I am genuinely puzzled by several comments that have been entered on this blog vehemently asserting that the Obama administration is not socialist leaning, both as individuals and as a collective. Those comments are patently in error.
I am also genuinely puzzled that other commentators talk about Socialism as if it is a political theory directly opposed to life, liberty and and the pursuit of happiness. Socialism is not in principle opposed to any of those pursuits. Whether we live in an increasingly Socialistic country or move in the other direction towards Libertarianism is a choice the American people will have to make, should they ever get a genuine opportunity to choose.
At the moment the future certainly appears to be uncertain. I suppose each American should ask themselves some basic questions, beginning with, what is it that I want my government to do?
In asking myself this first question I have come up with the following anwers
1. I want my governmnet to provide for the common defense. I want to be protected by a well-trained, well-equipped, professional and dedicated military and I am willing to pay my share of the taxes to support the military establishment.
2. I want my government to provide a quality education for every American citizen. I want students to be able to learn in a safe environment, from high quality, well paid, teachers who have a demonstrated rapport with the students and a demonstrated knowledge base within their particular discipline. It would be nicer still if these teachers could think and teach in an interdisciplinary fashion.
3. I want my government, at all levels, to provide a stable, modern infrastructure that allows all Americans to enjoy a comfortable existence.
4. I want my government to provide quality, affordable, universal and quickly available health care to all American citizens.
I feel that the aforementioned things could be paid for from the current tax base, if billions of dollars of ear-marked, porkbarrel and idiotic spending could and would be slashed out of existence. I do not want $200,000,000 to be allocated to the mating habits of the fruit fly.
It seems to me that a sea change is occurring in our country. Most of us no longer want a capitalistic system that encourages and rewards cheats, con men, and the worst among us. I am against corporate executives walking away from bankrupt companies while pocketing millions for themselves. I am against banks and credit card companies that rape and pillage their borrowers unscathed by arbitrarily raising interest rates to exorbitant and grossly unfair levels. I am against paying $100 for a prescription drug in this country that American pharmeceutical companies sell for $10 in Canada.
What do you want? What are you against?
Say something.
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