Here is and a good discussion and a little background on the concept of “Democratic Socialism”. If you believe in ownership of private property, you are a capitalist. Under capitalism, corporations and small businesses (the means of production and delivery of services) are considered private property. If you believe the state should own everything and the ownership of private property should be forbidden, you are a socialist. Democratic Socialism is also known as "Fabian socialism". The word Fabian comes from a Roman general by the name of Fabius who was – he was up against the Carthaginians and Hannibal, and he decided that he wasn't going to face them head on, but he was going to – he was going to go through them, and he was going to go above them, and he was going to go below them. He was going to use a lot of different tactics to defeat them, so that's what he did.
my understanding is "socialism" is the governmental / economic system wherein the central govt owns and controls the key instrumentalities of production - key industries, farmland, transportations, communications, etc. private property and private enterprise are allowed under socialism, but in a severely restricted way. (small garden plots for raising speciality vegetables, small hothouses for speciality flowers, small craftsmen shops, etc Democratic Socialism would then be a socialist system voted in and reaffirmed democratically by eligible voters.
You are very correct, starbow. Our friend "padcrasher" (aka "sleepwalker") is a flame thrower and loves to challenge the truth and "shake the trees” so he will be noticed. He is a small child crying out for attention. It is best to do as I do and just ignore his hostile attacks and his immature attempts at childish sarcasm.
Perhaps it's like Cuba where you get to vote for one of two government approved socialist candidates? According to Castro, that's the perfect Democracy since only socialists truly represent the people.
Ha-ha! Very good, Patrick! This is the best definition I have run across for "Democratic Socialism". This, by the way, is what the concept of "Democratic Socialism" under Barack Obama and the liberal Denocrats has bought us! Thanks to Obama, we are drowning in a sea of red ink! The Democrats in Congress are debt addicts and just don't know when to stop spending! With the Federal debt of $14.3 trillion amounting to $185,000 for every family of four, at some point we have to concede that the federal checkbook has its limits. Cuts in spending are only a start, other programs need to be abolished or radically changed. ... The old guard Democrats have been in Congress far too long. They are too beholden to special interest groups to have the good of average, typical Americans in mind. Without some sacrifice now, the future is very bleak for our beautiful children. The era of, "I want mine now and to hell with everyone else" is over.
It's rather comical, all this labeling of people on the assumption outlined. So what am I if I own a property and lease it to people who pay their rent with welfare cheques?
What political spectrum test? I am a moderate and a centrist. First of all, I believe the wealthy should be taxed more to help pay down our national debt and I believe the 49% of us who pay absolutely no income tax at all should instead pay a moderate amount of tax to help the wealthy pay down our national debt. It annoys me to no end when some individuals in this forum unceremoniously attack an entire group of people whom they know absolutely nothing about. This is NOT the America way, folks! An acquaintance of mine sent me this explanation of what the Tea Party stands for. It may open your eyes if you read it carefully.
That is a very easy question to answer, Beevee. If you own the property and they pay the rent they owe you with "legal tender", you are a "capitalist". Contrary to what the Leftists in this group may think, "capitalism" is a good thing. Private corporations are the work engine of jobs creation. When he came to office, Obama implemented many economic policies that were proposed and endorsed by Keynesian economists, Fabian socialists, and Leftist university professions. If the two years he was president, the polices they proposed failed to help our national economy recover and their foolish ideas were totally discredited. Now Obama is going back to the tried and proven principles of "free enterprise" to initiate a new economic recovery. This time he is working closely with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to do this. Good for President Obama! This time, as a "centrist" he will succeed in getting our economy back on the right track.
People can fall for this right wing propaganda that says a dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest, rat race is the best system for the USA or the can go here and learn what is commonly referred to as "Democratic Socialism" is like. http://www.politicalforum.com/polit...servatives-versus-liberals-2.html#post4231710 White, male, undereducated, middle-aged to elderly red necks don't have the mental sophistication to even vote in their own self interest. Sad. They are in this forum regurgitating the right wing propaganda they are fed from AM talk radio, and the corporate media.
You are very incorrect, padcrasher. Here is what "Democratic Socialism" has bought us! Here is an angry face and destructive behavior only a mother can love! Mayor Michael A. Nutter, telling marauding black youths in Philadelphia, you have damaged your own race, imposed a tougher curfew Monday in response to the latest flash mob spontaneous groups of teens who attack people at random on the streets of the citys tourist and fashionable shopping districts. Take those God-darn hoodies down, especially in the summer, Mr. Nutter, the citys third black mayor, said in an angry lecture aimed at black teens. Pull your pants up and buy a belt cause no one wants to see your underwear or the crack of your butt.
Mayor Nutter Strongly Condemns Mob Attacks created and nurtured by "Democratic Socialism" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoxQbnVx4TU&feature=player_embedded#at=11
And what is their self-interest? It's what liberal like Padcrasher say it is. And if a citizen should dare to consider his own self interest, or the interest of the country as a whole, he will be criticized, harrassed, denegrated, as Padcrasher did above. Padcrasher and his ilk are busy reading their left-wing progranda so they can tell you, what your best interests are.
