The "S" Word
Oct. 20th, 2008 06:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eumeliaI'm watching CNN at the moment and there's the whole "Socialist" spiel going on.
I do not understand United States political discourse.
Really I don't.
I get that Socialism is a very, you know, feared method of economics, what with the redistribution of wealth, taxing the wealthy and regulating the markets.
And the pundits are really harping about the "redistribution of wealth" thing, because the whole American Thing isn't about the quality of life for each individual citizen, but the quality of the over all monetary state of Uncle Sam.
But only for those people who actually have the money.
This is especially poignant with the Bail Out plan, which probably the most Socialist move the US Government has done... perhaps more so than The New Deal.
There was also a mention that in Western Europe, Socialism as a creed isn't really on the table anymore.
It's all about The Third Way.
Sometimes I feel as though I was born in the wrong time.
I mean, what I posted the other day, the sinfest, it's exactly that.
We're living in a world in which profit and not human beings are considered important. Yes it sounds very sugary and humanitarian and such.
But really, is it so fucking hard to give a damn.
And to want people to have a quality of life that is worth while.
Socialism is not a four letter word.
"Rich" is, though.
I do not understand United States political discourse.
Really I don't.
I get that Socialism is a very, you know, feared method of economics, what with the redistribution of wealth, taxing the wealthy and regulating the markets.
And the pundits are really harping about the "redistribution of wealth" thing, because the whole American Thing isn't about the quality of life for each individual citizen, but the quality of the over all monetary state of Uncle Sam.
But only for those people who actually have the money.
This is especially poignant with the Bail Out plan, which probably the most Socialist move the US Government has done... perhaps more so than The New Deal.
There was also a mention that in Western Europe, Socialism as a creed isn't really on the table anymore.
It's all about The Third Way.
Sometimes I feel as though I was born in the wrong time.
I mean, what I posted the other day, the sinfest, it's exactly that.
We're living in a world in which profit and not human beings are considered important. Yes it sounds very sugary and humanitarian and such.
But really, is it so fucking hard to give a damn.
And to want people to have a quality of life that is worth while.
Socialism is not a four letter word.
"Rich" is, though.
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-20 05:10 pm (UTC)... except the difference is the US bailout package isn't actually giving the taxpayer anything back for their money. Whereas in the UK, our nationalism bailout package has bought the taxpayer very large shares in the banks, and a LOT of influence over how they are run. But in America? Paulson/Bush have basically just robbed the poor to give to the rich. So in a sense, I suppose I've just talked myself out of the American nationalisation plan being remotely socialist at all, it is in fact the biggest smash and grab raid of poor peoples pockets in history.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-20 05:27 pm (UTC)I'm really worried about what may happen in these parts.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-20 05:41 pm (UTC)Plus there will be government appointed members of the boards of the banks to monitor what is going on, and in theory direct them back towards sanity.
What's the financial crisis doing in Israel anyway? I haven't heard anything about how its affecting you guys.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-20 05:46 pm (UTC)It's mainly making people antsy because we can see recession coming our way.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-20 07:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 04:54 pm (UTC)"Rich" is, though.
Well put.
Leigh