Now even while I will be voting for Obama and am strongly opposed to some of his ideas, there is one thing that does get under my skin. I’m quite bored of this recent kick of the word ’socialism’ being thrown around every time his name is said.
Every time I hear someone utter that damned buzzword, without even a thought I immediately know that I am in the presence of someone who is watching Fox News too often. I make it a point to ask them, “What socialism is to you?” Every time, like clockwork, they stare blankly for a while, then try to repeat back that same garbage that spewed forth from some no name political analyst concerning two things: Not wanting to pay to take care of lazy people, and higher taxes.
Taking care of lazy people? Yes, there are lazy people out there. Only a fool would deny this. But, do you want to know what there is a far greater number of? — Single working class mothers. Are you telling me you’d rather some fuck who very likely earned his money on a fluke or inheritance to buy his third house as opposed to that mother being able to feed and cloth her children? Now I don’t mean to sound one sided concerning money. Let me be very clear that I believe in America you have the right to succeed, become rich, and live a full life of luxury. However, I also believe that we all have the right to fail, learn, and give it another try without having your fellow Americans having to be the crutch you get back on your feet with.
Since I kind of just dance on the line, I’ll quickly address it. I think the bailout package was the stupidest thing ever. Like I said, we all also have a right to fail. 700 Billion for banks who fucked up. Call me crazy, but I’ll bet it would have bailed out the banks quite nicely if that money was divided up and every American was cut a check for $2,300. — That’s two months mortgage payment. Sounds like a hell of a way to bail out the banks while simultaneously helping out everyone caught in this particular situation.
Higher taxes eh? Did you know that Americans spend about twice per capita then most socialist nations on health care? While we don’t have a health care ‘tax’, we are still paying about twice what the rest of the world does. Look at the graph! Fucking look at it! :P
This often follows with the rebuttal of “Ask any Canadian about how they have to wait to see a doctor.” Again, another instance of people making damn fine parrots. Able to mimic, but not able to understand what they’re saying. Listen up. For every apocryphal anecdote of a Canadian waiting an extra twenty minutes, there are three of people whose health insurance providers abandoned them at the first sign they might actually have to pay out, and five more doctors who have to lie to health insurance companies so that they can do their jobs.
The function of the health insurance industry is to deny access to care, not to enable it. No one of you can possibly refute this.
But back on point. By the strictest definition, any government regulation of business is a step towards socialism.
If you’re so afraid of socialism here are a few things you can do to avoid services that are already wholly or at least partially subsidized by the government:
Get your own mail. Forsake public education. Don’t ever eat any vegetables. Stop taking pills. (Hope you’re not on birth control) Don’t expect any free clinics. Drive without a license. Find your own gasoline. And get off the roads.
