Looking at the happenings in the US from the outside, nothing that I have seen so far is by any stretch of the imagination "socialist" in nature.

The bailing out of the banks and big financial institutions was nothing less than corporate fascism, where they basically threatened to crash the entire system unless the government played ball, and were helped along by their heavily lobbied politicians. Even the new healthcare bill seems geared to provide more money to the insurance and pharmaceutical industry, rather than provide a cost effective socialised - level playing field - healthcare system. Hardly surprising given the amount those two industries spend on government lobbying.

Mmmmmm.... lobbying again - anyone see a pattern emerging here? Anyone think the politicians are really there to serve the people?

Originally posted by Britguy
Looking at the happenings in the US from the outside, nothing that I have seen so far is by any stretch of the imagination "socialist" in nature.
...............

When the STATE takes over PRIVATE CORPORATIONS, such as GM, that is SOCIALISM, when the STATE takes over healthcare that is called SOCIALISM, when the STATE continuously takes over banks, even television channels, and tries to shut down channels which are critical of those in power, that is SOCIALISM.

Everything the Obama administration has been doing, and even ex-President Bush began it, is to turn this Republic into a SOCIALIST state.

Chavez did the same to Venezuela, and the same is being done to the U.S.

The fans of Chavez, and those who couldn't see what Chavez was doing to Venezuela claimed that he wasn't a Socialist/Communist, yet after gaining power he himself admitted to being one, and Chavez himself has stated that Obama is more Socialist than he is. Ironic to say the least, but this is bad news for the U.S.

Why do Americans cringe at socialism? In a country where society is divided by a strong line between the rich and the poor, the only thing that is going to save it is the government stepping in and giving a fair and equal opportunity to all of its people. This will take the power away from the incompetent leaders of American society who are really only in power because they are rich.

Of course there is one other solution... Civil war between the rich and the poor. The poor outnumber the rich exponentially, but the rich will always hire guns because they are too individually useless to fight for themselves.

As for the poster above me's assessment of American socialism, I think you need to understand what socialism really is. The American government itself is completely directed by private interest. If the government is taking over banks, then it is being done in the name of money, not the people.

Originally posted by Dimitri Dzengalshlevi
Why do Americans cringe at socialism?

Thats an easy one. Because America IS NOT a socialist state. We were not founded on Socialistic Ideals. Thats what makes America, America, anyone can make something out of nothing. You work for what you get, simple as that.

I have to admit, at no point can I see America slipping into Socialism.. all I see is the same fat cats finding new ways to take the cream, re-label it/rebrand it/put a new spin on it, but it is still the same fat cats stealing the cream..

IMHO Capitalism, Communism and Socialism all have one inherent flaw.. human nature to be the greedy fat cat and cream off everything they can.

What we are seeing in the US today is not Socialism per se. It is the hybridization of big business (via bailouts and legal loopholes, financial influence in the White House, lobbying in congress, etc.). This actually has another name:

"Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power."
-Benito Mussolini

Originally posted by ElectricUniverse

I agree with part of what Kaufman has to say. It is obvious by now that the goal, or part of it, is transforming the United States into a Socialist state.

However a "modernized Central Bank" is what got us into this problem to begin with, alongside to giving power to the rich elites over the U.S. economy.

Socialism offers the best of both worlds to the elites.

They can pay off the laziest and stupidest members of society to keep them docile and under control, while still being able to live luxurious lifestyles in the open.

Socialism offers almost total control over society, without resorting to totalitarianism and affords the elite with a smokescreen to hide thier actions.

Freedom to do whatever they want to do while bearing no responsibility or accountability for thier actions. They can print up as much money as they need to and control every aspect of your life without having to divulge where it came from.

What makes socialism evil is class mobility is limited. The elite inbreed amonst themselves and abhor socialisation with the vast majority of society. They spend thier time figuring out how to maintain power and keep people in thier place.

[edit on 14-11-2009 by In nothing we trust]