Let's watch the MAGA's heads explode explaining this one:

[Baitball Blogger]

From erictastic on Facebook:

If socialist policies are as bad as conservatives in the US want you to think, why is the recruitment drive for our military about pointing out all the socialist benefits military members and their families can get if they join; free healthcare, free college, free housing, universal childcare, guaranteed lifetime pension, etc.

[The Wizard]

1. And if the get Social Security

return every dollar.

[paleotn]

3. No Medicare.

Can't afford private insurance? Well, sucks be to them.

[paleotn]

2. Seriously! They get a paycheck. Bigger paycheck if they're being shot at.

What more do they want at taxpayer expense? Bunch of takers!!

[IronLionZion]

4. MAGA will cancel those military benefits "to save tax dollars"

[dave99]

11. Reagan Bush 1, Bush 2, Trump, Trum0 have ALREADY destroyed what we give back to active and veterans

FUCKING Republicans !!!!!

Each AND every Republican DESERVES to sit on a 10 foot steel rod.

[popsdenver]

36. No shit

countless military families are struggling, just to get by with all the cuts from those Republican presidents the last 45+ years.

and yet, I am appalled at all the military people who are Trumphumping Republicans........Is that totally fucked up or what?
And worshipping the current president that sends them to die in un-needed wars, and who openly calls them all SUCKERS AND LOSERS?????..............NOW THAT IS UN-FATHOMABLE.................

WTF ??????????????

[James48]

5. Seriously.

The military is the largest socialist organization in the nation.

We dressed alike. Ate food cooked by the government. Slept in buildings or tents owned by the government. Went to the government doctor. Got government benefits to go to school, too.

24 months mandatory service ought to be a thng- just so everyone gets to experience what socialism is really like.

[LiberalArkie]

7. Maybe start building public hospitals again. Work at the hospital for 4 years and your medical education

and insurance is paid for as long as you work there.

[dave99]

12. Like Switzerland. Where all the DARK money hides.

[PatSeg]

6. Oh snap

Doesn't get much more socialist than that!

[Iggo]

8. That's why they started calling us communists again. They can no longer defend their hatred of socialism.

[SouthBayDem]

9. Technically the term for this is "company town"

because the workers got specific benefits in lieu of money. Similar to categorical grants vs block grants.

[radical noodle]

31. Not sure a company town is anything to hold up as good

It's a little like touting the benefits one gets from prison.

[relayerbob]

10. You assume they care or even comprehend

[Jacson6]

13. As a VET I never got anything free.

I had to work 13 hr days,, go on deployments for 30 days and I paid $2,400 into a scholarship program that gave me $12k to go to college. It was very nice to have those benefits, but it wasn't free socialism.

[Baitball Blogger]

16. I was raised on a military base, which also had housing for civilians.

What we paid in rent was a joke. Next to nothing. The commissary was cheap and there was lots of merchandise to select from.

With what he made, my dad managed to put four kids through college, a fifth through trade school. Granted, our childhood was whatever did not cost any money. My dad didn't even pay for my younger brother's football gear because he decided that we were not an athletic family. So, extra-curricular activities were triaged.

Bottomline, we lived a life overseas on a US military base, and because of the sacrifices that were made, we got the educations that would trampoline us into a "normal" life once we returned to the U.S.

Such an opportunity would never have been possible in a private job in the U.S. There were perks that were near impossible to find Stateside. You have just accepted that you earned them, but the point is that it was a major incentive and it shows that conservatives aren't above using socialistic options when they want to reach an objective.

[Farmer-Rick]

29. In the Navy,

The saying you are paid for 24 hours a day ensured that all the watches and after hour duties were fully covered.

So, 13 hour days....we wish.

[reACTIONary]

14. The military is a job....

.... it's an important job and it's a hard job, and it often requires sacrifice. Even the ultimate sacrifice. Like many jobs, it comes with benefits, and, given the nature of the job, very good benefits.

A job with benefits is not socialism.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. The difference is that those benefits are being paid by taxpayers.

We don't begrudge them to our military or civilians. We just want conservatives to recognize that they are not above using socialist incentives when it suits them.

BTW, I was raised on a US military base as a civilian. Everything was paid for by the taxpayer. Everything about the experience made it easier to reach out and form a community identity. It's surprising how much class distinctions get in the way.

[reACTIONary]

18. I don't think paying people to do a job, and giving them benefits...

.... is socialism. No matter what the specifics of the benefits or who it is who pays for them.

What would you say is the difference is between benefits and "socialist" benefits as an incentive?

And what is it that socialist incentives are supposed to incentivise? An incentive is a reward for doing something that you would otherwise not be inclined to do. Socialism provides "benefits" with no binding obligation to do anything in return. At least that is my understanding. What is your understanding?

[Baitball Blogger]

20. The light bulb will go on any minute.

In a private business, perks can be offered and no one will think twice, because all the money is coming from the corporation.

On the other hand, the only reason people get perturbed about the terms communism and socialism is because these are forms of government, which determine how taxpayer money is spent. The Republicans are upset because a socialist country will mandate certain benefits to the public, so the Right has demonized those programs. Yet, those same programs are used as incentives for civilians to work for the military or to serve in the military. Bottomline, they aren't opposed to using socialist benefits for their own purposes.

In fact, if they wanted to be truly pure about it, maybe they should do away with the perks and raise everyone's salary in the military?

[popsdenver]

38. On a similar note

I am waiting for all the 70+ Million, MAGAot voters to wake up to the fact that their Medicaid, Food Stamps, Disability, SSI, Snap food stamps, are evaporating out from underneath them, thanks to the Republican Politicians and their fat fuck leader that they continue to worship.... who they all elected, not just once, but twice...............LOL LOL LOL

[Blumancru]

27. Sure it is

When I was a Captain I mentioned to a Lt. Colonel (who openly despised Obama) that I was in favor of a a socialized medicine system, like the military had. He sputtered and veins popped out and he said “That’s not socialism!!!” but I pointed out that it was taxpayer funded, single payer, etc….
He did not like it but had no ammo to refute it.
Most of our benefits, retirement, unemployment, etc., were actually socialist ideas that were incorporated into capitalism just enough to block communism from getting a foothold. During the Great Depression, when our economic system had failed us (except for a privileged few), otherwise reasonable people flirted with the idea of communism. This was long before the brutal excesses of Stalin would be known.
The US bent a little bit, in order to keep the uber wealthy from being dragged from their homes by mobs.

[reACTIONary]

34. Socialized medicine? That's...

... Welfare statism. Not socialism. Furthermore, medical benefits as compensation for doing a job isn't even socialized medicine. The Lt. was right.

If taxpayers paying for government provision of goods and services is "socialism" then all countries everywhere, for all of history are, have been, and always will be socialist.

Let's let Bernie Sanders explain the difference between socialism and welfare statism. Early in his career, as a leader of the socialist Liberty Union Party in Vermont Bernie Sanders stated:

"I favor the public ownership of utilities, banks and major industries."

He frequently argued that the oil, energy, telephone, electric, and drug industries should be transferred to public control to serve the public good rather than billionaire profits.That's socialism.

After he became an elected politician and wanted to stay elected, he disavowed it:

"I don’t believe government should own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a fair deal."

That AIN'T socialism. That's welfare statism. See the difference?

[Renew Deal]

15. Same for ICE

Socializations with socialist benefits.

[reACTIONary]

19. What would you say is the difference is ....

... between job benefits and "socialist" job benefits?

[Baitball Blogger]

21. One is based on capitalism and involves private capital; and the other is a government policy paid by taxpayers.

[reACTIONary]

24. Would you say paying government employees a wage...

... is paying them a "socialist wage"? I'm not sure why paying anybody, in kind or in money, by anyone, government or private employers, in exchange for doing useful work in a market economy can be considered "socialist".

I can see why, in a market economy, means tested redistribution, that is, welfare, might sort of be called socialist. But in my opinion, it is better described as welfare statism, or maybe social democracy. Not socialism. It just ain't.

Early in his career, as a leader of the socialist Liberty Union Party in Vermont Bernie Sanders directly stated: "I favor the public ownership of utilities, banks and major industries." He frequently argued that the oil, energy, telephone, electric, and drug industries should be transferred to public control to serve the public good rather than billionaire profits.

That's socialism.

Now days he disavows this: "I don’t believe government should own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a fair deal."

That AIN'T socialism.

[Baitball Blogger]

26. Lots there to absorb.

We did, once, follow a very strong socialist model in this country. There was a time when utilities were owned by the public. I am not convinced that it was a bad idea, back when private businesses were not ready to take on the costs.

I believe industries that offer life sustaining services should, at a minimum, be heavily regulated. And if the state is not properly providing the services, government should step in to prevent the loss of life.

Problem for the Right is that they have lost the plot on their capitalist controlled models. It’s become more about making money for the stockholders and the board. They have worn thin their purpose and aren’t even competently adding to the consumer base by providing proper wages. And here is the thing: as long as they can continue to put the fear of socialism or communism in the minds of Americans, they can eliminate the one competitive factor that can force them to do the two things that they should be doing; 1) provide services and 2) provide healthy wages to their workers.

The Right has done a superb job of tying our hands behind our backs.

[reACTIONary]

35. Thanks for your thoughts on this!

[ColoringFool]

28. What about the difference between "private corporate-profit-funded" and .....

"government TAX-MONEY-FROM-ALL-CITIZEN-TAXPAYERS-funded" ...

IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND?!

You know who paid for Taylor Swift's wedding at MSG? Taylor Swift.

You know who paid for the D.C. 250th States Fair?

YOU DID. IOW, THE GOVT USED YOUR MONEY AND MY MONEY AND EVERYONE ELSE'S MONEY FROM INCOME TAX DAY TO PAY FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY.

You were invited to only one of these events.

PRIVATE BENEFIT to the few VS. GOVERNMENT BENEFIT to society, aka "social."

P.S. While it is a fact that the military comprises people in a multitude of "jobs," being a base medic or plumber or mechanic or computer whiz is not the reason the US government accepted anyone into the Armed Services.

The ability to be a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine, potentially to risk or even lose one's life in battle, is the reason. THOSE ARE THE JOBS.

AND those particular jobs are not found in our private employment sector.

[reACTIONary]

33. The difference between ....

.... Taxpayer funded and private funding is not hard to understand.

What about the difference between a welfare state and socialism is hard to understand? If taxpayer provision of goods and services is "socialism" then every country, everywhere, past, present, and on into the future, is, has been, and always will be socialist.

Let's let Bernie Sanders explain the difference between socialism and welfare statism. Early in his career, as a leader of the socialist Liberty Union Party in Vermont Bernie Sanders stated:

"I favor the public ownership of utilities, banks and major industries." He frequently argued that the oil, energy, telephone, electric, and drug industries should be transferred to public control to serve the public good rather than billionaire profits.

That's socialism. After he became an elected politician and wanted to stay elected, he disavowed this:

"I don’t believe government should own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a fair deal."

That AIN'T socialism. See the difference?

[PCB66]

22. It is not free

It is compensation for services rendered.

[Baitball Blogger]

23. What has already been said: We don't begrudge the perks,

but we want the conservatives to recognize that they're using socialist benefits as incentives.

If they are so against socialism, maybe they should do away with the taxpayer paid benefits and just raise salaries in the military? Less maintenance and paperwork to worry about.

I am just being a wee bit facetious.

[LogDog75]

25. I'm retired AF and I have fun with my fellow retirees when they complain about socialism

I've been doing this for years and when I start listing everything the government provides them while in the military, as well as in retirement, you can see the blank look in their eye because their brains don't know how to process this information.

Their response, almost every time, is they earned it. Then I ask them why they're so opposed to socialism and they have that blank look in their eyes again. I will then explain to them socialism isn't a boogeyman to be afraid of. It simple provides a strong social safety net for people so they won't have to go hungry, won't have to go homeless, won't have to go broke paying for medical care, etc.. It doesn't prevent you from attaining your goals or lower your standard of living. In fact, it improves both. It doesn't mean the government is going to control or run industries or businesses or determine what gets produced.

Socialism and communism are the boogeyman words so scare the easily gullible and those who don't thin much; basically, every republican.

[Justice matters.]

30. Socialism require the working class to pay (minimum) double

income taxes (depending on their tax bracket), and a lot of sales taxes.

In Canada, we don't have "Socialist" governments (Federal and Provincial) per say, but income taxes are based on a gradual bracket-based system. Same for sales taxes (VAT systems) where governments return some of them to the lowest earners, depending on their annual income.

In return, we get Universal Healthcare and for those who can afford insurance for commodities like private rooms in Hospital, if they need a stay, they can pay for it.

It's a flexible system but it costs big money paid by the taxpayers. In the US, as soon as you talk about raising taxes, the "cons" go crazy... (because they don't understand bracket-based tax systems?).

[Capt. America]

32. This country must really despise our elderly and military

By subjecting them to socialized medicine.

[area51]

37. Interesting how the republinazis are against "socialized medicine",

yet have no problem with socialized roads, libraries, schools, police & fire departments.

[Progressive dog]

39. Social Security does not involve

ownership of the means of production. It is not socialism.