# Real Time with Bill Maher **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 10, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367 "2023-10-10T21:03:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 67
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1321 "2026-08-09T15:49:42Z")
An exercise I’d like some of these motherfuckers to do: 1. Create two lists, side by side. One of them is the bad things done by Stalinism, and the other is, wait for it, the good things done by Stalinism. I’m okay if your “good list” is blank. 2. It gets worse. Do the same thing, except for Nazism. “Blank good list” is okay here, too. 3. Make two more sets of lists, this time for 20th-century US capitalism, and for 20th-century Scandinavian socialism. 4. Go down these lists. Beside every act on each list, if the DSA’s official platform advocates for it, write “DSA.” If Mamdani has implemented it, write “M”. If the GOP official platform advocates for it, write “GOP.” If Trump has implemented (or attempted to implement) it, write “T”. My prediction: there’s not going to be a lot of DSA or M on the bad lists. There’s going to be a lot of GOP and T on the bad lists. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1322 "2026-08-09T16:39:33Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > 1. Make two more sets of lists, this time for 20th-century US capitalism, and for 20th-century Scandinavian socialism. 20th century Scandinavian ‘Socialism’ is Social Democracy, not _Socialism_. See here: > **[Denmark’s prime minister says Bernie Sanders is wrong to call his country...](https://www.vox.com/2015/10/31/9650030/denmark-prime-minister-bernie-sanders)** > > Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission: to help everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help shape it. In text, video and audio, our reporters explain politics, policy, world affairs, technology,... The success of the Nordic countries has nothing to do with _socialism_ and everything to do with _liberal democracy with a strong safety net_. If the DSA wanted ‘Nordic style Social Democracy’ very few Democrats would have a problem with them. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1323 "2026-08-09T16:44:13Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > If the DSA wanted ‘Nordic style Social Democracy’ very few Democrats would have a problem with them. What do you think the DSA wants that’s _different_ than “Nordic style Social Democracy”? Medicare for All would be _less socialist_ than the Scandinavian health care model. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1324 "2026-08-09T16:47:56Z")
Yeah, I’m not here to play semantic games. Call it whatever you want, the point of #3 on my list is self-evident. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1325 "2026-08-09T17:08:16Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > What do you think the DSA wants that’s _different_ than “Nordic style Social Democracy”? Medicare for All would be _less socialist_ than the Scandinavian health care model. The problem isn’t “Medicare for all”, which all civilized countries have – the problem is that they also want medical training to be free (along with free college education for all, and all student debt cancelled). They also want to abolish the Electoral College (a good idea) and the US Senate (not a good idea). They’re not just pushing for higher taxes for the wealthy (again, a good thing) but essentially want to abolish the whole capitalist system altogether. They’re also intensely focused on defunding the prison and policing systems. There’s nothing inherently wrong with left-wing extremists trying to influence the policies of a political party. The problem is that Republicans, who have become expert habitual liars over the years, immediately represent these extremists as mainstream, and self-serving blowhards like Bill Maher amplify the lies. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’m not here to play semantic games. FTR, there’s a really fundamental difference between democratic **socialism** (which is what the DSA purports to represent, and I’ve highlighted the key word here) and social democracy of the type found in Scandinavian countries and, to a large extent, in Australia, Britain, and Canada. If that’s what you’re referring to, it’s far more than some abstract semantic distinction. The former (represented by the DSA) seeks to fundamentally reform or entirely replace capitalism with some sort of publicly-run economy (think Soviet Union) while the latter seeks reasonable regulation of capitalism along with strong social services including universal health care that’s entirely free of individual financial constraints. To many Americans, this sounds like “socialism” (or even “communism”). To Canadians and the British, it sounds like everyday life in a civilized country. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1326 "2026-08-09T17:52:14Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Yeah, I’m not here to play semantic games. Call it whatever you want, the point of #3 on my list is self-evident. > [@wolfpup](#): > > FTR, there’s a really fundamental difference between democratic **socialism** (which is what the DSA purports to represent, and I’ve highlighted the key word here) and social democracy of the type found in Scandinavian countries and, to a large extent, in Australia, Britain, and Canada. If that’s what you’re referring to, it’s far more than some abstract semantic distinction. Right. From the DSA’s own website: [https://www.dsausa.org/about-us/what-is-democratic-socialism/](https://www.dsausa.org/about-us/what-is-democratic-socialism/) This is not what the Nordic countries do, as every single one of them is in fact capitalist: > [@](#): > > Capitalism is a system designed by the owning class to exploit the rest of us for their own profit. We must replace it with democratic socialism, a system where ordinary people have a real voice in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and society. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1327 "2026-08-09T18:02:42Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > This is not what the Nordic countries do, as every single one of them is in fact capitalist: More semantics. The American right call them socialist. Similarly, the DSA does not want to outlaw private ownership, small business, etc. Looking at the issues, DSA policies are much, much closer to the Scandinavian model than the Soviet model. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1328 "2026-08-09T18:45:18Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The problem isn’t “Medicare for all”, which all civilized countries have – the problem is that they also want medical training to be free (along with free college education for all, and all student debt cancelled). > > They also want to abolish the Electoral College (a good idea) and the US Senate (not a good idea). They’re not just pushing for higher taxes for the wealthy (again, a good thing) but essentially want to abolish the whole capitalist system altogether. They’re also intensely focused on defunding the prison and policing systems. OK, so what’s the bad part? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1329 "2026-08-09T23:04:58Z")
Insert [American Chopper Socialism Meme](https://imgflip.com/i/3wgzns) here. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1330 "2026-08-10T01:02:17Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > They’re also intensely focused on defunding the prison and policing systems. > [@Smapti](#): > > OK, so what’s the bad part? As to what _extent_ the DSA want the police and prison systems defunded, that’s above my pay grade to ascertain, but I kinda like the idea of some semblance of law enforcement and incarceration (the latter, though, _badly_ in need of having its mushrooming growth, all over the country, sharply curtailed). EDIT - though some of these posts, like this one, could be getting non-Bill-like. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1331 "2026-08-10T01:33:12Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > According to Maher, it’s just ordinary everyday millionaires like himself, just trying to survive in an upscale gated community in Beverly Hills, and has to pay 60% of his income in taxes. The horror! Maher complained he’s one of the “regular rich people” who somehow can’t take advantage of any tax loopholes. 🤔 And in calculating that “almost 60%” of his $10 million annual income goes to taxes, he threw in sales tax, fees and Obamacare along with federal, state, local and property taxes. How’s an honest pundit supposed to survive with a net worth of just $140 million? 😥 ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1332 "2026-08-10T18:52:40Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Maher complained he’s one of the “regular rich people” who somehow can’t take advantage of any tax loopholes. 🤔 Shrug. I didn’t take Maher’s comments as him being angry about how much he pays in taxes. He’s said more than once that he’s fine with paying taxes; he just wants the government to spend the money more efficiently. To me, his point was more about fixing the tax code, so billionaires stop getting away with paying almost nothing. On that part, I agree with him. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1333 "2026-08-31T16:45:20Z")
Saw something today. > **[Richard Kadrey (@richardkadrey.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/richardkadrey.bsky.social/post/3mudm43th622u)** > > Quote of the day “Bill Maher is Joe Rogan for people who think they’re too smart for Joe Rogan.” Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1334 "2026-09-01T15:10:25Z")
> [@Calder](#): > > Shrug. Meh. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1335 "2026-09-01T17:07:47Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > “Bill Maher is Joe Rogan for people who think they’re too smart for Joe Rogan.” Just FYI, when I showed that to my wife she laughed out loud and said it was true. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367/1336 "2026-09-05T00:03:53Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Meh. Genuinely asking as I have been out of message board posting for a while now. Are shrugs considered some kind of slight or insult? I would normally consider it a hedge or a way of signaling you don’t have a lot invested in this but have a slightly different take but internet language tends to change over time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-time-with-bill-maher/991367.md?page=66)