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In reply to the discussion: If not "socialism", what should we call "spending tax dollars on things that help everyone" [View all]fishwax
(29,146 posts)92. um, no it's not. It doesn't apply to "a democracy," but rather to
specific elements that may be present within a democracy. If one were to define "socialist country" as a "[country] in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange [are] owned or regulated by the community as a whole" then your point might have merit, because you could argue that this encompasses every country in existence. But this is a definition of socialism as a concept, not a definition of a specific organization of government. It's not a meaningless definition by any stretch.
Perhaps that is the way the word is used in Great Britain, home of the Oxford dictionary. But that's not how it's used in America.
As I said before, this is actually EXACTLY how it's used in America, and has been for decades. More than a century, even.
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If not "socialism", what should we call "spending tax dollars on things that help everyone" [View all]
ProfessorPlum
Aug 2018
OP
Public funding is not socialism. Seriously, that meme needs to stop. It's ignorant.
Garrett78
Aug 2018
#9
The sewer system isn't a "means of production" OR a method of "distribution of goods."
pnwmom
Aug 2018
#42
You still haven't provided a link. The problem is that the standard definition of the word
pnwmom
Aug 2018
#52
But services can be provided by any government -- that doesn't make it a socialist government
pnwmom
Aug 2018
#59
LOL, ignoring the standard, dictionary definition of a word is a GREAT branding strategy.
pnwmom
Aug 2018
#84
The problem with that definition is that almost ANY democracy, no matter how capitalistic,
pnwmom
Aug 2018
#89
The problem with that definition is that it is so all-encompassing that it is meaningless.
pnwmom
Aug 2018
#91
Since our government is owned by the citizens of the country, funded by the citizens
shraby
Aug 2018
#3
You really think "You don't know it... but YOU support socialism" is a winning argument with them?
FBaggins
Aug 2018
#40
Yes we do. But the word SOCIALISM is the last thing that would help us market the concepts.
pnwmom
Aug 2018
#44
I bought the social infrastructure spending is socialism argument for a while.
Blue_true
Aug 2018
#49
Do a little bit more studying social about social democrat v. democratic socialist dear friends.
tirebiter
Aug 2018
#63
That has all been fundamental to the Democratic Party since FDR if not longer
Stinky The Clown
Aug 2018
#65
Money is like manure, if you spread it around it makes things grow!
yortsed snacilbuper
Aug 2018
#73
I'm pretty sure the right wing will be calling compassion a form of socialism soon enough
ck4829
Aug 2018
#75
Calling that stuff socialism is like being an assisted euthanasia advocate but saying you
Lee-Lee
Aug 2018
#81