They've always called us Communists and Socialists

[Pototan]

every time we tried to help the working men and women and the middle class of America.

At the turn of the previous century and the battle to unionize, every union attempt was called
"radical" and claimed to be inspired by Communists by Republicans and their allies. It was so bad; men and women were killed in the streets attempting to organize. Now, it is almost universally accepted by most normal people that the unions built the middle class.

Social Security was accused by FDR's opponents as a "socialist scheme". After all, it has "Social" as part of its name. the WPA and work relief efforts under the "New Deal" was characterized as "Socialist".

Medicare was described by none other than Gov. Ronald Reagan as "Socialized Medicine". same with Medicaid.

Civil Rights was decried by the reactionary right wingers as a "Communist plot to divide Americans".

This bullshit continued during the implementation of Obamacare.

All of these historical achievements are now imbedded into American society. No one wants to abandon any one of these achievements.

You would think that after more than a century, that fucking Americans would have caught on by now. And I'm not talking about half of us, I'm talking about all of us.

[John Shaft]

1. When you have no shortage

of uneducated/partially educated, low-skilled people who identify more with the plight of billionaires than their fellow employee at Dollar General, the local pest control company, or their own neighbor, you'll get people who use communist or socialist as a slur.

Look at the average person who uses communist or socialist as a slur. They don't even have a knowledge of themselves, how can they know the definitions or meanings of words?

[Glaisne]

9. And conservatives and their media allies

work hard to keep it that way.

[poozwah]

2. liberalism

liberalism is responsible for what makes america great and the envy of many other nations on earth. liberalism was responsible for the nation’s creation. liberalism was and is responsible for ideas that protect society. without liberalism we would be a nation indistinguishable from nations like north korea, russia, and china. liberalism is a dirty word only to the ignorant.

[JHB]

3. And they always smeared us as "getting (our) marching orders straight from the Kremlin"

Was never true for us. But it became true for them.

[markodochartaigh]

5. In communism

there is an authoritarian political component with a socialist economic component. After the Soviet Union imploded the authoritarian political component remained because Russia has always had an authoritarian government.

What US authoritarians objected to was the socialist economic component, not the authoritarian political component. Authoritarian Strong Leaders often ally with each other against their own people. Many US business elites supported Hitler. Of course the current Republicans are being used as tools by Putin, but they are willing tools. They recognize and admire authoritarian power and want to ally with it.

[Joinfortmill]

7. I like the Nordic Model. They seem to like it, too.

[Farmer-Rick]

13. Good description of Russian communist changes

It's very similar to what happened in China only there was no implosion.

The Chinese have used both a form of capitalism and a form of socialism to support it's authoritarian control over its citizens.

Seems the US is more than willing to work with socialist counties as long as some amount of capitalism and authoritarian control is exerted over the mass of citizens.

So, it makes me wonder why the US political party leaders are so against Cuba's and Venezuela's forms of socialism. Is it their close proximity?

[markodochartaigh]

14. I think that it is due to the

Monroe Doctrine. I think that capitalism is viewed as "the US way" and socialism/communism as "the other ". The US feels especially strongly that only the US way should be allowed to succeed in the Western Hemisphere.

The US has enabled to come to power and propped up many authoritarian regimes around the world, most of them kleptocratic. So this isn't just a Western Hemisphere thing.

But Cuba and Venezuela were especially troublesome because they were in the US' hemisphere and also because Cuba tried to help other countries by sending their doctors overseas and Venezuela, under Chávez, tried to help other countries by sending oil and money.

[EverHopeful]

4. Exactly!

Anything protecting rapacious Corporate Persons and the wealthy is called "Freedom" or "Liberty" or "Free Market" or "Smaller Government" but don't you dare try to protect actual people or offer a modicum of good governance. You'll be called "Socialist" or even "Communist."

The worst part is that it still works--and works so well.

[Joinfortmill]

6. Amen.

[Oopsie Daisy]

8. There are many other lessons to be learned and "caught-onto" by our side as well *

>> You would think that after more than a century, that fucking Americans would have caught on by now. And I'm not talking about half of us, I'm talking about all of us.
There are many other lessons to be learned and "caught-onto" by our side as well (not just American in general). Many prideful mistakes only allow the attacks to continue and reinforce how the right successfully labels us and demonizes us.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. this .

when i was in high school , i took a rop class.i was called communist pinko pig.by mi rop instructor . i wear that badge proudly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinko
yet another code word for somone / something they (rs) dont like .

[kentuck]

11. Can "Conservatives" ever be trusted with our government again?

There was a time they professed reverence for the American flag and stood strongly behind our military and our troops.

Unfortunately, Donald Trump brought out their true colors. America was not a "shining city on the hill". America was a "shit-hole" country and the White House was a "dump". Our soldiers that sacrificed their lives for this country were "suckers and losers".

And the so-called "conservatives" bought into it. They licked it up. They showed that they were all talk and no walk. They betrayed America and should never be trusted with power again, in my opinion.

[ColinC]

12. And in the GOP platform they said that communists and socialists should not be allowed in America

🤔

[GoodRaisin]

16. Dick Cheney doesn't seem concerned about communists and socialists. Voters

take note. Have you been swallowing bullshit to vote against your own interests?

Labels are bullshit. Describe the behavior that bothers you. Most Republican voters I’ve met can’t. They get tied up in knots when asked to explain their adversion to the labels they throw around.

[Rebl2]

15. Now

we can throw it right back in their faces. Many republicans support communism by backing the communist party leader Putin and Trump as well as his family and followers.