Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders is Ayn Rand’s worst nightmare: He’s changing how we view socialism
Bernie Sanders is Ayn Rands worst nightmare: Hes changing how we view socialism and exposing free market parasites.Conservatives have long wielded "socialism" as a pejorative -- but Sanders owns it and is transforming politics
http://www.salon.com/2015/10/08/bernie_sanders_is_ayn_rands_worst_nightmare_hes_changing_how_we_view_socialism_and_exposing_free_market_parasites/
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First things first: The word socialism has become so freely used by the right that it has all but lost the meaning that it once possessed. Since even before the Cold War, the word socialism has been a pejorative in America. When people on the right say, Socialism has already been tried, they are by and large thinking of 20th-century communism in the East, i.e., a totalitarian state with a centrally planned economy. If this were the sole definition of socialism, then these anti-socialists would be entirely correct. When considering 20th century communism, it is clear that centrally planned economies without markets do not work in the long run (and black markets become an inevitable feature). At this point in history, markets are necessary for human innovation and wealth creation. But as the economist (and communist, according to Bill OReilly) Robert Reich points out his his new book Saving Capitalism, the free market vs. government debate is mostly pointless. In order to have a functioning market, there need to be rules, and for rules of the market there needs to be government; the real debate should be whether those rules are working for everyone or just the wealthiest individuals and corporations.
The point is, socialism does not necessarily mean centrally planned economies, as most on the right believe. The original definition of socialism was something like this: the collective ownership of the means of production and distribution. In this sense, worker-owned businesses (i.e. worker co-ops) are very socialistic, and Sanders has appropriately put forth a plan to increase worker ownership. The word socialism can also mean Social Democracy this is what best describes Bernie Sanderss philosophy which involves a market economy with socialistic programs. The most common example of this sort of economic system can be found in the Scandinavian countries, which have hardly failed. Indeed, Scandinavian countries have all been previously ranked among the highest in the world when it comes to ease of doing business, global innovation, and prosperity.
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Socialism is not about free stuff, but cracking down on these corporations that exploit their workers and then rely on the government to make sure they dont starve. It is not about being lazy and slacking off, but about demanding a fair share and getting paid decently for ones labor it is yet another right wing fallacy that people get paid what theyre worth, and that only lazy people are poor. Socialism is about working people, not slackers. It is about fighting capitalist realities like the fact that the top 25 hedge fund managers in America make more money than all of the 157,800 kindergarten teachers combined. Are investors who produce no value really worth that much more than teachers?
Needless to say, the myths and attacks on Sanders and socialism will only grow more intense in the months to come. Republican politicians tend to agree with Ayn Rand when it comes to working people, i.e. that they are parasites (although theyd never say such a thing out loud). The Sanders campaign is changing how American people view socialism, and hopefully, he is also exposing the GOP as the anti-working class party that it truly is.
ion_theory
(235 posts)the opposite of what classical Socialism was supposed to be. The idea that the WORKERS get to decide what happens to the business they work and the people get to decide how their lives are run scares the shit out of the elite. They know the power of this idea and will stop at nothing to crush it. Don't think for a second that the Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute don't have people trying to combat Bernie's message, but it's hard to go up against truth. Hopefully, if Bernie doesn't get the nod then at least he will pull more and more people to the Left and away from unfettered Capitalism.
trof
(54,256 posts)LittleGirl
(8,287 posts)I sent the link to my Mother who is not quite sure how to take Bernie.
gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)... was one of the most evil people ever to foul this planet. Which says a LOT about those who profess to admire her and her malignant bumper-sticker "philosophy" of pathological selfishness.
She called workers, the people who actually MAKE things and get things done, "parasites," while the manipulative and mendacious sociopaths that exploited them are hailed as heroes and "job creators."
I can think of very few people who have wrought more damage on the quality of life for average Americans than that malevolent, chain-smoking pig of a woman.
Ah, but she expressed, in poorly written, melodramatic novels of ridiculous length, all the perverted desires of conservatives. She was a Russian expatriate extolling the "virtues" of the vilest extremes of predatory capitalism at the height of the Cold War, and she despised altruism in any and all forms. She was a Republican's wet dream.
Incidentally, Alan Greenspan was a devoted sycophant in Rand's inner circle, and Henry Kissinger sang her praises as well.
With Bernie guiding the country back to sanity, perhaps we might finally emerge from the shadow of Rand's diseased influence, and earn one last chance at redemption for the crimes committed by those in thrall to "Objectivism."
NonMetro
(631 posts)You are "spot on"!
Punx
(446 posts)William Edward Hickman, a child murderer, mutilator and thief. Has a screw or two loose. From her own words, she described him as "a brilliant, unusual, exceptional boy"
Clearly one psychopath admiring another if that is possible. In other words a perfect prophet for the psychopaths running the Republican party.
gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)... shortly before I read "The Virtue of Selfishness" ( my bosses were "objectivists," so I HAD to read all her shit!) I heard her speak in '68, I think it was, and even met her very briefly. Watching her demean and humiliate her entourage, and the people that hosted the event, sealed her fate as far as I was concerned. She was repulsive. Even Russ and Bob were a bit put off by her, and they were worshippers!
Her insidious influence has poisoned political and social discourse for long enough. Rand, her "philosophy," and her fawning acolytes, should be tossed back in the cesspool that spawned them, and the nation should take a long, hot shower to scrub any trace of her away forever.
Punx
(446 posts)Your description says everything I need to know that she is the type I would have nothing to do with. I've worked for a couple of persons high in sociopathy in my lifetime and "Never Again!" will I do that.
Here's a very unflattering piece on her relationship to Hickman. I'll let readers be the judge.
http://michaelprescott.freeservers.com/romancing-the-stone-cold.html
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)And then didn't she eventually go on Medicare? Or one of those programs for the "parasites"?
gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)jeff47
(26,549 posts)NonMetro
(631 posts)Which explains one reason why wages have remained flat for decades. This woman, with her view that, other than business owners, we are all a bunch of "looters, moochers, and parasites" is also the goddess of Republican politicians, who think of most of us in the same way!
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)if she were grilled about this.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn_Rand
...even says that Greenspan was at her funeral.
Man, she was a NUT!
NonMetro
(631 posts)Republicans dragged her back out to support their conservative/corporate agenda, and now we have young people reading "Atlas Shrugged' as if it was some sort of philosophical classic. Ugh!
Paka
(2,760 posts)Great article. The need to educate people on the myths behind the evil words is important. This will indeed come up under its multiple misinterpretations during the campaign. Fortunately, the young who support Bernie couldn't care less about the static old concepts and will judge for themselves. It's not the "boggy-word" it was in my youth.
I"m a proud socialist and excited to support Bernie for President.
nuxvomica
(12,437 posts)Entitled: "Socialism is not scary"
http://poststar.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-socialism-is-not-scary/article_be754bdc-dda6-5ac9-a426-958220c4d16c.html
The Glens Falls area is center-right and The Post-Star is not a liberal paper. When they posted the editorial a few Sundays ago it really surprised me.
turbinetree
(24,710 posts)Goodbye Ayn Rand and to all of your followers-----------------you are wrong
Honk---------------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)eridani
(51,907 posts)Even conservatives like public goods, but only if they are reserved for white people. Republicans have been calling public goods that benefit people other than themselves "socialist" for so long that it has lost its traditional meaning, namely that everything should be a public good.