College of Political Knowledge
Subject: Government/Socialism
Lecture #5
Since the election of Obama in 2008, the American people have been told of the approach of socialism and that they need to be afraid of the change coming. Politico after politico, spokesman after spokesman has strutted up in front of the cameras and with a straight, dead pan face said that the Dems under Pelosi, Obama and Reid are moving the country toward socialism……
This is the question that has plagued me for a couple of years….I have tried to show the public that there is NOTHING socialistic about the Dems …..So, I have been trying to find someone, anyone that can accurately tell me why we should be afraid of Obama or that matter a socialist and to answer it rationally…..so far…I got NOTHING…I have gotten close but NO cigar (Oh wait……..cigar would mean Cuban and that would mean a “revolutionary” and that would equate to Fidel….ergo…socialistic) (silly…right?….you would be surprised at the people that think like that)……Since “revolutionaries have beards then maybe it is the beard that we should fear……
Maybe it is the system that we should fear…..you know the size of the government……but with a little knowledge socialism is the mid point of a society moving toward a stateless state….the withering away of the need for a central government…..is that not similar to the demands of the “Righteous Right”? They want the size of government to become so small that it is only needed for such things as national security……sounds similar to me.
I reiterate again and again….Obama is NO socialist…..to be afraid of socialism is just emotional BS….for one, if socialism was to come to America, it would mean the end of some type of Federalism….that is NOT going to happen….why? Politicians! The political establishment would not give up their stranglehold on the country for any reason…Please do NOT equate socialism with state capitalism…they are NOT the same thing!
It is beyond time for the American people to stop getting the information from some idiot trying to sell you on BS while simultaneously trying to sell you gold coins….look for reality, people! Stop being so damn stupid!
Recently, Rep. Broun of Georgia said that the CDC was calling people to find out what fruits and veggies they were eating and then he said that this was “socialism on the highest order”…..fruits and veggies make on a socialist? See how totally absurd this whole line of rhetoric is?
If you have to have something to fear then may I suggest that you fear the people that fill your head with visions of non-existent boogey men that are coming for your job or your property or to control what foods you eat……they do not NOT exist! Only in the rhetoric of those pulling your strings….it is called “propaganda”….you remember that crap from the Cold War days, right?
Believe me! It does NOT hurt to do your own thinking! Try it, you may like it!
“Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices.” Voltaire (bet coffee helped with that thought)
Sorry, but I cannot share your view of Socialism. The basic principles and aims of socialism are laudable, decent and on the face of it desirable. Sadly, they fly directly in the face of reality!!!
According to Sharon Stone, sex is makind’s basic instinct (as with most other species), but actually, we have two that are stronger than all others, or that the others only exist to serve – survival as an individual and survival as a species (which instinct equates to sex as a means to procreate).
IF you take away the individual’s need to struggle to survive (which then translates into “survive better”) then you diminish the individual and screw with his (or her) basic instincts. The results on so many levels can be absolutely catastrophic for society – and for the individual as well.
This is why I always say that welfare that doesn’t make entirely INDEPENDENT economic sense for a society (like medical care and education – a fit and clever workforce) should only ever be a short term “safety net”!
I was not saying that it was my view…..socialism has so many facets that we would get a headache trying to do all….this one was from the Marx (I believe) where society had four parts in its political/economic life….feudalism, capitalism, socialism and finally communism…..and he thought that true communism was the final stage where a strong central government was not needed…all power would be local…..
I will agree that socialism is NOT something that is truly viable…..I like Sharon Stone…yum…..
Yum indeed. Yes, I understand your points. All attempts at Communism of course have spawned what socialism ALWAYS spawns – huge and powerful central government – so Marx seems to have been a bit wide of several marks, doesn’t he?
But then Marx had some weird ideas about human nature anyway…
Yes, he was a bit out there but he was also to the point on other things……in theory, the massive central government would not exist in Communism…..like I said in theory….the best laid plans of mice and men go to shit in hurry…..or something like that….
PS: sorry about the pun 😆
A good pun is almost as good as a cup of coffee…..lol
I can see how you may feel that the fear of socialism is an imagined fear and it may in some ways be so. Equally, I agree that the lies and spin of the current ridiculous scaremongers is indeed something to be afraid of, but (there it is), I think that socialism potentially attacks something so fundamental to humanity, that many people are scred of it at a gut level and may not even be quite sure of exactly why.
This could be a huge discussion, but I’ll (necessarily) simplify my argument to a couple of points…
Firstly, Marx and other idealists like him made a VERY basic error and that was that they knew what was good for the majority and that it was broadly similar for most people. THAT is TOTALLY wrong! Each person is an individual and wants different things for dofferent reasons and with hugely varying degrees of passion. If that were NOT so, then there would be no one saying, “no resuss” because the length of life would be more important to everyone than the quality of it – and that plainly isn’t so for many, though it also is for a lot of people – it is potentially the “tyranny of the majority”.
Secondly, the truth is that humankind is only as successful as a speciaes as it is, not because of our intelligence, but becuase many, many people LOVE to struggle – they want to win, of course, or there would be no point in struggling, but it strikes at the very root of the human psyche to take away the opportunity to struggle, to be different, to wage a wa against the odds and believe that you may succeed and achieve your goal – whatever that goal may be as an individual. For the state to provide and nurture an individual is an horrific idea for many people and smacks of slavery in velvet bonds…
You know what? I agree with that, which is why the really idealist socialism, communism and all the rest, however true to Marx’s utopian dreams any of it may be, is something I’d rather die than give in to. In fact, the nearer it was to utopia, the more I’d hate it!
That is my only point….the irrational fear of something that is NOT in the works…..while I agree with you that socialism is just NOT gonna happen basically because of human nature, then why the fear? It was possible years ago, but not now…….
Of course it could happen! It’s not for the altruistic aims quoted, because it’s simply used as an alternative way of controlling hte people, but socialism is alive and well and being used in many countries including Greece and Spain (and formerly the UK) in Europe and it ALWAYS produces economic and eventually social disaster.
The fear itself is NOT in my opinion irrational. The fact that it is unlikely to fully happen makes no difference. Once the population gets used to a watered down version of socialism, it becomes much easier to sell them the idea of more and more, which is what has happened in the UK over the last sixty years or so with the odd notable reverse of direction – let’s hope this current reversal sticks, because Brits are in the mire if it doesn’t!
Put it like this… If you see a badly wired electrical appliance in your house, the fact that it’s not currently close to anything else that will easily burn, doesn’t negate a perfectly reasonable belief the the appliance is a danger, does it? The very fringes of socialism ARE in my opinion a danger (however small) because of what they may lead to. It’s a bit like an oil tanker with no controls – it’s fine whilst not in use, but once underway, it takes one hell of a lot of stopping and the crash, if it happens, is horrific.
You may be correct….but the Federalism system makes it highly unlikely here in the US. As I have said we would have to replace the system we have and I do NOT see that occurring in my lifetime…….after that the country is on its own
I don’t see why federalism stops it – unless the politicians invoke “the constitution” – toehrwise a central government is a central government and, once a majority are dependent on the state, it becomes unlikely that the voters will throw it out!
I repeat, it seems to me that, unlikely it may be, but impossible, NO!
It’s a little thing like the checks and balances….if those can be stifled, then anything would be possible….
Exactly so…
Now, about Sharon Stone… 😈
Two words….Basic Instinct!
Mine undoubtedly 😈
She could make me enjoy writing bad checks…..and if she was a red head…heaven…..
With the growing deficit and the recession stagnating, I feel I have a duty to share my beliefs on this, the United States. As the deficit grows with the “Economic Recovery Plan” and the remnants of the “War On Terror.” The ‘Middle Class’ in the United States is slowly shrinking, and with it goes the vast majority of the governments tax revenue. Which means that no matter who is in charge or what ideas they come up with, the deficit will continue to grow, the interest alone is accounting for over $200 Billion dollars annually now.
The lack of taxable income from the nonexistent middle class will drive the vast lower class into a greater sense of poverty, while taxes on the upper class increase to compensate. Once taxes increase enough on the upper class, those who can still afford it will move out of the country to protect their money. The main issue with this comes when the upper 1% of the population that controls 90% of the nations wealth leaves the nation—keep in mind this wouldn’t be limited to CEOs, athletes, actors, and those handful of inventors that created the teat that our society now suckles at, but also many of the doctors, lawyers, engineers and the highly educated residents that hold places of prestige in our economy—This will drive the remaining U.S. population, nearly overnight, into the conditions of a third world country.
Many of the people who are left in the country will migrate en mass to Canada or Central America creating job shortages, homeless problems, and an enormous economic strain on those governments, leaving an even lower population within U.S. borders. The increasingly low number of doctors within the U.S. means that even minor diseases run rampant. Meanwhile stealing what they need to survive, the citizens that are left will overrun the cities, the military will try to control the chaos, soon realizing the cause is just and the need for survival is great. The military will join the citizens and take up arms to revolt against the government that created this situation. The ensuing chaos and anarchy will eventually lead to a Chinese takeover of U.S. soil.
This may seem a harsh exaggeration, but the ‘elected’ powers of this government have been the same bloodlines since the formation of this government, the same monarchies and dynasties our “patriots” fought so hard against, the same people who are creating the increasingly large gap between the upper class and the general population (or should I say Feudalism, the nobleman and the peasants, sound familiar?) they are the same people that raped and slaughtered the native population of this country, the same ones that enslaved Afro-Americans for nearly four hundred years. The same bloodlines that deceived and lied to the Native Americans have been lying and deceiving everyone since then.
The current economic state has been stewing for the past two generations; we have been duped into thinking that the pursuit of the American dream means a lack of general humanity! Who cares if the unemployment rate in our own country is nearing 22% (8-12% that we’re made aware of is typically only the people that are collecting unemployment) if I can save $0.001 a unit to have them manufactured in sweat shops overseas that’s ok. If I can save $3 million a year on labor, who cares if I shut down these factories and lay off thousands of people right here in my city. All it took to stop this was a “Made in USA” sticker when you went shopping, rather than the “Made in Pakistan,” or “Made in Taiwan,” or “Made in Hong Kong.”
I have to question, did we really “win” the American Revolution? Or have the British been behind the scenes the whole time teaching us the illusion of freedom? Another exaggeration I admit, but I feel my point remains clear.
People fight constantly, it’s the Democrats fault, or it’s the Republicans fault. How about the simple fact that it’s both parties faults. Why? Because the parties are really the same thing; face it, it’s the same select bloodlines that have been running this country since the beginning. The same kinds of monarchies and dynasty rulers our patriots fought so hard to break way from, have been masquerading as democratic elections. People say, it’s a democracy if you don’t like it, vote third party: two things wrong with that; there is no third party choice, the popular ‘third party’ now is the “Tea Party” but every elected official from the “Tea Party” has immediately aligned with the Republican Party after taking office. The second is that this country is not a democracy and never has been, it’s a socialist republic. We elect the people into office who the Republican and Democrats parade in front of us, we might get six or eight to choose from but they are all part of the same money, same bloodlines, that have been in power since the beginning, and it’s the same corporations and private sectors that back both parties.
There’s no change, no hope, and no relief coming from this government. Our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal, unfortunately with the same regime we tried so hard to escape. The bottom line here is that the people need to realize after nearly two hundred and fifty years, mistakes have been made in the government of this country that cannot be corrected until a shift of power has occurred. We need to remove the two party system, remove the candidates that are back by capitalist corporations that have been outsourcing all of our jobs, so their CEOs can make a couple extra million, and remove the “Patriot Act” in all forms. The government has taken away our inherent right to privacy in the guise of ‘national security’ to tap the phones or in a recent case apply GPS trackers to the cars of individuals with absolutely no cause, meanwhile there’s little to no evidence pointing towards the effectiveness of this act. The government is trying to keep tabs on those individuals either of Middle Eastern decent or the ones who could create trouble for the ruling class, just like they did in the 60s and 70s when MLK, JFK, RFK, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers were assassinated
The only way to improve the government at this point is to revolt against it.
Copywrite 2010 Devlyn Blackwell