What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

[POINTER94]

I have asked this question seveal times. I have had the question danced around and/or avoided. I have heard all the wonderful arguements about the socialist paradise that is Canada, how we have messed up the utopia that was Iraq, and now how we screwed up the Soviet Union by not being sensitive to their culture and by being a bully.<br /><br />The question is very simple and specific. What is the difference between a democrat and a socialist? If they are proud of their platform and their positions why don't they call themselves what they are? Or am I missing something that would draw a distinction between the two?<br /><br />I posted this separately because I felt I hijacked SoulWinners thread, and for that please accept my apologies SW.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Pointer, I think that at this point in time, the Democratic party should be refered to as Socialist Lite. But allowed unfettered headway, you could soon remove the Lite. <br /><br />History is rife with examples of the failure of socialism but many feel that the real reason it hasn't worked is because it has just not been orchestrated by the right, smart people. (you know, like Hillary is the smartest women in the country)<br /><br />By and large the American public is aware of the pitfalls of socialism but Democrats feel if they can disguise their intentions with all kinds of touchy, feely, slogans of kindness and fairness that they can over come this revulsion of the their actual end game. Unfortunately, to-date, this tactic has made great headway.

 

[roscoe]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

What is the difference??<br /><br /> The socialists don't lie about their agenda.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

I take comfort in the fact that there are still some who still see things clearly. <br /><br />I will never understand how people, even otherwise intelligent people, can be seduced into that distorted perverse way of thinking which is socialism- lite or otherwise.<br /><br />As Boomyall says, the difference is perhaps a matter of degree, which is because we haven't allowed them to totally have their way yet. No other difference I can find.<br /><br />Carry on, gentlemen.

 

[PW2]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

socialism (per Merriam Webster online)<br /><br />1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.<br /><br />So which Democrat, or what democratic platform, advocates this?<br /><br />Next question.

 

[rolmops]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Socialism?<br />Which one do you want?<br />The peoples republic of China did away with it and went to the next stage which they called communism.<br />The USSR tried to build a socialist state but because most russians preferred a bit of capitalism,they failed.<br />Then there is northern Europe.These countries have socialism deeply embedded in their system.This is what they call social democracy.This form of socialism is a very humanitarian form of government.Where there is room for every political direction,while the state makes sure that nobody goes without health benefits,housing,very good often free education and old age pension.Because those are constitutional rights of each citizen.<br />In the eyes of these northern Europeans,the American democratic party is pro industry and very capitalistic in its world view.<br />A socially minded conscience does not make you a socialist.Most good christians in this country act in very socialist ways when they help other people.<br />So what exactly is a socialist??

 

[12Footer]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Originally posted by PW2:<br /> socialism (per Merriam Webster online)<br /><br />1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.<br /><br />So which Democrat, or what democratic platform, advocates this?<br /><br />Next question.

Basically, PW, most democratic platforms.<br />Democrat philosophy and Socialist doctrine dictate that the state control and re-distribute the wealth....A "robyn Hood" approach to economics and government funding .<br />There is basically no difference. And yet, when your lable a liberal American a "Socialist", they become unglued! I stayed-out of this thread out of respect for it's purity. Pointer axed a valid question, I am a die-hard constitutional conservative, and he didn't axe for a constitutional conservative's opinion. He axed for yours. But seeinz how others like me entered the frey, and even your post set-forth the same "I am not a communist" reaction we get from American and Canadian liberals, I figured I'd add my two cents. But really, I would like the same thing Pointer axed for from this thread. A clear, defining difference between what they envission as American Utopia , and present-day Cuban government.

 

[RetNav]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

 

[POINTER94]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Thank you 12footer,<br /><br />The question remains unanswered unless we are to infer from Rolmops that there is no difference.<br /><br />PW2, thank you for the dictionaries definition but I would like to have the question answered.<br /><br />I am not the type that wants to see people living in the streets out of trash cans, but I equally don't want peoples property taken from them at the point of a pen or gavel.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Originally posted by rolmops:<br />A socially minded conscience does not make you a socialist.Most good christians in this country act in very socialist ways when they help other people.

True, True, rolmops. The difference is when the 'socially minded' part is excesseively caused to be institurionalized. <br /><br />Dictionary definition and synonyms of excessive:<br /><br />Synonyms: excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, immoderate, inordinate, extreme, unreasonable<br />These adjectives mean exceeding a normal, usual, reasonable, or proper limit. Excessive describes a quantity, amount, or degree that is more than what is justifiable, tolerable, or desirable:

 

[Boomyal]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Originally posted by roscoe:<br /> What is the difference??<br /><br /> The socialists don't lie about their agenda.

That about sums it up in the shortest possible way, roscoe. <br /><br />Case in point; the recent Democratic National Convention. Where were the anti-gun delegates, where were the anti-Iraq/war speakers, where were the alternate life style proponents, hmmmm?

 

[dogsdad]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Originally posted by PW2:<br /> socialism (per Merriam Webster online)<br /><br />1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.<br /><br />So which Democrat, or what democratic platform, advocates this?<br /><br />Next question.

This is how the democrats deflect the assertion.<br /><br />What we need to do is be more precise in our language: communist, socialist, democrat---they are COLLECTIVISTS. So let's use that, and when we talk about how their programs and philosophies fail, we should point out the failures of COLLECTIVISM.<br /><br />What can they hide behind then?<br /><br /><br />-dd-

 

[mrbscott19]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

From the sounds of it, the USA is already a socialist country. Republicans are just a little less socialist that democrats.<br /><br />Doesn't the government already distribute the "goods" how ever they feel necessary? They administer the means of production of the "goods" too. That is if by "goods", you mean money.<br /><br />Maybe I just don't get it. I never was very good at labeling people.

 

[dogsdad]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

There can be no denying that the Republicans in the House and Senate are guilty of this too. They are politicians, and they sometimes yield to pressure that they should resist. <br /><br />But, for the most part, you can distinguish American voters by how they vote in national elections: collectivists, anti-capitalists, and out-and-out socialists vote for the democrats, and ordinary folks who believe in self-reliance, accountability, and liberty vote Republican.<br /><br />America is not a socialist, or collectivist, country YET. But, by the mechanisms of taxation and reditribution of wealth, we are flirting with collectivism in a dangerous way.<br /><br />It was written long ago that when people in a democracy realize that they can vote to give themselves money from the public coffers, the democracy is in serious trouble. We need to put a stop to all the perversion of our political processes if we are to survive as a free country.

 

[BrianFD]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

I find it extremely amusing that all you so-called Republican Conservatives can be so judgemental of the party that is clearly in the minority of the House and Senate, and has been for the last 10 or so years! Remember, it is the legislative branch (with its Republican leadership) that makes the laws and policies, not the judicial nor the executive. So, who's really to blame for all the "liberal" changes in our society?? Before you start throwing stones, you should probably clean up your own selves.

 

[SCO]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Mr Scott: "Maybe I just don't get it. I never was very good at labeling people." <br /><br />THe denial of labeling is a labeling process in itself "I am NOT, I repeat NOT a labeler." "I am a free thinking intelligent SB that is not stupid enough to throw out knee jerk labels in this world of fine hue and shades of gray. It aint black and white...idiots. " <br /><br />You may be thinking I am criticizing MRScott, but actually that is a screen capture of my own thought process on occasion, but from a conservative bent. Point is we all think we're the cat's meow, and I submit that you can do that from a variety of perspectives. <br /><br />We are going with big time big government. We are not who we were as a country, but whatever we do, we must keep personal incentives(greed motive) in place for the working man and woman, or a collapse will occur. What I ask did the average Solviet have to work for ???Why did he/she jump up in the morning??? to feed someone else??? One writers opinion.

 

[dogsdad]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Originally posted by BrianFD:<br /> I find it extremely amusing that all you so-called Republican Conservatives can be so judgemental of the party that is clearly in the minority of the House and Senate, and has been for the last 10 or so years! Remember, it is the legislative branch (with its Republican leadership) that makes the laws and policies, not the judicial nor the executive. So, who's really to blame for all the "liberal" changes in our society?? Before you start throwing stones, you should probably clean up your own selves.

The liberals put in place policies and ideas in the 1950s and 1960s that have been damaging us ever since. There were things done back then that called into existence many sacred cows, and politicians of any persuasion are fearful of doing anything about them at all. <br /><br />One of the worst programs ever conceived is the Social Security system. It is counterproductive and a political albatross, yet no politician is willing to address it effectively.<br /><br />And I am not going to let you off the hook yet. The judicial branch, which is chock-full of liberal activists, is responsible for a great deal of pervasive looniness in this country. You cannot lay it all at the feet of the legislative branch.<br /><br />You're gonna hafta work a lot harder than that, BrianFD, to deflect the truth.<br /><br /> <br /><br />The original question in this thread: "What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?"<br /><br />The answer: damned little. <br /><br /><br />-dd-

 

[12Footer]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Originally posted by BrianFD:<br /> I find it extremely amusing that all you so-called Republican Conservatives can be so judgemental of the party that is clearly in the minority of the House and Senate, and has been for the last 10 or so years! Remember, it is the legislative branch (with its Republican leadership) that makes the laws and policies, not the judicial nor the executive. So, who's really to blame for all the "liberal" changes in our society?? Before you start throwing stones, you should probably clean up your own selves.

All the laws on the books are totally moot, without judges to rule upon them,instead of re-writing them from the bench! Bush tried to ballance-out the body (supreme court), by appointing conservative judges to a unanamously-liberal body...BLOCKED by Dashole, Gephart and crew! This is an old tactic that has worked well for the socialists for years. Remember Clarence Thomas? I ,for one, will never forget what they have done to all conservative appointments, and continue to do to them. The socialist isle cannot stand upon the ethical high-ground, and continue to block decent people from serving as judges, and ruin the lives of all who cross thier desk for approval!<br />How can you be blind to this, when it still happens every time?<br />I find that sickening (not amusing).

 

[POINTER94]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Maybe I just don't get it. I never was very good at labeling people.<br />

Cheap arguement tactic used to redefine the discussion. <br /><br />This has nothing to do with labeling people it has to do with properly identifing a groups motives, intensions, and visions for the future (platform). The insinuation is insulting. As they have what seems to me a socialists approach in what is suppose to be a free market system, what does my vote do in furthering their vision of the country. If that is obscured by people hiding behind a label that misrepresents what their agenda is, then in the interest of honesty should we not call an ace an ace? If you disagree that a democrat is a socialist, then please take the time to point out the difference between the two and further the discussion and allow for an educated decision by all involved.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: What is the difference between the Democratic party and Socialists?

Why explain it Pointer?? <br /><br /> You Gentlemen have stated many times that the democrat is a socialist.. That tells me you all don't want the answers, you just want to argue..... <br /><br />Bye Bye...