Originally Posted by Ducimus (Post 1905448)

On the word socalism? Personally i'm tired of all the emotionally charged rhetoric. Said rhetoric is what push's me away from the right and more toward center in my own views. The more emotionally charged rhetoric that is spewed instead of a logical argument with supporting evidence and a proposed solution that is also logical, the further away from the right I feel.

That said, back to the word, "socialism". Growing up in the latter end of the cold war, the word socialism to me conjures imagery like this:
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/8527/ussrmap.pnghttp://www.whyguides.com/wp-content/...iet-union1.jpg
http://www.marxists.org/history/ussr/ussr-1.jpg

The word "socialism" in my mind, harkens back to that cold war era. The days of Strategic Air Command, Ronald Regan, communism vs capitalsim. In my mind, to say something is "socalist" is to say, its Communist, and to say something is communist, harkens back to this cold war era when American might was at its peak. In this context, to say something is socalist, is to say it's antithesis of what it means to be American.

The word Socalist, to me, is EXTREMELY charged, and I don't think there is a more loaded word in the rhetorical lexicon. The insinuation it brings is exaggerated and preposterious. The use of the word by any news source or commentary, in my mind, makes it automatically lose all credibitly when they have to rely on such a charged word to convey a message or point, because the insinuation I believe they are making. To me, this word is used as a substitute for a valid argument with supporting evidence and rational thought because one cannot be presented.

I seriously wish the GOP and other right wing supporters would cease to use this word. It's clownish at best.

My 2 cents from the peanut gallery.

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk (Post 1905453)

This is your answer to that question concerning what socialism conjures up.

Originally Posted by Ducimus (Post 1905448)

On the word socalism? <snip>

My 2 cents from the peanut gallery.

Originally Posted by mookiemookie (Post 1905459)

Absolutely. These are the images that the GOP is trying to bring up with the "socialism" meme. And it illustrates perfectly how out of touch they are with younger voters. For an 18 year old who is voting for the first time, there was never a USSR in their lifetime. It's an abstract idea out of a history book. They never went through a duck and cover bomb drill in school. They probably couldn't identify Khrushchev or Joe McCarthy if shown a picture of them. Rocky 4 and Red Dawn were corny 80's movies. The Red Scare doesn't scare them.

But yet this is the imagery that the GOP is hanging their hat on.

Originally Posted by Ducimus (Post 1905458)

Yes, that's why i used words like "to me" and "in my mind".



I'm sure many do. Though I do realize the word has other legitimate and modern uses in context to Europe. However, the way it's tossed around by some politicians, talking heads and media? The connotation i infer upon it's use seems appropriate and inescapable.

Originally Posted by mookiemookie (Post 1905459)

. Rocky 4 and Red Dawn were corny 80's movies.

Originally Posted by mookiemookie (Post 1905459)

Absolutely. These are the images that the GOP is trying to bring up with the "socialism" meme. And it illustrates perfectly how out of touch they are with younger voters. For an 18 year old who is voting for the first time, there was never a USSR in their lifetime. It's an abstract idea out of a history book. They never went through a duck and cover bomb drill in school. They probably couldn't identify Khrushchev or Joe McCarthy if shown a picture of them. Rocky 4 and Red Dawn were corny 80's movies. The Red Scare doesn't scare them.

But yet this is the imagery that the GOP is hanging their hat on.

Originally Posted by Ducimus (Post 1905465)

Hey now, Red Dawn was a freaking awesome movie! Stop dissing my childhood memories! :haha:

Originally Posted by Ducimus (Post 1905482)

Not meaning to get off the fence, but Mookie does have a point in that the voter demographic already is, or will be changing in the future. The baby boomers aren't going to be around forever, and the thing is, there's a crapton of anchor babies that are poised to contest the title of "majority" in many places when of voting age; and which way do you think they're going to vote?

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk (Post 1905487)

Do you allow them to go in blind as to the history of socialism?

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk (Post 1905487)

I asked for something positive when the work socialism is discussed. I can not think of any.

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk (Post 1905487)

This is true and this younger generation will be flipping the bill. Do you allow them to go in blind as to the history of socialism? I asked for something positive when the work socialism is discussed. I can not think of any.

Originally Posted by Bilge_Rat (Post 1905517)

You are either getting sidetracked or do not understand the point we are trying to make, which is that the Health Care reform is not even remotely close to being "Socialism", except in the warped minds of right-wing nut jobs.

The Health Care Law is basically the same plan the GOP themselves proposed in 1993:


http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/grap...omparison.aspx

Are you saying Republicans are closet "Socialists"? :hmmm:

Damn Reds, they're everywhere!!! :o