vossron

Jefferson set up taxation according to one's ability to pay, so he was a socialist, too.

We have socialized police, fire protection, schools, libraries, roads, etc., etc. The U.S. military has socialized medicine. All of western Europe is socialist. It just doesn't work to pejoratively name-call someone or something socialist (except, I guess, to those who don't realize how pervasive socialism is here).

spideygirl

Vossron, Western Europe has already begun a move away from Socialist policies which were ineffective. Check out what has happened over the past few years in France, the UK, and others. Speak to "the man on the street" in the UK about how Labor messed up that country. Talk to your cab driver as you get around London. They are emulating what Reagan did successfully, and Obama wants to move us in the opposite direction. Look beyond "Sicko", and research the high percentage of people in France who have to supplement their state health insurance with private insurance.

vossron

Europe's conservative parties are more socialist than our liberal party; they argue about their degrees of socialism. Socialism is woven into the fabric of European democracies, starting with health care. They are socialist and capitalist, and it works very well.

spideygirl

Vossron, European countries are not static situations. Many are moving in a more conservatively fiscal direction. This is a real trend. Obama wants to bring us towards what many of these nations are trying to move away from.

ellemenope

>>There was some problem with ghosts, too, but I can't remember what it was.<<

Probably the white sheets/KKK connection.

As for Koolaid--I've always seen that to refer to the Jonestown incident and the fanatical followers drinking the poisoned koolaid on the orders of the higher ups. I don't see an Af-Am connection, except that a lot of the followers were Af-Am from the Bay Area.

But I am willing to be educated...

Consolation

It was obvious from the get-go that Biden was attempting to use the good, old-fashioned term "cleancut," which happens to fit Obama to a t and has nothing to do with race.

Hindoo

Agreed, consolation. It's gotten to the point where every time someone opens their mouth, they trip over a rule of political correctness.

AMom2

Biden is more racist. Remember the comments he made about Obama and Asian Indians.

Hanna

"It was obvious from the get-go that Biden was attempting to use the good, old-fashioned term "cleancut," which happens to fit Obama to a t and has nothing to do with race."

It's also possible that he meant "clean" in the sense of having no scandal attached to him. Regardless, it's clear that he was not trying to say that Barack showers, unlike the unwashed black masses. It's also clear that this was a very clumsy thing to say and invited mis-interpretation.

Hindoo

None of these candidates are racist.

vossron

"Obama wants to bring us towards what many of these nations are trying to move away from."

Correct in principle, but it generally looks like this:

Obama wants to move us from O1 to O2. Europe is moving from E1 to E2. O2 is still to the right of E2.

parent2noles

Where is Russia on your graph, vos?

swimcatsmom

is that what the koolaid is from - I have been wondering that every time I have read it.

vossron

I think Russia is undescribable and off the charts (anarchy?) these days! I'd expect the USSR to have been to the left of E1, in theory at least.

Hindoo

vossron, #86: Say, what? You've succeeded in making me feel like an ignoramus.