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Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:11:49 -0800

Socialism is not a Four-Letter Word
Capitalism | Economic Policy | Socialism
by Michael Fox | February 4, 2009 - 12:53pm Share
article tools: email | print | read more Michael Fox

Blame it on fifty years of fierce misinformation campaigns perpetrated by both the government and business interests that have supported it. First, let's set this straight once and for all, for those who seem to have allowed the prevailing meme to sink in: Socialism is not Communism (for the rest of us, "Duh.").

Strangely, due to a decades-long and highly simplistic rhetorical merger, that simple fact is not understood by most Americans. For years, socialism was such a popular concept that the word was co-opted by the ultra right (as National Socialism) and left (Soviet Socialism). However, when applied responsibly, Democratic Socialism is the only way to achieve some measure of equality in society. In fact, democratic socialism is entirely compatible with capitalism, though, unfortunately, those who have the most to lose - that is to say, the vastly overpaid - are and always have been in the position to persuade those with the most to gain - that they should oppose it (without understanding it).

In the most glaringly disingenuous argument against socialism, how many times have you heard the following argument against national healthcare reform? "I don't want some government bureaucrat making medical decisions for me!"

That argument always makes me reflexively burst into laughter, because it can only come from someone who accepts some health insurance company bureaucrat's interpretation of the increasingly narrow guidelines and formularies of their private, for-profit insurance company. Those who make that argument are, in fact supporting an ideology that will, most certainly, one day not support them.

The truth is that the two largest government managed healthcare providers, Medicare and the Veteran's Administration (the latter being a truly socialized system), provide quality healthcare with a 3% administrative cost, whereas private health insurance does so with 30% of revenue going to administrative costs (see: bureaucracy) and profit: Lots and lots and lots of profit. Yet, until about twenty years ago, many of these same private health insurance companies were incorporated as non-profits.

So the socialist health model, while never perfect (nothing human is), is far less imperfect than the present profit-driven system. Furthermore, it is the right approach, the compassionate approach, the liberal approach. And in case you the dissenter hadn't noticed, the free-market greed-is-good system has failed completely. It is time to take back the word Socialism, just as we have the word Liberal. These are not four letter words.

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http://PassionatePuppy.stumbleupon.com/review/28030866/

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:49:15 -0800

COLD PRESS

Warm hearts, cold noses, and poop.

A visit is well worth it. Beauregard expresses herself in words and style I like (eventhough my comprehension of things seems to be turned on at low speed)

Poetic and Emotional and Humourous

http://gwenbeauregard.blogspot.com/

You may also visit Beauregard here: http://beaubeauregard.stumbleupon.com/

http://PassionatePuppy.stumbleupon.com/review/28030723/

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:10:42 -0800

Path to Freedom
"Founded by Jules Dervaes (Dur-VAYS) in 2001, Path to Freedom is a grassroots, family operated, viable urban homesteading project established to promote a simpler and more fulfilling lifestyle and reduce one family's "footprint" on the earth's dwindling resources.
t:4af6a22197b11;src:syndicate" rel="nofollow" target="_new">http://www.pathtofreedom.com/"

http://PassionatePuppy.stumbleupon.com/review/28030712/

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:10:12 -0800

PRISON PLANET.com

http://www.prisonplanet.com/

http://PassionatePuppy.stumbleupon.com/review/28030618/

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:04:55 -0800

NASA Mars photo leaked - wood found on mars!

http://thecrit.com/2008/08/05/nasa-mars-photo-leaked-wood-found-on-mars/

http://PassionatePuppy.stumbleupon.com/review/28030604/

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:04:18 -0800

AMAZING CRYSTAL SKULLS

Mysteries of the Crystal Skulls Explained.
Crystal Skull Secrets Revealed.

http://www.crystalskulls.com/

http://PassionatePuppy.stumbleupon.com/review/28030582/

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:03:26 -0800

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/22/food-biofuels-land-grab
Rich countries launch great land grab to safeguard food supply

* States and companies target developing nations
* Small farmers at risk from industrial-scale deals

http://PassionatePuppy.stumbleupon.com/review/25341386/

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:18:18 -0700

http://PassionatePuppy.stumbleupon.com/review/18539744/

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:05:17 -0800

The Power of Labels
By Sprword.com
PLANET EARTH - Divide and conquer. This is the set strategy of the era that continues to be imposed on our society today. Turn everyone against each other and with time, people will enslave themselves without even realizing it. Class, race, religion, nationality, age, and sexual orientation are just a few examples of barriers that exist to polarize the masses. Rather than focusing on our similarities and how we are all interconnected, we instead find ourselves focusing on all of our differences - forcing us to look at one another as if we are a completely different species - which could not be farther from the truth.
http://www.sprword.com/realnews.html

http://PassionatePuppy.stumbleupon.com/review/14387570/

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 15:22:55 -0800

Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.
~ Napoleon