Originally Posted by
Askthepizzaguy
Socialist?
Every nation is at least to some degree socialist. You pay taxes, you get a national army and government services. As for the whole mucky conservative thing, conservative simply means resistant to change. It's meaning depends upon what is being changed and by whom. Conservative groups would be the ones keeping abortion legal, by definition... but I doubt "conservatives" identify with that.
Fascists and socialists have little in common in terms of political thought. That's why they have separate words and rarely do they cooperate with one another. Conservatism as it is known in the USA is just another brand of liberalism, with a less progressive bent. That's all. Same love for liberal democracy, human rights, and the same basic stance on free market principles. The current difference between liberal and conservative in the USA? About 3% in federal income taxes and slight differences on foreign and energy policy. The "fascist" and "racist" nonsense that keeps being slung around by wackos on the left and right is just designed to generate interest in the very slight differences between the two monolithic parties.
If Obama is a socialist who wants to turn America into Sweden, I'm looking forward to all those weeks of paid vacation, healthcare, education, etc. But it will never happen because what those on the so-called right are doing, is called using hyperbole to get attention. There is a lack of political will in this mostly moderate, slightly conservative country to progress to the point where we have a balanced social system like Sweden. That's evil communist freedom-hating stuff.
The wingnut partisans on both sides would have you believe the epic battle between the Republicans and the Democrats is the battle between liberal progressive Sweden-like utopia with a balanced ecosystem and state-supported business, and some conservative paradise where Bible camp is tax deductible and abortions and divorce are made illegal, and all the homosexuals get "cured" by Jesus. But the fact is, there's little difference between the Republicans and the Democrats, beyond some minor changes. I happen to like some of those changes, and so I have an opinion on the matter. But the Republicans won't turn the nation into Saudi Arabia, and the Democrats won't turn the nation into Sweden. Case closed. Though I'd prefer Sweden over Saudi Arabia, and I think most people alive would, hence why I believe in spite of all their protestations of "conservative" values, most people in America have to own up to the fact that they support liberalism over fundamentalism. It's not a sin, you won't go to hell. Democrats aren't pushing fascism and Republicans aren't pushing Sharia Law. So perhaps we can be less melodramatic about it.
You have a state government which collects income taxes and uses it to fund national services, you've got at least a slightly socialist state. Reps and Dems are nearly identical. I don't recall George Bush cancelling the department of education or closing the federally mandated interstate highway system, or abolishing welfare. Seems kinda socialist to me.
You have a state government which is resistant to the idea of stricter controls on guns or more lax restrictions on privacy rights and abortions, you have a government which basically rejects the idea of gay marriage... you have a conservative state that's resistant to progressive values. The Democrats are in power and gay marriage isn't legal in all 50 states, guns are still very very legal, and they haven't really touched the abortion laws. Seems kinda conservative to me.
I wonder, if there will ever come a day when people can leave their political party at the door, and forget all the buzzwords and stereotypes and slogans and divisive propaganda, and sit down together in spite of minor disagreements on policy, and create a language we all understand and accept as being real and legitimate, and use those words to bridge gaps in our understanding and perhaps, just perhaps, agree on the major issues, or agree to disagree while the other party is in power, and otherwise not slander them as being un-American, fascist, racist, etc.
Nah. People are having too much fun creating false controversy and joining factions to gain power over each other to leave all that third-grade behavior at the door. People, in my opinion, are more interested in associating with people who agree with their particular ideology and persecuting those who disagree, than creating a harmonious world which takes into account people's differences, and remembering that if we were all the same, this would be a world filled with billions and billions of examples of human monotony, not exceptional individuals.
Me personally? I say let states decide contentious issues, and leave the national issues for things which are really important, like human rights and legal protections. If you don't want a nationalist light rail system, fine, we won't build one in your state... but let the other states build one. Simple stuff, people. If Texas doesn't want gay marriage... whatever. You live in Texas, you deal with Texas values. But there's no reason why other states can't allow it if the courts rule on it and people vote on it. Let "God" sort out those deep spiritual matters after we're dead, and leave religion out of the law. Live and let live.
Whoooo.... better stop before I really get goin'. I'm the only one who wants to listen to my opinions anyway. This quibbling about left and right though... it's very stupid in my opinion. It's not based on anything substantive, the real definitions have gotten lost, and it's just mindless partisan bickering and slander at this point. But what do I know. :medievalcheers: Didn't mean to intrude... people, have fun portraying political opponents as demons and making little headway convincing them of your worldview.
