Can we put a moratorium on the word "socialist"? Pretty please?

[kjckjc]

@Starving_Artist

…but it can’t be one-sided where lefties get to mould words into whatever meaning they want while conservatives have to stick to traditional dictionary definitions.

Well, we do tend to have more strict constructionists on the conservative side.

[Starving_Artist]

@sqweels

This is a ridiculous-enough caraicature as it is. I don’t think a lot of Americans would aggree that this describes their views. But “socialist” is used with an even more negative coonotation than that. There’s a sense in which it means, “enemy of the American way of life”.

Socialism IS the enemy of the American way of life.

@sqweels

And enough of this bullshit whereby any flaw among “liberals” justifies full-blown evil on the part of conservtives.

And enough of this bullshit where the opposition to anything liberal is called evil.

@kjckjc

Well, we do tend to have more strict constructionists on the conservative side.

And more politeness. And we’re better dressed. And our women politicians are hotter. And…well, I could go on all day.

[sqweels]

@Starving_Artist

Socialism IS the enemy of the American way of life. And enough of this bullshit where the opposition to anything liberal is called evil.

Then don’t call liberals socialists, because that’s calling them enemies of the American way of life, which is bearing false witness, which is evil.

[Starving_Artist]

All liberals may not be socialists but so far as I can tell all socialists are liberals. Therefore, if one is speaking of them when one calls liberals socialists, he or she is correct. Perhaps we need a new term to differentiate between liberals who are in favor of socialism and liberals who are not. (My guess is that the “who are not” group is fairly small.)

[Olentzero]

I, sir, am no liberal. I detest capitalism with every fiber of my being and do not believe (as liberals do) that it can be reformed into acceptability. I am a radical - overthrow the old society and build a new one from its ashes. It would go a long way towards your establishing some semblance of credibility in my eyes if you decisively chose to stop lumping liberals and socialists together. (Not that I honestly believe you will.)

I also like wearing three-piece suits with coordinated shirts and ties, and I think Arundhati Roy is a stone babe.

[BrainGlutton]

@Starving_Artist

Socialism IS the enemy of the American way of life.

:rolleyes: The American way of life is whatever the American people want it to be – at any given time. (N.B.: Politically, we owe our ancestors nothing;
Edmund Burke was dead wrong on that point.) Up to now Americans have mostly showed little interest in socialism, but, if that should ever change, implementing socialism would be as legitimate and as American as any other major change in our history.

[Olentzero]

@BrainGlutton

Up to now Americans have mostly showed little interest in socialism

You should read more Howard Zinn. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Seattle General Strike of 1919 are two heavy pieces of evidence against your assertion.

[BrainGlutton]

@Starving_Artist

All liberals may not be socialists but so far as I can tell all socialists are liberals. Therefore, if one is speaking of them when one calls liberals socialists, he or she is correct. Perhaps we need a new term to differentiate between liberals who are in favor of socialism and liberals who are not. (My guess is that the “who are not” group is fairly small.)

I’ve spent a lot of time around liberals and a lot of time around socialists, and I can assure you the vast majority of liberals are not socialists. I am here assuming, as should you, that “socialism” means, at the very least, state or worker ownership/control of the means of production. It does not mean public provision of public goods/services, such as socialized medicine.

[BigT]

I’m not going to comment about the OP, but I do want to point out an inconsistency in Starving Artist’s rant. I’m not sure if it is just a nitpick, or if it messes with his argument. That is for you to decide.

Anyways, the suffix -phobe does not only mean fear, but also distaste or hatred.