I am a conservative, but anything is better than a socialist

If you want big money to dominate your political process, don't vote for sanders, if you want to help change that status quo vote sanders. The rich don't need your help dominating your political system, but lots of other Americans do need you to stand up for democracy and not plutocracy.

a reply to: russ212

I can think of quite a few political ideologies that would be worse than Socialism. This OP reeks of hyperbole and misunderstanding of Socialism.

Socialism CAN be done right, but it is a process (and has to be limited in scope to necessities). Currently, our economy is so poor, that we can't afford to attempt the process. We would be taxed into oblivion.

For anyone who thinks Bernie can pay for his ideas by taxing the 1%, you are living in a fantasy world. No matter who is in the Oval Office, the 1% still control the legislators as well as the businesses, lobbies, etc. If you think they will just sit by and allow it, you're nuts.

For those thinking he's not bought and paid for, just because he doesn't have a super PAC (neither does Trump, by the way), he's still raising millions, and if you think those donors don't want SOMETHING for their money, you're simply wrong.

The millennials are all for Bernie because they are simply too young (and inexperienced) to understand the economic impact of these ideas. In addition, they are self-righteous, so angered at Trump's perceived racism, and equally angered by Hillary's scandals. For the others, they are simply unknowns, and most millennials simply aren't going to bother with the research on their stances anyhow. I say this based on the millennials I know and hear, so excuse the generalization, but so far, it seems accurate.

a reply to: russ212

Your gratuitous assertion is noted, and gratuitously forgotten.

originally posted by: EmmanuelGoldstein
a reply to: russ212

I disagree.

Like it or not, the future of this planet will be a universal system of one world government socialism.

It doesn't mean that you can't have your 50 acre ranch, but it will mean that those with nothing (including brain cells) still get to have basic housing, healthcare, food and higher education.

But what will they get if they don't go along with socialism? They'll get free housing in the form of a gulag, most likely. Glitter and sparkles, I tell ya! Nothin' but glitter and sparkles!

originally posted by: EmmanuelGoldstein
a reply to: russ212

I disagree.

Like it or not, the future of this planet will be a universal system of one world government socialism.

It doesn't mean that you can't have your 50 acre ranch, but it will mean that those with nothing (including brain cells) still get to have basic housing, healthcare, food and higher education.

Well said.

The countries with the highest standard of living are all socialist, yet it's still the big scary monster like it's the 1960 still.

People need to get their head out of the sand!

a reply to: BrianFlanders

The only way you can't go along with Socialism is if you don't pay your taxes, but not paying your taxes is also illegal in capitalism too. But hey if you want to not pay taxes as a protest against Socialism, that's on you. Luckily your comparison to the gulags is not even close to accurate since prisoners in the this country aren't treated nearly as badly as they were treated in the USSR.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: BrianFlanders

The only way you can't go along with Socialism is if you don't pay your taxes, but not paying your taxes is also illegal in capitalism too.

But thanks to Comrade Obama, taxes and fines are now the same thing. Remember the individual mandate? Now if you don't do as you're ordered to do, they will fine you and call it a tax. So now they can say you're not paying your taxes if you don't pay the fines they impose upon you for not obeying their orders. Essentially, they're fining you for not being a liberal and calling it a tax. It's outrageous but it doesn't really seem like it in a time where everything is outrageous.

Luckily your comparison to the gulags is not even close to accurate since prisoners in the this country aren't treated nearly as badly as they were treated in the USSR.

* Yet.

But it should be noted that people are not yet being put in prison for not following orders. That will have to change if they expect to have 100% compliance with ALL socialist policies. It's more than just taxes and every socialist sympathizer damn well knows it.

Because as my avatar says, socialism HAS to be mandatory in order to work. Where socialism has always really gone off the rails is when they find that they have millions of people who are just plain in the way and they have to try to find a way to force them to do as they're told. Understandably, this doesn't often end well for people who don't comply with communists who will do whatever it takes to enforce their ideology.

But then, as you pointed out, they're getting much better at plausible deniability and concealing it all behind things that sound normal and reasonable (like taxes). So yeah. We're a lot closer to that socialist dystopia where no one seems to notice than than we probably ever have been.

And many of the people who ended up on the business end of the Soviet system got there by being declared mentally ill by Soviet doctors after they chose to dissent from communist ideology. Even after Stalin was gone, this kind of crap still went on

Perhaps its because I'm not american, or that I come from a pretty socialist country, but I dont understand why socialism is such a scary word to some of the general public in america. In many other countries we enjoy the benefits of rainbows and smoke.

I remember it being used over and over to describe Obama, as if it were a negative.

America already has some social programs in place. YOU ALREADY ARE A SOCIALIST COUNTRY The military essentially is a socialist program. Run Mostly by the government. And social security?

I understand that America was formed on the idea of small government and being left alone, but that doesn't mean we have to misconstrue what Socialism is and treat it like some kind of plague that will kill everyone.

As a country who is still managing to remain at the top economically why would you not want the standard of living to be higher?

I understand that with more socialism , comes the need to trust your government not to # everyone over? And its a real worry when you feel like you cant trust your government when you are living in a democratic society.

Perhaps thats the real problem? that the political system is broken, not the ideals of Socialism.

a reply to: IvyNeptune

The problem is in the transition. It has to be gradual. Simply put, Bernie's plans don't add up. Many economists have written about how off the numbers are, and then to pay for it, we're ALL (not just the rich), going to have to pay a LOT more taxes.

Now, if we're getting a lot for that, fine...we can be cool with that. But, paying those higher rates, while the system is still being put together (and we aren't getting the benefits we're paying for)...that is going to be a ROUGH transition. That's why Socialism is so scary here. Those of us with enough life experience to have witnessed those transitional times, are all too aware of the horror stories. (just look at those pics of empty supermarket shelves in VZ).

a reply to: Gazrok

I just noticed your tag line. Ron Paul was so great
I cant get as into Rand. I mean I like him but he seems to pander to the Christians a little too much and it seems in-genuine.

a reply to: Gazrok

I just noticed your tag line. Ron Paul was so great
I cant get as into Rand. I mean I like him but he seems to pander to the Christians a little too much and it seems in-genuine.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: russ212


And even though the current system has many flaws, it is still a far better system than socialism.

Ever been to Sweden, Holland, Norway, New Zealand, Belgium? All socialist countries that enjoy a higher standard of living

than we do in the US.

Besides the US is already part socialist but it only benefits the "to big to fail corps" not the rank and file taxpayers.

Gawd, if only people fought against the federal reserve as hard as they fight against socialism...