Nov 25 2008
Socialism isn’t all that bad is it?
Hi everyone. This is my first blog and my first blog posting ever - so - if you haven’t already done so, you can read about me by clicking on that about tab up there. My hubby calls me a “noob” which I guess means newbie or something like that. I figured I would do my first posting about something that is on the lips of every neo-con out there when they talk about Obama - Socialism!
It has been said that you are only as strong as your weakest link. Likewise, the strength of a nation can be measured by how it treats the least advantaged among them. I don’t really know a whole lot about the whole governmental structure regarding “socialism.” But, what I do know is that it involves more government involvement in helping to make sure the poor and least advantaged are taken care of.
Obama has said that he wants to insure everyone in this nation or to at least make sure everyone has access to healthcare. Those neo-cons call it Universal Health Care. I have read the stories about the Cuban, English, and Canadian Health systems and from what I understand - it really is not as bad as those guys on the right are trying to make it out to be.
I saw Sicko by Michael Moore. It was a very compelling look at our free-market healthcare system compared to Cuba’s health care system. While I do admit that there could be problems with elective surgeries or other elective procedures in those other countries - the fact of the matter is that EVERYONE at least has access to the most basic of preventative medical services. Preventative care is the key to keeping a nation healthy. I for one am willing to pay more in taxes if it means making sure our poor, working poor, and those who can’t afford health insurance are ensured access to preventative health care. If this is considered socialism - then I’m all for it.
It seems to me that our free-market health system only benefits the rich, the health care providers, the health insurance companies, and the pharmacy companies. Sure, we have Medicare and Medicaid - but that only takes care of a select few individuals. I like Obama’s plan to either make employers offer health insurance to all employees or have a government plan to make sure everyone has access to health care.
Likewise, Obama wants to raise taxes on the rich and give it back to the middle-class. Again, I am all for that. The middle-class is considered the backbone of this country. The middle-class does the majority of the work and spends the majority of the money. I’ve heard about “trickle-down economics” in that when the rich get richer the money and prosperity trickles down. Well - what we are seeing now is that “trickle-down” also works when the rich get greedy. Their greed and decisions has now trickled down to the poor and middle class. We can’t get the credit we need. Small businesses are struggling because they can’t get the lines of credit any longer to stay afloat. The middle-class are getting laid off everywhere because businesses are struggling because the rich took theirs and ran and left the rest of us holding the bag. If taking money from them to give back to us is considered socialism, then I am all for that as well. When the middle-class have more money to save or spend - it benefits the economy since we do all the shopping and buying.
I think I’ve said enough for my first posting. I have a tendency to just ramble on if I don’t stop myself. So, if you agree with me, I would appreciate it if you would stop by and leave a comment saying so. If you disagree with me, like my neo-con hubby (LOL), you can leave a comment too - but - please go easy on me - I’m still learning!
Also, if you want to give me a few tips about how to grow this thing, please let me know that too.
Thank you,
Sarah
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- “Venezuela Goes to the Dogs” by Alan Caruba | The Rational Argumentator
- New Hampshire Accepts “Free Oil” From Hugo Chavez
- The Power Of Government Stops With Me
- “I have no idea what Marxism is, but I still hate liberals for being so damned Marxist!”
Sarah,
I’m pretty pumped to be your first comment on your first blog ever. Haha. No, but really, I totally agree with you. Call me a neocon if you want (I wouldn’t call myself that, but that’s okay).
Free health care is great for the countries that are built on socialism and the welfare state. If you don’t recall, we recently spent about half a century fighting socialism. I’m a big fan of the free market. That includes your free choice to go to Canada, England, or Cuba if you’re such a big fan. Yes, there’s free health care. But there’s also less incentives to start your own business, work harder to get a better job, etc. Taxes are much higher. Government corruption is an issue. And these countries continue to send their doctors to America to go to medical school, and continue to try to recruit American educated doctors and other professionals.
I’m not saying that a welfare state is NECESSARILY undesirable. I am saying it goes against the grain of what America is and always has been about.
Wow! I just wrote this. How did you find me so quickly? The hubby told me to do 2 things when I set this up…1 - use the today.com blog thing because it’s already set up and easy to us, and 2 - sign up for entrecard. Did you find me through entrecard?
I think this is going to be a great journey. Thank you so much for stopping in and commenting. Although you started off by saying you agree (I am not real sure what it is you agree with then) and then you completely say the opposite.
If you are a big fan of free market - how do you explain the failure of our health care system to provide for the 47 million uninsured? Our national health care costs are through the roof. From what I read, up to 40% of our entire GDP is spent on healthcare costs - a lot of that being to provide for indigent care. We that are fortunate enough to have insurance pay for that indigent care through our increased premiums. Just think - if everyone had basic health care - this could help to bring down our premiums - again - giving us more money to put in to the economy. If you keep the people healthy, they stay out of the hospitals.
I get your point about starting businesses and things like that. But, like I said, I’m not entirely sure how that whole socialism structure works for government. But, there are definitely benefits to socialist components where the government controls it, like healthcare, increased taxes for equality and social justice and the like.
I think we live in the greatest country in the world. I don’t understand why the government can’t help to take care of the poor and homeless in this country by using our taxes. Not everyone gives to charity and a lot of those people rely on churches and other charitable organizations. At least through our taxes we can be rest assured that some of that is going to help those who really need it. You guys call it wealth redistribution. I call it helping other Americans.
Great Blog……I saw that movie is was really good along with his other ones…..If people would see his movies first without already dismissing him because hes fat and radical then people would understand what hes talking about….
Notice how they never mention Sweden, Finland, or France when talking about countries with state-funded healthcare. There are plenty of incentives to get a decent job…that’s a ridiculous argument. Doctors in Canada make more on average than private practice docs in the US.
While I’m not necessarily advocating “capital S” Socialism, the US, and every other developed nation for that matter, operates to some degree on “small s” socialism. Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) ran as a Democratic Socialist, and won in his state, and the socialism he preaches in no way mirrors freakin’ Cuba.
Government mandated health care would make it easier to start a business…there’s one less thing you have to worry about. The Republican argument against that assumes that all small businesses make millions a year, which they most certainly don’t.
The entire Republican argument, for that matter, is fundamentally flawed, outmoded, and needs to be put out to pasture.
Welcome to today.com,
Cheers,
www.therelevantrhino.today.com
Listen to your husband about free markets,lol.Socialism always ends up with 2 classes of people .(The rich zars and friends of the government who controlls most of the states wealth and also you have the poor. Why our county is SO not healthy? one amazing factor,per capita we take 45% of all the drugs in the world.My opinion,we need more natural health doctors. Good post and very interesting ramble, Have a great today and Thanksgiving.
Wan Kong Yew - so - based on #1 - it appears that you do agree with much of what I said regarding health care in the U.S. I think you said it better than what I was trying to say. When I was talking about basic preventative health care - you stated what I was thinking. On your point #2 - Yes, we are fortunate to be born in this country - but - why should we not want to protect our own? It is American taxpayer dollars so it should go to the American poor - not some other nation’s poor.
davidrude, I totally agree. I don’t really like the guy personally myself, but, he does make some good documentaries.
Hi threedegrees. Thanks for the welcome. I didn’t even really know about those other countries myself. Come to think of it, why aren’t they ever mentioned? If they are good examples, then we need to look in to them a little more. Perhaps Mr. Daschle could, if he hasn’t already, look in to modeling our system after one of theirs. You are right about the Republicans - they seem to be living in the 80’s and haven’t been able to move on. I liked Ronald Reagan - but - his ideas served their purpose in the 80’s. Things are different now and our country is involved in a much larger global economy than ever before. I think Obama is the right person to lead this country in to the new world order of things.
buzzirk - I try NOT to listen to him! LOL. If you’re reading this honey - sorry. ;). I like the idea of holistic medicines. But, the FDA seems to be starting to overstepping it a bit with regards to monitoring of natural herbs and medicines. If we had a government sponsored holistic medicine I fear that many of those current medicines would be harder to come by because they would have to go through the scrutiny of people who don’t understand it. Have a happy Thanksgiving also.
Hi, Sarah! I should warn you that you’re likely to get a lot of right wing neocons in here yelling at you. Good luck with your new blog!
Speaking as a Canadian, I always laugh my head off when people call us “socialist.” All that shows me is that they have absolutely no concept what socialism is.
And certainly no concept of Community.
Anyway, welcome to the blogosphere! Pace yourself and don’t take any of us commenters seriously, and I think you’ll do fine.
Bookish - thanks for the advice. I’m generally a laid back kind of person, so, I don’t think any of these guys will sway me at all.
Paul - thank you. I took your advice and did a google search - YOU might be surprised at what I found: http://www.economywatch.com/economies-in-top/top-ten-economies.html
United States
Switzerland
Denmark
Sweden
Germany
Finland
Singapore
Japan
United Kingdom
Netherlands
If I’m not mistaken, even though their governments are more republic, monarchies, or confederacies - Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and the U.K. from what I know and understand have some socialist aspects and the government has control over the welfare of the people to include healthcare and taxation for the good of the people.
Yeah..so nice of you Comedy Plus. Merry Christmas to you too.