A political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
Republicans and conservatives, and even some moderates and Democrats, have been demonizing the idea of socialism in the media as of late. (All while bitching about billionaires not being given billions in corporate welfare - socialism for the rich.)
Some of the Democratic 2020 presidential candidates have been talking of taxing the rich, fighting climate change, getting off of fossil fuels, providing Medicare for all and providing free college tuition.
The status quo, pro-business, free marketeers are up in arms over this.
Earth to douchebags - America is already a socialist country. And conservatives are more than happy with socialism for the rich. This is the predominant socialism (for the rich) in the U.S., hence rising income inequality over the past few decades.
But let's take a look at some examples of all the "socialist" policies America has:
Health Care (Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration)
Police and Fire Fighters
Public Education
Public Transportation (Buses, Air Traffic Control, Roads, Etc.)
Water & Sewer
Corporate Welfare (Farm and Oil Subsidies, Etc.)
The crux of the recent call for higher taxes and re-investment in our public goods is not some wacko commie scheme, it's the same plan of action the United States took after World War II, with high marginal tax rates, which led to our greatest period of growth and prosperity. A rising tide lifted all boats. Our infrastructure was world class. People who worked were able to pay their bills and save for retirement.
Republicans always reminisce about the great days of yesteryear. But they forget to mention the fact that taxes on the rich were much, much higher then, too.
For Further Reading:
Taxpayers — not Big Pharma — have funded the research behind every new drug since 2010Massive Spending Cuts: The Tax Act's Hidden Costs
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