Socialism

I find it a bit... ironic? (Ok maybe only by the loose Alanis Morissette definition) --that someone I know who's living rent free with someone who's collecting Social Security checks is calling liberals "Communists."

He's creating a wonderful program and hopefully is going to make a lucritive business out of it and has a place to stay and do that without being out on the street --thanks to a program put in place by a liberal Democrat president (so liberal his last speech called for socialized medicine) dispite strong Republican opposition. This person ironically tells me that socialism "Creates nothing." Hmmm. It's a head-scratcher.

It leaves me to wonder what private business created the Space Shuttle or the Hubble Telescope. What private company commissioned the Ceiling of the Sisteen Chappel? Or cured Smallpox. It seems to me our greatest achievements as a species have been communal efforts, and these efforts hardly were at the expence of any personal freedom. You're not free if you're starving or in need of medical care you can't afford.

I don't understand the right wing hatred of the government. There's a famous quote from Ronald Reagan that says something like the worst thing you can hear is "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

The way he says it is very convincing --and I'm sure that would be a bad thing for a rich Hollywood actor like Reagan to hear. Because he'll never have to hear something like, "I'm your landlord and here's your eviction notice." or "Your health plan doesn't cover this prescription you need," or "I'm from the power company and we're shutting off your electricity." In fact there are quite a few Americans who would absolutely love to hear, "I'm from the Government and I'm here to help."

I'll say it again: You go find me a country with smaller government and fewer socialist programs that's better to live in than the USA. In fact go find me a country that has smaller government and fewer socialist programs than the US that isn't hellish for most of it's citizens. Those are called third world countries and they suck. Not for the few rich Oligarchs who run things --but for most of the population.