The 'socialist' policies Donald Trump wants to target aren't that radical to Australians

[Thyla]

Donald Trump kicked off his re-election campaign by making socialism into 2020's dirty word

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-08/donald-trump-wants-socialism-to-be-2020s-dirty-word/10793734

Make no mistake, Donald Trump kicked off his campaign for 2020 on Tuesday night when he delivered the State of the Union address.
Expect "socialism" to become a very dirty word (if it isn't already).
"Here in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country," the President said, adding: "Tonight, we resolve that America will never be a socialist country".

Huh?

Where did that come from, you may well ask?

Well, with a growing list of leftist Democrats declaring their intent to run for the presidency, a so-called migrant crisis on the border and political and economic chaos in socialist Venezuela, why not?
Some democratic policies look like socialism to the Trump base
In his remarks, Mr Trump was targeting the liberal policies of the likes of Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, and newly minted Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (who's not running for President but is an "influencer&quot .

They're promoting:

universal healthcare
subsidised tertiary education
big taxes on the rich
pro-environment initiatives in the form of a "New Green Deal" to reduce the use of fossil fuels

It's a weird thing living in America coming from a country like Australia where Medicare and heavily subsidised education are taken for granted.
To us, their policies are not quite radical. Fuel for valid political debate and prioritisation of public funds to be sure, but to suggest the United States might imminently turn into Venezuela seems like a big leap.

And it is.
Universal healthcare and subsidised education are hardly precursors to state control and the death of the American free market.

And it is something we do take for granted, not only in Australia but here in the EU and many other nations with similar policy.
Oh, and for what it is worth we don't think of it with terms like 'socialist' or 'socialist policy'. We don't see ourselves as socialist countries. It's just the way things are in a free and fair society and not a big scary word.

[ansible]

1. I'd immigrate to Australia in a heartbeat if I could

I hope you aussies don't take for granted what you have.

[Thyla]

2. Having my parents

Go through numerous health issues the last couple of years really gives you some perspective.
I know I certainly don't take it for granted that they are still with us and not financially ruined.

Australia doen't make it all that easy to immigrate though, that policy is not so great.

[ansible]

3. Yeah it surprises me how racist the immigration policy of Australia is

Holy crap, imagine the shitstorm if the US did stuff like this. How does Australia get away with this??

[Thyla]

4. I can't reasonably explain it

Beyond it's a vote winner. It is so far away for my personal philosophy I struggle with it.
It comes from both of the major parties too, Labor spent millions on that campaign.

From best I can tell we get away with because they believe they have a mandate so just ignore the international criticisms.

[ck4829]

5. K&R