always caucused with Democrats, and they are perfectly comfortable with him. He's still a long shot for the Democratic nomination, but he is rising in the polls. If there is a distinction between him and President Barack Obama on anything major, what is it? Both pushed "universal health care." Both oppose the Keystone pipeline. Both believe taxes should be raised on "rich" people. Both believe in the redistribution of income. Obama wants two years of "free" community college. Sanders wants to make college "free" altogether. Both attack "corporate greed" and both belong to the school of economics that says, "you didn't build that."
Andy Stern, then the head of the Democratic Party-supporting Service Employees International Union, said, "I think Western Europe, as much as we used to make fun of it, has made different trade-offs which may have ended up with a little more unemployment but a lot more equality."
That's an acceptable trade-off in today's Democratic Party.
Jack Kennedy, a tax cutter, defended his plan by arguing it would invigorate the economy. He wanted growth and said, "A rising tide lifts all boats." Today's Democrat, like Wasserman Schultz, would deride Kennedy as a greedy Republican advocate of "trickle down."
Duh it’s about time you joined the party, actually they are of the fascist type of socialist.
So lets call it “The National Fascist Democrat Workers Party”.
Socialist Slime is more accurate
Americans under 40 have been indoctrinated to think socialism is good. They WANT socialism.
bfl
When in college, taking American History, I did a paper titled “Are Today’s Democrats Socialists?”.
Doing that paper, I learned the differences between Socialists, Fascists, and Communists. The Democratic Party mission statement (over 50 pages when printed on the laser printer and OMG no pictures or whitespace), had a paragraph that was ONE WORD different from one in the Communist Manifesto.
I found “planks” in there from all 3 belief systems (yes, belief, not political systems). Shortly after that, they tried to steal the election from George Bush.
Between the paper and attempted theft, I vowed to never vote for a Democrat again.
PS - BO is largely Fascist.
My my momma we're all socialists now!!
Actually, either version fits the dims.
“There is no real distinction between today’s Democrats and socialists.”
Yep.
And there is not much difference between today’s republicans and today’s democrats.
I believe that there is a big difference between Socialism and Democrats. Socialism, at least in theory, is an honest political philosophy. The Democrats, on the other hand, believe in a fundamental organizing principle that embraces deception, untruthfulness, corruption, and criminal activity.
Both believe in vesting all power in the hands of a self selected elite, who may act without restraint on the premise that all of their decisions will be in the best interests of the general public. While the Socialists really believe this nonsense, the Democrats know that it is just a scam.
Wow. I just did a google on 10 planks communist manifesto implemented in us and got some real interesting links.
Basically, here in U.S., we have implemented all 10 planks, by definition - we are communist.
Here a couple of links which show which government agencies we have created to implement each plank. Quite an eye opener.
http://www.voicesofliberty.com/article/10-communist-manifesto-planks-of-the-us-government/
http://www.uhuh.com/nwo/communism/10planks.htm
Article raises a good and often ignored point.
We repeatedly turn to Socialism whenever large corporations or too-big-to-fail banks get their gonads in a wringer. And generally it’s the Republicans who do it.
The average low-info schmuck out there in flyover country looks at that and thinks “well, why not for me?”
Hence the support for Bernie Sanders.
If you are going to defend free-market capitalism you have to be consistent. Otherwise the public will cease to support it.
Democrats are not socialists.
They are Stalinist communists. Stalin killed millions of Russians. Democrats have killed millions of babies for fun and profit.
Obama is responsible for the death of millions of people in the Middle East through his policies. In the US he is responsible for the death of thousands through illegal immigration.
As I said democrats are not socialist . They are Stalinist communists.
Hey Debbie....
They’re all devil worshipers. Most don’t know it, but they are.
Democratic Socialists: once known as Nazis; fascists.
GilGil you misunderstand the difference between a communist/socialist and a fascist/socialist.
Here is the correct description as stated on Von Mises, I’ve posted this here several times over the years.
https://mises.org/library/national-socialism
What is being said at DU about this, one might wonder...
Then contrast it with the beauty and joy of LIBERTY!
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