I am not the only one talking about "socialism" these days ... or at least what most Republicans call socialism. Check out Oh, yeah? Well, your mama's a socialist! Here is a taste ...
Thus, taking tax rates on the wealthiest Americans back to the level of the Clinton years -- the biggest boom in American history -- is "socialism." Nevermind that rates on the rich were more than twice as high under that infamous socialist Dwight Eisenhower (McCarthy labeled him a communist). Fixing a health-care system that is leaving behind millions of Americans -- socialism. Worrying about the greatest income gap since the 1920s or how average Americans have seen their income go down under George W. Bush -- socialism. Investing in public works -- socialism, socialism, socialism!
This wing of the GOP, which is about all that's left of a once-diverse party, argued that Social Security and Medicare were socialism. Its members still believe this, although most keep their opinions under wraps, and long to kill those programs. Yet in power, they don't hesitate to use the heavy hand of government to redistribute income to the wealthy. Facing a reality-based crisis, the Bush administration partially nationalizes the financial system -- and pumps $750 billion of "your money," largely unsupervised, to the rich bankers who helped cause the meltdown. But that's not "socialism," see...see?
Plus, I love the name of the blog ... Rogue Columnist. :)
Hat tip: A Different Street.
