Would everyone SHUT UP about Socialism!

It's not socialism!

Socialism: social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources. According to the socialist view, individuals do not live or work in isolation but live in cooperation with one another. Furthermore, everything that people produce is in some sense a social product, and everyone who contributes to the production of a good is entitled to a share in it. Society as a whole, therefore, should own or at least control property for the benefit of all its members.

Honestly, it doesn't sound that bad to me. But I know people aren't ready for this. I know the attitudes of most if not all people go against this. You would have to have a body of people ready and willing to follow this. You would have to be purged of most, if not all, corruption. Honestly, I would think more LDS would have a softer spot for this idea.

And no, I'm not anti-Capitalism. I just don't drool at its shrine like some do. It's not by any stretch of the means a perfect system. It leaves too many behind and allows too many to ignore them. It's a class system: upper class and lower class. Middle class is for those who make too much to qualify for assistance and yet too little to thrive. I find, too, that those who are able to break through the lower class threshold somehow think they've license to judge those who have not been able to. It's disgusting.

But anyway.

McCain is capitalizing (haha) on Obama's unfortunate choice of words. McCain and his buddies think it was more than just a freudian slip of the tongue, but...ergh.

By the way, what has proved to add up to a $1 trillion bailout? Buying up banks? Buying so much stock that the government now owns companies like AIG? That's socialist.

The government programs: Welfare, WIC, Food stamps? That's socialist. (agh! these programs suck, too. I think we can do better)

Our public schools, fire, and police? Socialist.

Palin raising taxes on oil companies and handing out the profits thereof in the form of checks to each Alaskan resident? Socialist. (by the way, for what I know, I'm not so much against this.)

When confronted with the fact that the bailout is a huge socialist move, even McCain has said there is a time and a place.

Obama is liberal. He's voted with his party on many, many things. I don't necessarily see this as a problem, though I understand why some do. We want a president who will work with all the people regardless of political convictions. I do believe with everything in me Obama is open to being wrong and listening to others. I know this from the things I've heard him say. I know this from those who have recounted stories of working with him, seeing a junior Congressman speaking with and against veteran Congressmen. He doesn't respectfully defer because of their experience. He was voted into office and he intends to do his job. Not many people do this.

He's a liberal.

He may be more liberal than most.

I appreciate that he's not trying to centralize himself for political expediency. He is who he is.

But what he has suggested is not socialist. He wants to bring taxes back to where they were when Clinton was president. He wants the middle-class to have a tax break and give the top 5% back their taxes because they can afford them. Because, as he's said, as well off as he is, he should not be paying the same taxes as a waitress does.

I know some of you have issues with the ideals behind that. Punish the successful? I get it. I really do.

But we should punish the unsuccessful?

Yeah, that'll help.

I don't see it as punishing the successful as much as I see it as an opportunity for those who have to contribute more to society. I know a lot of you may see this as compelling charity, which is wrong, but then we must work with the attitudes of people. When businesses go up, oftentimes they are required to help build up their surrounding area (fix up the landscaping, streets, etc). This is no different. Let's help. Let's build up when we can. This isn't tithing, people. This is taxes.

Listen, it's easier to make money when you have money. When you have no money, it's really hard to make it - harder still to become comfortable.

We say we want smaller government. Republicans generally support smaller government - unless you're George Bush. Unless you're John McCain.

Oh yeah - and Obama is not calling for Universal Healthcare. His plans will not, unfortunately, cover everyone. It's a step though.

By the way, I'm going to post quotes over the next few days in the hopes it will sway those who are not planning to vote for him. I think many conservatives would be surprised. You can find the quotes to the right side of your screen.