Is America a Socialist Country?

Bumper Statements web site, Editor's Corner ^ | December 13, 2001 | The Editor@BumperStatements.com

[John SBM]

Socialism is still a dirty word in American politics. But, like an obese person who looks in the mirror and see a thin reflection denying they are fat, America is in a state of denial. If we look the evidence is there, but rather than admit it we refuse to acknowledge the word. Does evasion of the fact change the reality?

Every major historic period can be categorized by the dominant philosophy of the time. We know them. The Dark Ages, The Renaissance, The Enlightenment. And we know what each label represented as the dominant, generally accepted ideas of the time. These labels are attached however, not during the period, but after, when we can see them in the context of history. Whether we label our current period as Post-Modern or whatever, in historic context it could be labeled as The Altruist Evasion.

Altruism is the dominant, generally accepted idea underlying all of our political and cultural discourse, and it permeates both political parties. The ideas that economic rights are the basic rights of all Americans, that the government exists to promote the welfare of some at the expense of others, that we owe “service” and must “give back” to society – these are the basic premises of every issue. And Pragmatism rules every action – action for the sake of the emotional benefit of action rather than the result. Altruism demands pragmatic approaches, because it is based on emotional arguments and collapses when faced with principled challenges. Altruism is the underlying support for socialism, where group rights are primary, individual rights are disposable.

Take a look. The tax code exists to transfer wealth; the total tax burden exceeds 50% and is the single biggest expense for most working Americans. Politicians gain power through the give and take of economic rights and benefits – look at the economic stimulus debate. We talk of the right to housing, to health care, to prescription drugs, to guaranteed retirement, without ever asking “at whose expense?”

Ayn Rand summarized this very simply – when you abandon one set of principles you adopt another. We have abandoned the principles of individual rights and accepted those of economic rights – the degree of socialization doesn’t change that fact. We can evade the word “Socialism”, but that doesn’t change the reality.

[John SBM]

This question is usually evaded because we don't want to admit the reality.
There is a poll on the web site with the editorial. Cast your vote and express your opinion.

[buffyt]

YES.

And Atlas Shrugged sure helps me understand what is going on today. Ayn Rand left us a roadmap to follow to see just how bad/big the socialism is in USA.

[LN2Campy]

in a word, yes.

[dwollmann]

$

[John SBM]

Agree! Atlas shows the principles. But apparently philosophic principles are too hard for many to deal with. Too bad, the Republicans could use some these days!

[John SBM]

Marxism is alive and well! Look at the universities!!! I think most Americans deny the word because they know what it means, even though they know at some level that we are creeping more and more in that direction.

[verboten]

Of course we are socialist. We have abandoned private property so we must necessarily be socialist, or fascist. Actually they are really based on the same general principle. That being that the individual is subserviant to society. These principles are just manifested in different ways.

We are socialist because property is no longer owned by individuals. It is owned by the government. When you have property taxes you are in effect renting the property from the government. If you do not pay your "rent" you are evicted or disallowed from exerting control over your property.

Fascisism would be more the notion that while individuals own property they are restricted by law from actually using it in ways such that the government really has ownership. The best examples of this are zoning laws (most of ours are taken from the Germans). Also, a person can not build on their property without first getting approval from a board and then paying fees (tribute) for the priveledge of using their alledged personal property as they see fit.

Yes, we've come a long way baby. But that is not a good thing.

[Leto]

We are doing well in spite of rather than because of the socialist parasitic institutions that are a cancer on our coutry.

[John SBM]

It says that the greatest country of earth is still strong enough to carry the burdens of an ever-growing state inacted Fabian style in small increments. There will come a time when it won't be able to any longer. Socialism always crushes in the long run. The question is whether we will through off the burden and avoid the inevitable.

[BlueLancer]

You, I, and other Americans might think so, but my Australian wife is adamant that, since she comes from a truly socialist country, she's in a better position to say ... and she's equally adamant that we are not, by a long stretch.

Which isn't saying that she's worried about the US going in that direction as well. But she says that we aren't there yet.

[Anotherpundit]

yes, we are very much socialist. I have great hopes that the communications revolution overturning leftist media domination will change this trend with time, however.

[verboten]

One need not look to the universities. The deadening of the American mind happens in the government propaganda camps called schools. Once people are taught the correct facts, they are allowed access to broad philosophical ideas that justify their facts. I'm convinced if we had humanistic schooling this wouldn't happen as much. I've been re-reading some Mortimer J. Adler and he strongly agrees on this point.

[John SBM]

Not there yet. Interesting comment, but it says she sees us as on the way. That is the point! The trend is clear. How far we are along the way is moot until we recognize and change the course we are on.

[John SBM]

So far the communications revolution has created a short attention span where pictures - therefore emotions - rule our responses. That fits the media elites desire to have us all respond as they want us to.

[backup]

If you're all gonna answer "yes" that the USA is a socialist country, and if the USA is the greatest country there ever was and is, what does that say about socialism?

Very little.

But, it says volumes about the manner in which you are defining "greatest."

Your patriotism is blinding you.

Assuming you and your family were not limited by language barriers, there are dozens of other countries in which you would have a greater chance of prospering and living a full satisfying life.

[verboten]

What it says about socialism is that it is a difficult evil to stop. Even the country that proved to provide the greatest hope, and wealth for people can be hijacked and led down the path to its own destruction. I would also say that military imperialism necessitates socialism at home. The socialist are paid off for allowing the imperialists to have their way. Ending one will end the other in America I believe.