You're quite wrong on that. If I use universal health care as an example of 'socialist' policy, it becomes obvious that no person from the old Warsaw pact countries would argue with me over that.
You are quite wrong. Socialism is not a form of government, it is an economic system. That is all it is. America is a republic. The Soviet Union was a socialist nation, it was also a republic. I don't know everyone who lived behind the Iron curtain but we have enough of them here that I know none of them I know have ever said they liked it. They didn't like being property which is what every single one of them thought they were treated like.
UHC is not in and of itself socialist, the devil is in the details on that.
You've missed the point again and it's likely that your anger is causing you to blurt out kneejerk nonsense. Read carefully and you'll find that what I was saying is that social policy or socially responsible capitalism is largely impossible in the US because of the stigmatizing from the Cold war. Socially responsible has been demonized in your mind and the minds of those like you, to see it as communism.
I didn't miss your point, neither one of them in fact. Socialism is not a responsible form of government because it isn't a form of government at all. I've never lived in a nation with a socialist economy and I doubt you have so I have to take the word of people I know who have and all of them had the same complaint, they had no control over their lives. If you want to call that responsible that's fine but it can be debated.
Your point about social responsibility...there's a discussion to be had there but the Cold War doesn't have a thing to do with it. IMO crony capitalism has much to do with that and poor civics education probably accounts for the rest. I don't demonize social responsibility, I went to school at a time when it was emphasized and expected of any good citizen but we don't have that mindset anymore. In America today social responsibility has become a codeword for adopting specifically progressive attitudes, it no longer means doing what is best for society as a whole.
I throw the word commie around once in a while (although my go to insult is 'prog') but any one with any understanding at all knows there is not now and probably never will be true communism on this planet, mankind isn't wired that way...it's a Utopian Ideal.
For somebody who was going to leave that thread, you certainly are sticking around much longer and craving attention. If you don't like the topic then bugger off.
"That" thread? Are you talking about the Hedges thread? Bugger off? I already stopped posting in there dummy. Would you like me to go back in there? I don't make a habit of engaging in pointless circular argumentation, unless I'm screwing with someone but I usually don't waste my time. I see no reason to post there because I've already posted what I wanted to post and I haven't seen anything new worth responding to but if you'd like me to come back in there fine, just ask.
If you haven't already you will get flooded with PMs from proggies telling you to put me on ignore. I'd suggest you listen to them, if you're going to get so triggered over being called out for clearly debatable statements then it's for the best you listen to them.
Your other point about the minimum wage: I actually agree with raising it...with conditions.
