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Yavin4

(37,182 posts)

45. Calling government regulations "Socialism" is a right wing/Libertarian frame

Tue May 7, 2019, 10:58 AM

May 2019

The frame is used to make any government action "Socialism" when it's not. "Socialism" has a historically negative connotations for most Americans largely due to the Cold War, and that makes It easier to build public opposition to any reasonable government regulation.

The prime example is the ACA which was largely regulations on the health insurance industry. it simply required health insurance companies to offer plans to people who wanted them. The health insurance companies are still held in private and their profits still go to the Capitalist class.

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Socialism vs. Capitalism? [View all] brooklynite May 2019 OP

20 years ago I had a negative opinion of socialism. I don't anymore. rusty quoin May 2019 #1

in the trump/putin era, the argument isn't socialism vs Capitalism, olddad65 May 2019 #2

in the future it won't be either, but a hybrid mix. so say the big brains. Kurt V. May 2019 #3

It's been a mix since the new deal. Blackjackdavey May 2019 #48

Earlier than that. Buzz cook May 2019 #55

Once the country finally starts to deal with climate change the corporations will be jalan48 May 2019 #4

Socialism and capitalism have coexisted since FDR. This is sorted out on social media daily. ancianita May 2019 #5

No, they haven't... brooklynite May 2019 #6

Socialism is no longer your grandad's "means of production"Stalinist socialism.I'm talking reality. ancianita May 2019 #11

I'm talking reality as well... brooklynite May 2019 #18

Agreed. What would be the term you'd use to describe the safety net spending that Sanders and ancianita May 2019 #20

What would happen if the US didn't sanction or invade every country JonLP24 May 2019 #43

Answer: nothing brooklynite May 2019 #46

It would be more popular for the government's that want them instead JonLP24 May 2019 #47

You know what's an even MORE popular alternative to ruthless capitalism? Regulated capitalism brooklynite May 2019 #50

Yes they are. And your understanding of capitalism is, at best misplaced. Xolodno May 2019 #36

Answers... brooklynite May 2019 #38

What you're describing is Social Democracy, not Socialism. Yavin4 May 2019 #9

Call it what you like. ancianita May 2019 #13

Getting it right matters. Yavin4 May 2019 #22

It's important to find the right label christx30 May 2019 #23

We need to concentrate on Issues and Facts. MarcA May 2019 #12

Not stuck at all. Again, I'm part of that percentage in the Monmouth study that define it in modern ancianita May 2019 #14

I agree with you. Just that the public can be reached by discussing the Issues MarcA May 2019 #15

Okay. I'm saying what I'm saying to that public. The issue is that they're not "versus." ancianita May 2019 #17

The "means of ALL production" point is dead. If you see a "solution" with either, say what it is. ancianita May 2019 #19

Lablels matter. The Mouth May 2019 #21

The problem is the general public has exboyfil May 2019 #53

No, that's not socialism; it's social welfare. Big difference. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2019 #27

I get the socialist welfare examples here. Now give a real world example of socialism. ancianita May 2019 #34

There are countries that call themselves socialist - The Velveteen Ocelot May 2019 #35

Every country named you've had to qualify. I conclude that socialism doesn't exist in reality. It's ancianita May 2019 #37

I think that's probably true. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2019 #39

Thank you Blackjackdavey May 2019 #49

Americans are not well educated about either one Yavin4 May 2019 #7

You can believe in a free market system AND... nycbos May 2019 #8

The very nature of a 'free market' leads to unequal outcomes over time. Yavin4 May 2019 #10

Completely unregulated yes. nycbos May 2019 #40

Once you introduce regulations, then you no longer have a "free market" Yavin4 May 2019 #41

...which is not socialism brooklynite May 2019 #51

Precisely. Yavin4 May 2019 #52

Let's throw out the term ''socialism'' for a minute. Let's talk about necessities of life. YOHABLO May 2019 #16

I like "Peopleism" (since Trump & GOP have destroyed the word "populism") stuffmatters May 2019 #26

Most Americans don't know what "socialism" is, and what it represents... Stuart G May 2019 #24

That's not socialism. See #27. While it's true that in some cities the government runs things like The Velveteen Ocelot May 2019 #28

" It is a huge mistake to assume that anything the government does for the benefit of the general" Yavin4 May 2019 #42

Which means there is no such thing as pure socialism. ancianita May 2019 #57

The rules and regulations save many lives. Stuart G May 2019 #25

That's not socialism; it's just regulation. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2019 #29

Government "regulations" that define a product and its contents are almost like the Stuart G May 2019 #30

But it's not socialism. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2019 #31

The definition of "socialism" and the idea of "government regulation" are similar. Stuart G May 2019 #32

Government regulation isn't socialism no matter how many times you say it is. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2019 #33

Calling government regulations "Socialism" is a right wing/Libertarian frame Yavin4 May 2019 #45

... JonLP24 May 2019 #44

Very interesting LibFarmer May 2019 #54

Socialism is not monolithic. Buzz cook May 2019 #56