Settle it: Who thinks Obama is a socialist?

[Dcdrac]

Come to think of it even Barry Goldwater would get nowhere in todays GOP

 

[squealpiggy]

I'm a Brit living in Canada. I would put Obama as a right-of-centre progressive conservative. He isn't a socialist in a European or even Canadian sense, but I don't think that many Americans actually have a good grasp of what socialism entails. They seem to think that it just means someone who takes money off decent hard workin' folks to feed immigrants so they can make babies. Oh and also take our guns.

 

[Crossbow]

If this exchange is anything to go by this is still an unsettled issue for some.



So, if Obama is a socialist who would be at home with Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, etc please present the case for why this is.

In my experience, many of the same stupid, idiotic, liars that started and supported the Iraq War are also the same people who call Obama a socialist.

As for you second point, neither Stalin, nor Mao, nor Pol Pot were socialists, so that is just another of stupid, idiotic, lies that many of the Obama haters love to spout.

 

[C_Felix]

Whenever I get into this debate, I always start with, "Lets define socialism so we both know what we are talking about."

Perhaps this should have a spoiler tag, but, "they" usually can't define socialism apart from "When the government tells you what to do."

 

[Cain]

It's a term evacuated of all meaning.

 

[NotJesus]

So, is it settled yet?

 

[remirol]

Beats me, but I evacuated on it anyway.

 

[xjx388]

Socialism is too broad of a term. But when I think of it, here's what comes to mind:

Redistribution of wealth
Public ownership of most industries
Elimination of the idea of personal ownership of property

I think Obama definitely supports some socialistic ideas: his views on healthcare come to mind. I wouldn't go so far as to equate him with Stalin, Mao, etc. but there is little doubt that he endorses socialist ideas. But Republicans have defended some socialist ideas as well, so it's really a meaningless term.

 

[Mark6]

As a part 2, may I also add the question: Who thinks Obama is a radical anything?

My parents, for example.

 

[C_Felix]

Socialism is too broad of a term. But when I think of it, here's what comes to mind:

Redistribution of wealth
Public ownership of most industries
Elimination of the idea of personal ownership of property

I think Obama definitely supports some socialistic ideas: his views on healthcare come to mind. I wouldn't go so far as to equate him with Stalin, Mao, etc. but there is little doubt that he endorses socialist ideas. But Republicans have defended some socialist ideas as well, so it's really a meaningless term.

Sounds more like communism to me.


Since I typed the above, I'm sure someone is going to ask me what I feel socialism is.
Here's what I think socialism is:
A centrally (governmentally) planned economy where the creation and distribution of the basic needs of life are mapped out.
"You will grow this much wheat/corn and sell it for this much to these people."
"These people will make x% into bread and y% into corn flakes and sell the bread for this price and the corn flakes for that price"
Eggs, milk...etc...


Yes, there could be debate as to if oil, gasoline are basic needs of life.
The same with health care.

 

[Travis]

So, no defense from anyone for the comparison of Obama to Stalin, Mao or Pol Pot?

 

[Manopolus]

Obama is exactly as much of a socialist as George W. is intelligent. That is: not really; And both seem to think they are more so, respectively, than they actually are. In reality, Obama is just as conservative as Bush was from a traditional point of view (maybe even more so)... without the stupidity.

BTW, should have done a poll, complete with the voting tendencies of the respondents

 

[Naddig74]

So, no defense from anyone for the comparison of Obama to Stalin, Mao or Pol Pot?

You need about half a brain to realise there is no comparison...

 

[jj]

Obama is to the right of Eisenhower.

If Obama is a socialist, Eisenhower was a communist.

And Eisenhower supported an anti-communist pogram.

Whoops.

Calling Obama a socialist is either delusional or lying.

 

[elbe]

Obama is exactly as much of a socialist as George W. is

I think that's an accurate enough comparison by itself.

 

[Travis]

Obama is to the right of Eisenhower.

If Obama is a socialist, Eisenhower was a communist.

And Eisenhower supported an anti-communist pogram.

Whoops.

Calling Obama a socialist is either delusional or lying.

Yeah, but Stalin killed way more Communists than Eisenhower ever did.

 

[jj]

Yeah, but Stalin killed way more Communists than Eisenhower ever did.

Boy oh boy oh boy is that ever true.

 

[Multivac]

Obama is not a socialist by any definition I have ever heard.

Can anyone tell me why socialism seems to be such a dirty word to most Americans?

 

[DavidJames]

Obama is not a socialist by any definition I have ever heard.

Can anyone tell me why socialism seems to be such a dirty word to most Americans?

Two come to mind. It's the opposite of greed which is what many American's think defines success. Second, they've been programmed to associate socialism and communism and the "red scare" of decades ago is still used by Republicans to scare us to vote for them.

 

[kookbreaker]

What liberals forget is that Obama murdered 6 million people. Just like those other communists.

I read it....somewhere.