House passes resolution denouncing socialism, vote splits Democrats

[Polybius]

Source: The Hill

The House on Thursday approved a resolution denouncing socialism in a bipartisan vote that fractured the Democratic caucus.

The resolution overwhelmingly cleared the chamber in a 328-86-14 vote. The majority of Democrats — 109 of them — voted with all Republicans for the resolution, while 86 voted against it and 14 voted “present.”

The measure, which runs three pages, says “socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships.”

It argues that “many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues” — mentioning Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro — and it lists atrocities committed under socialist regimes.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3841636-house-passes-resolution-denouncing-socialism-vote-splits-democrats/

[choie]

1. Shame on the democrats

who voted in favor of this ridiculous resolution. As if socialism is a threat to this country that worships capitalism. Fools.

[kelly1mm]

3. Didn't all the Democratic leadership along with a majority of D's vote in favor of this resolution?

Why do you think that was?

[TiberiusB]

18. because fear...

It's a profile in courage.

Socialism bad, capitalism good. They are bending to the GOP narrative out of fear that getting labeled a socialist is bad for business...or campaigns. Political calculus. What did you expect from the largely neoliberal, pro corporate wing of the party? Why did the Republicans put this resolution to a vote? Genuine concern for the Republic?

[myohmy2]

31. maybe...

...but I'm still still still waiting for my Medicare vision and dental...

...I'm thinking they voted for the resolution because they believe it...

[TiberiusB]

33. maybe...but...

Why are you waiting for your Medicare vision and dental. Because of socialism?

A meaningless vote announcing your opposition to a phantom boogieman that only exists to further right wing efforts to demonize programs such as Medicare is not patriotic.

Capitalism is not patriotic.

The country was founded on the pursuit of democracy. Unfortunately, many have been led to believe that if you aren't rabidly pro-capitalism, you are an enemy of the country. For them, capitalism=freedom=patriotism.

Virtually all governments, whether autocratic or democratic or anything in-between, are a mixture of "isms".

Votes like these are designed to stifle debate and reduce opposition to a convenient collection of dog whistles.

All black history and culture = CRT = woke = white oppression
All benefits for the poor and needy = socialism = communism = white oppression
All Democratic government = deep state = liberals/libtards/loony left = white oppression

[Justice matters.]

4. Next, they should bring up a resolution condemning the outrageous accumulation of

obscenely un-necessary wealth in the hands of 0.00000001% of the citizenry, the continuous tax cuts they benefit from, as well as the interests they cash in on loans they provide to the government through their purchase of federal bonds to finance part of the national debt, increased in part by those unfair tax cuts themselves.

[Freethinker65]

2. Next they will vote on a resolution declaring the US has the best flag!!

And then a vote on a resolution declaring love of babies. And then a vote on a resolution declaring hatred of violent crime.

What a waste of limited time. The GOP House has no intention of governing.

[Polybius]

6. Well, it it pretty damn sexy

Only the UK and South Korean flag come close, looks wise.

[TeamProg]

5. You know who REALLY hates the Socialists? FACISTS. n/t

[NullTuples]

58. Right? Germany's Nazis were in opposition to...the Sozis (ie Socialist, Socialist Democrats)

[TeamProg]

64. Yes! Nazis hate the socialists.

Our GOP NAZIS.

Why the ?

[ZonkerHarris]

7. GOP wasting time and money on a resolution that does nothing for middle class Americans.

this should be the Democratic Party talking point.
It's been a month, have the GOP passed any bill in the House yet?

[AllyCat]

57. And this helped Americans how? Exactly...?

[DURHAM D]

8. Someone needs to read a history book.

This is beyond stupid.

I am ashamed to live in a country with soooo many stupid representatives.

[Polybius]

9. 109 Democrats voted for the bill

How do you feel about them?

[vlyons]

17. They are afraid to be labeled as socialists

The classical definition of socialism is that workers control the means of production. This resolution is just so much McCarthyism, as in Joe McCarthy and the post WWII red-baiting.

And what kind of atrocities have been committed under capitalism?

[intheflow]

26. Exactly. Capitalism worships violence.

Capitalism gave us slavery. In the US, cotton was king, in Africa it’s diamond mines. Big Oil is violence against the Earth. And so on.

[RobinA]

40. They Need To Read

some history as well. What a stupid resolution, and BS on top of that. Any Democrat who voted for this is just as dumb as any Repub.

[harun]

79. It isn't the rep's that haven't read, it is the electorate.

Their heads have been filled with pro-capitalism, anti-socialism propaganda their whole lives. The rep's don't have the power to change that when all of the media their voters watch continues to do this. Paddling upstream. I don't blame the rep's.

[yaesu]

10. If Democrats join in on this nonsense they can kiss any chance at 24,

The party has to smarten up and quit falling for these fascist vote traps, they win the stupid award of the day.

[Polybius]

11. ...

328-86-14 vote. The majority of Democrats — 109 of them — voted with all Republicans for the resolution, while 86 voted against it and 14 voted “present.”

[TiberiusB]

14. It legitimizes the GOP's position

Last edited Fri Feb 3, 2023, 03:19 AM - Edit history (1)

Look forward to the GOP's constant labeling of all attempts to pass truly effective legislation for the common good as "socialist", thereby avoiding any need for actual substantive debate. Yes, they do that already, but now they have this vote to use in campaign ads, in floor debates, and so on. Obviously 109 Democrats were afraid they'd get this hung around their neck, but now any vote by them for one of their "socialist, America hating programs", like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the ACA, will have this vote tossed in their collective faces. It was obviously a trap, and the Democratic leadership had no strategy to counter it.

[moose65]

41. It won't matter one bit by then

No one is going to remember any votes on any Congressional resolutions.

The Dems should have called their bluff and ALL voted for it. That takes away the "Dems in disarray" talking point and renders the whole thing useless (which it is, anyway).

[NullTuples]

12. Top examples of Socialism in America are all things the GOP wants to destroy!

Social Security
Public Infrastructure
Public Fire Protection Services
Public Transportation
Public Schools
Postal Service
Medicare/Medicaid

Destroying these and making them private are literal Republican campaign talking points.


Why would so many Dems vote for it? Can someone explain this to me, pleeeease?

[newdayneeded]

36. Yep, they just gave the GOP

a mandate to start eliminating social programs. "well the majority of you did vote against socialism"

[McKim]

39. Yes, Shame on the Dems Who Voted for It!!!

Yes, shame on the Dems who voted for it. I guess they are not interested in what young voters need and want nor in their political futures. Kowtowing to McCarthyism!

[Bayard]

43. My thoughts as well

I can't believe Dems voted for this.

[EX500rider]

44. Not one of those things is socialist

Those are just things every govt tries to provide.

Socialism is govt owning the means of production, nothing more & nothing less.

[toesonthenose]

49. This! Thank you.

[NullTuples]

52. Yes, fine; but that's not how the GOP is using the term either!

[EX500rider]

55. Just because they're stupid doesn't mean I have to be

Instead of agreeing with them maybe better to point out why they are wrong

[orleans]

13. how fucking stupidly ridiculous

and so many dems fell for this bullshit?

"let's vote! WHO LIKES ICE CREAM??"
"i do!"
"i do!"
"i do!"

gag!

when do these idiot republicons stop jacking around and do some work?

oh wait--no time for that. first they have put on their gun pins and then say the pledge of allegiance a dozen or so times, and POOF! before you know it: LUNCH TIME! RECESS!

[RandySF]

15. What a great use of time and tax dollrs.

[moniss]

16. Under the GQP

a resolution denouncing fascism would never come up for a vote. It's become the party brand.

[KS Toronado]

19. Which capitalistic country started the Iraq war with lies????????????

[TreasonousBastard]

21. And read the istory of how we got into the Spansh-

American and Mexican wars. Indian wars speak for themselve.h

[KS Toronado]

22. republiCON party has spent 40 years

turning the words socialism/socialist into something EVIL. Then turn around and call us radical socialists.

[TreasonousBastard]

20. They forgot Andrew Jackson and all of Africa...

like Belgians and Congo,South Africa, etc.

And lest we forget the pre-Columbian empires before we got around to destroying them. And don't forget the Tulsa massacre. Stalin was every bit as bad as Hitler, maybe even worse, but we were stuck with him as an ally.

[ck4829]

23. Caring more about human lives than profits is "socialism" in today's America though

We need a list of things that are NOT socialism.

[KG]

24. I lulz'd

[maxrandb]

25. "Fractured the Democratic caucus"???? Eff The Hill

This is the most worthless, transparent, bogus pushing of the "Dems in disarray" meme in the history of memes.

So, the Retrumplicans force some meaningless vote, on a meaningless resolution, about something they don't even understand, and it "fractured" the Democrats?

The Hell, and ANY publication, medium, corporation, business, or individual that pretends, or treats the current Retrumplican Party as a legitimate political party, is doing nothing but FRACTURING DEMOCRACY

This is nothing but performative claptrap. This resolution has about as much sense as a resolution to declare that "Santa and Jesus were white", which is probably the next worthless resolution these asshats will propose.

[NowsTheTime]

27. Why didn't the Dem's..all of them...just abstain?

Is no one aware of Scandinavian countries that are social democracies...where polls show people are happier than other
places?

Absolutely there are awful countries that have socialism as a root, but what these countries really are is dictatorships.

If they want to write a resolution denouncing dictatorships...then yes the vote should be unanimous against.

Why are any Democrats playing into this?

99% chance this is prelude to Republicans proposing cuts the Social Security, Medicare, ACA...

[JohnSJ]

29. That might have worked. It was a badly written resolution that made false assumptions and

equivalencies, that would be difficult to explain in a simple sound bite that many Americans don’t want to hear anyway. They are mentally lazy or incapable of such exercises.

There was a time when intellectual debate was encouraged in understanding issues. That no longer exists

The irony is those in the House chamber crafted this resolution, which makes the false equivalency between socialism and communism, are the same people most likely to vote against aid to Ukraine actually fighting a communist authoritarian

[JohnSJ]

28. The resolution is meaningless bullshit. It is a setup, not unlike push polling. Like the term

“Defund the police”. They want to setup a litmus test based on a false premise that tries to equate socialism with communism. You are not going to be able to debate the false equivalency of this resolution with communism. Much of the American populace doesn’t have the patience to sit down and try to understand what is going on.

This resolution was introduced by a staunch anti-Castro, anti-communist Florida representative

People wonder why Florida went from blue to red, after many years of being blue, it is because of the anti-casto Cubans living there

You can’t get into intellectual discussions anymore. Too many people want to be told how to think, and the right wing, bothsiderism media is only too willing to oblige by interspersing opinion with their presentation of the news

[MissMillie]

30. So glad to see they're working to make life better for Americans (/sarcasm)

What's insane is that come 2024, they'll all use this non-binding, useless resolution to raise money--touting it as an "accomplishment."

[Hotler]

32. How about a motion denouncing fascism. nt

[joshdawg]

54. Not a single republican would vote for that.

snark/

[Traildogbob]

34. Isn't American

Christianity Socialism? Joel Olsteen is the largest socialist of em
All. If Jesus had 100 million dollars would he use it to advertise himself at this years Super Bowl, as is planned, or would he use it to help sick and poor. Here’s a few other socialist orgs, FEMA, ALL insurance, Good Will.

[3825-87867]

35. House ROll Call Vote on "Socialism"

Here's a link to those that voted on this insane resolution:

Email your Rep if she or he voted for it.


Clerk. house
[link:https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023106|

They left off a few notable Communist/Socialist/Capitalist and Nazi lovers - Ford, Bush, et al.

(Editted for spelling)

[Polybius]

42. Even Pelosi voted for it

I'm really surprised.

[3Hotdogs]

37. READ THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION . It doesn't denounce socialism.

It denounces the horrors of socialism.

[Voltaire2]

47. It then goes on to say that socialism is inevitably horrible.

"socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships." - from the op.

It isn't, any more than capitalism necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into fascist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships.

[EX500rider]

50. Can you point to a example where it wasn't?

Real socialism where the govt owns and controls the means of production.

[Voltaire2]

74. sure: Portugal.

[EX500rider]

76. I don't believe the government owns all the means of production in Portugal

Which makes it not a socialist country

[Voltaire2]

80. Yes I realize you were going to restrict 'socialism' to 'owns all the means of production'

but sorry, that dog won't hunt. There are many varieties of socialism. There is literally centuries of socialist thought.

[EX500rider]

81. And yet that is literally the definition of it

A strong welfare state is not socialism as long as it has capitalistic economies

[Joinfortmill]

38. What a waste of taxpayer money.

[ShepKat]

45. political theater

nothing but.

[RocRizzo55]

46. Capitalism is

Suicide to life on Planet Earth.
It is in total error in its very premise of unlimited profits on a planet with finite resources.
Capitalism kills the poor
Capitalism kills the disabled
Capitalism kills the environment
Capitalism creates war
Captialism only benefits the rich.

[EX500rider]

66. Except the countries that practiced socialist economics

Where the government owns the means of production had much worse pollution and environmental issues
The Soviet Union being a prime example of that.
And had lower life expectancies and instead of some poor basically everybody was poor

[RocRizzo55]

67. That was not trus Socialism

It was government run capitalism. They still made goods, and grew crops for international trade.

[EX500rider]

68. You don't seem to have a firm grasp of what socialism is

Socialism is the government owning the means of production.
Of course they still produce things and grow crops and sell but it's all done by the government which never works out very well for the people in the long run.

[RocRizzo55]

70. I suggest you read some

Of the works of Emma Goldman, to get a better account of what was going on there, as what happens in most totalitarian systems.

[EX500rider]

71. I rather read the actual definition of the word:

so·cial·ism
/ˈsōSHəˌliz(ə m/

noun
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.

[RocRizzo55]

72. Do yourself a favor

And read some Emma Goldman anyway. Start with "My Disillusionment in Russia." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Disillusionment_in_Russia
She was there, and wanted to help, but found out otherwise. In her writings she states that Lenin's economic policy was an "all-powerful, centralized Government with State Capitalism as its economic expression."

Dictionary definitions can be deceiving.

[EX500rider]

73. Her being there does not let her change the definition of words.

centralized Government with State Capitalism as its economic expression.
..is a pretty good definition of socialism.

[EX500rider]

69. And your version would be even more of an economic disaster

[Voltaire2]

48. 12 votes switches the outcome.

We just need a few more representatives with the fortitude to reject their bullshit.

[Oneironaut]

51. This is the bullshit we get to look forward to the next 4 years.

[joshdawg]

53. Someone please explain this to me:

The measure, which runs three pages, says “socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships.”

So Canada, Britain, and the other socialist countries will eventually "collapse in communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships?" How much longer do they have to wait for that to happen?

So, this resolution says that most Democrats and all republicans want an economic system where the rich get rewarded and the poor get stepped on. Reminds me of a slogan I heard on TV many years ago: I'm paraphrasing here.....If you don't have a billion dollars, get some. You'll love doing business in capitalism.

Flame away!

[EX500rider]

65. Except Canada and Britain are capitalist countries not socialist

It helps to know the definition of socialism which is the government owns the means of production which is not true in any other countries you mentioned.

[dbonds]

56. "In all its forms"

This denounces Social Security and Medicare too.

[NowsTheTime]

59. How about a vote saying child poverty is ok in America since any socialism at all is simply bad?

https://unitedwaynca.org/blog/child-poverty-in-america/

BTW: If charity alone could solve this problem, it already would have.

[GenThePerservering]

60. This is distracting bullshit on the part of the GOP

and I'm ashamed of the Democrats for not calling it out for what it is - a distracting and unprovable ideological argument - and playing along with it.

[NowsTheTime]

63. Dam we got 2 years to try and ignore this B.S. from the House

[keithbvadu2]

61. A nothingburger (berder?) with bright lights and large letters. It gives a false impression of pro

A nothingburger (berder?) with bright lights and large letters.

It gives a false impression of progress and symbolism.

[keithbvadu2]

62. Some of those socialists/communists believe in capitalism.

[Samrob]

75. Did it mention any atrocities under capitalist regimes? nt

[Uncle Joe]

82. That's impossible, Trump is a capitalist and he's never been indicted or convicted of any crime. n/t

[XorXor]

77. What a useless waste of time and effort.

Performative nonsense.

[Torchlight]

78. Great applause line.

It ain't gonna change the taste of mustard, but it lets the sanctimonious hacks better sell their pretense of God & Country 4Ever.

[Emile]

83. So when will they denounce FASCISM?

[DFW]

84. Odd that they would omit one of the most evil socialist regimes of all

Obviously, the Republicans deliberately chose to overlook some of the most extreme anti-capitalist, pro-socialist propaganda of all. And from their most worshipped (or so it appears) propaganda minister of all: Josef Göbbels. Maybe they find it convenient to overlook that their beloved Propagandaminister belonged to Hitler’s NSDAP: the National Socialist German Workers Party. Göbbels was just as fervent a socialist, or “Sozi (ZO-tsee),” as he was a nationalist, or “Nazi (NAH-tsee). “ Republicans find it convenient to overlook that.