What's the Definition of a Socialist?

[Arnold jr]

A few people here seem to think calling Obama a socialist is wrong, that it's hate speech, etc. Well, if someone is a socialist and you call them one is that wrong? If you're a fireman and someone says, "that guy is a fireman" is that hate speech? If your desires and actions are that of a fireman, guess what, you're a fireman.

So what is a socialist/socialism?

Socialism advocates state ownership of property and industry. For example, let's say some government bought the rights to an private auto manufacture or a bank...you know, something outrageous like that

What else defines socialism?

Controlling capital, regulating control of natural resources...you know, like if some crazy nut came along and wanted to institute a cap & trade system, but who would want that, right?

Socialist believe that the individual is far less important than the collective. For a socialist, the collective is everything, for them to have success, the collective must be successful. It would be like if someone said, "my individual salvation relies on the collective salvation." But no one in America has ever said that have they?


For crying out loud, Obama is a socialist, if you like him and you agree with what he believes and wants, great, have at it, but let's call a spade a spade. If it looks like a socialist, if it acts like a socialist, why lordy, lordy, it must be a socialist.

[Dos Equis]

Arnold check out this thread:  http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=325346.0

One of the links is to a poll that says 40 percent of Americans believe Obama is a socialist.  In another clip, there is the claim that the feds now control 51 percent of the private economy. 

[Arnold jr]

Yeah, I figured this had been brought up several times by now but due to my absence from society the past 8 months I figured another thread couldn't hurt, lol!

You'll also be glad to know that in a more recent Rasmussen Poll, 55% of Americans believe he's a socialist.

As for the fed controlling the economy, whatever they control now, expect that to go up and increase rapidly...they're buying our own debt now and they're not doing it for the sake of a happy feeling.

[Dos Equis]

Yeah, I figured this had been brought up several times by now but due to my absence from society the past 8 months I figured another thread couldn't hurt, lol!

You'll also be glad to know that in a more recent Rasmussen Poll, 55% of Americans believe he's a socialist.

As for the fed controlling the economy, whatever they control now, expect that to go up and increase rapidly...they're buying our own debt now and they're not doing it for the sake of a happy feeling.

It's pretty alarming.  One of my friends thinks we are on the verge of an economic collapse.   

[Bindare_Dundat]

It's pretty alarming.  One of my friends thinks we are on the verge of an economic collapse.   

Your "friend" is only 2 years too late.

[24KT]

Yeah, I figured this had been brought up several times by now but due to my absence from society the past 8 months I figured another thread couldn't hurt, lol!

Hmmm... so what did you go to jail for?

[MuscleMcMannus]

Obama isn't a socialist moron....he's a fascist.  There is a big difference.  

Socialism versus fascism, according to the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics, "Where socialism sought totalitarian control of a society’s economic processes through direct state operation of the means of production, fascism sought that control indirectly, through domination of nominally private owners. Where socialism nationalized property explicitly, fascism did so implicitly, by requiring owners to use their property in the “national interest”—that is, as the autocratic authority conceived it. (Nevertheless, a few industries were operated by the state.) Where socialism abolished all market relations outright, fascism left the appearance of market relations while planning all economic activities. Where socialism abolished money and prices, fascism controlled the monetary system and set all prices and wages politically. In doing all this, fascism denatured the marketplace."

Just like most of the other regulars on this forum you seem to parrot what you hear in the media and mainstream news.  You should try picking up a history book once in a while.  But that would mean actually learning how to think instead of having someone force feed you your ideology.  America has been steadfastly becoming fascist not socialist.  This has been apparent for decades now. 

[MuscleMcMannus]

Hmmm... so what did you go to jail for?

The genius got caught with 7000 amps of steroids supposedly.  And now he's going to tell us everything that's wrong with our country, how to fix it, and that Sarah Palin, Glen Beck and Jesus Christ will come save the day.  LMAO!     Yet he fails to understand the basic differences between socialism and fascism.  Haha gotta love ignorant, brainwashed Americans. 

[MuscleMcMannus]

Many people attribute many facets of Nazi's to being a fascist. A fascist government has 3 qualities and only three qualities.

1.) Authoritarian
2.) Nationalist
3.) Corporate economic ideology.

Lets review:

Barack Obama wants to force people to have health care and if they don't they get put in prison. Authoritarian. (Check)

Barack Obama wants school kids to write essays on how they can make America better. Nationalist (Check)

Barack Obama gave TRILLIONS to corporations and nothing to small business. Corporatist. (Check)

Therefore...and without ANY doubt...Barack Obama is a fascist.

[Bindare_Dundat]

The genius got caught with 7000 amps of steroids supposedly.  And now he's going to tell us everything that's wrong with our country, how to fix it, and that Sarah Palin, Glen Beck and Jesus Christ will come save the day.  LMAO!    Yet he fails to understand the basic differences between socialism and fascism.  Haha gotta love ignorant, brainwashed Americans.  

Its`no different then his other misguided overgeneralizations that are taken from the FOX news handbook on other topics. Everytime I read some of those types of comments I`m reminded of all the other times the American public was duped into lumping together and demonizing a whole group of  individuals in our history with no basis of personal experience`or actual facts, but hey if Joseph McCarthy, Bugs Bunny or Sean Hannity say its so, it must be true.

[Danny]

Many people attribute many facets of Nazi's to being a fascist. A fascist government has 3 qualities and only three qualities.

1.) Authoritarian
2.) Nationalist
3.) Corporate economic ideology.

Lets review:

Barack Obama wants to force people to have health care and if they don't they get put in prison. Authoritarian. (Check)

Barack Obama wants school kids to write essays on how they can make America better. Nationalist (Check)

Barack Obama gave TRILLIONS to corporations and nothing to small business. Corporatist. (Check)

Therefore...and without ANY doubt...Barack Obama is a fascist.

Your logic is absolutely flawless   Does wanting to "take America back for real Americans" make you a fascist or nationalist too??? Cuz if that's the case Sarah Palin is the biggest fascist off all since Hitler... Who knows maybe Palin will start targeting the latinos since she wants her "Amuuhhhrica" back. just like Hitler advocated for the pure race and started with the extermination of jews.

[Bindare_Dundat]

Your logic is absolutely flawless   Does wanting to "take America back for real Americans" make you a fascist or nationalist too??? Cuz if that's the case Sarah Palin is the biggest fascist off all since Hitler... Who knows maybe Palin will start targeting the latinos since she wants her "Amuuhhhrica" back. just like Hitler advocated for the pure race and started with the extermination of jews.

 I don`t think you are going to find him a Palin worshipper if thats what your trying to say in that mess. He is pretty accurate.

Ask a true socialist if Obama is socialist and see what they say.

[Arnold jr]

Obama isn't a socialist moron....he's a fascist.  There is a big difference.  

Socialism versus fascism, according to the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics, "Where socialism sought totalitarian control of a society’s economic processes through direct state operation of the means of production, fascism sought that control indirectly, through domination of nominally private owners. Where socialism nationalized property explicitly, fascism did so implicitly, by requiring owners to use their property in the “national interest”—that is, as the autocratic authority conceived it. (Nevertheless, a few industries were operated by the state.) Where socialism abolished all market relations outright, fascism left the appearance of market relations while planning all economic activities. Where socialism abolished money and prices, fascism controlled the monetary system and set all prices and wages politically. In doing all this, fascism denatured the marketplace."

Just like most of the other regulars on this forum you seem to parrot what you hear in the media and mainstream news.  You should try picking up a history book once in a while.  But that would mean actually learning how to think instead of having someone force feed you your ideology.  America has been steadfastly becoming fascist not socialist.  This has been apparent for decades now.  

Look, you're splitting hairs a bit. Yes, there's a difference between the two, but they are not all that dissimilar, ones built around nationalism and one collectivism. Different? Yes. Opposite ends of the spectrum? Hardly.

Also, you shouldn't make assumptions about people you don't know. You know nothing of me. Education, background, you know nothing...what happened 8 months ago, you know, "The genius got caught with 7000 amps of steroids supposedly." What do you know of any of that beyond the little info posted about it here or on RX? And what the crap is "Supposedly" supposed to mean?

[Arnold jr]

Hmmm... so what did you go to jail for?

I didn't go to jail.

[Bindare_Dundat]

Also, you shouldn't make assumptions about people you don't know. 

You make sweeping generalizations and assumptions about many people you don't know yourself. You even go so far as to say you know the people I deal with better than I do.

[George Whorewell]

Many people attribute many facets of Nazi's to being a fascist. A fascist government has 3 qualities and only three qualities.

1.) Authoritarian
2.) Nationalist
3.) Corporate economic ideology.

Lets review:

Barack Obama wants to force people to have health care and if they don't they get put in prison. Authoritarian. (Check)

Barack Obama wants school kids to write essays on how they can make America better. Nationalist (Check)

Barack Obama gave TRILLIONS to corporations and nothing to small business. Corporatist. (Check)

Therefore...and without ANY doubt...Barack Obama is a fascist.

HAHAHA-- As much as I like making fun of the manic depressive bedpan nurse, this is a great post. Half of you dweebs probably thought he was going to defend Obama. Instead, he comes up with an even worse label for him. I'd rather be called a socialist than a facist any day of the week.

[George Whorewell]

Your logic is absolutely flawless   Does wanting to "take America back for real Americans" make you a fascist or nationalist too??? Cuz if that's the case Sarah Palin is the biggest fascist off all since Hitler... Who knows maybe Palin will start targeting the latinos since she wants her "Amuuhhhrica" back. just like Hitler advocated for the pure race and started with the extermination of jews.

What do you consider a "real" American? Someone like you?

[Kazan]

Obama isn't a socialist moron....he's a fascist.  There is a big difference.  

Socialism versus fascism, according to the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics, "Where socialism sought totalitarian control of a society’s economic processes through direct state operation of the means of production, fascism sought that control indirectly, through domination of nominally private owners. Where socialism nationalized property explicitly, fascism did so implicitly, by requiring owners to use their property in the “national interest”—that is, as the autocratic authority conceived it. (Nevertheless, a few industries were operated by the state.) Where socialism abolished all market relations outright, fascism left the appearance of market relations while planning all economic activities. Where socialism abolished money and prices, fascism controlled the monetary system and set all prices and wages politically. In doing all this, fascism denatured the marketplace."

Just like most of the other regulars on this forum you seem to parrot what you hear in the media and mainstream news.  You should try picking up a history book once in a while.  But that would mean actually learning how to think instead of having someone force feed you your ideology.  America has been steadfastly becoming fascist not socialist.  This has been apparent for decades now. 

So the Hitler comparison is correct then?

[Arnold jr]

You make sweeping generalizations and assumptions about many people you don't know yourself. You even go so far as to say you know the people I deal with better than I do.

Explain??

[James]

"A government that robs Peter to pay Paul will always have the support of Paul"  - George Bernard Shaw (an ardent socialist)