The Word "Socialism" Is Toxic in This Country

[Hortensis]

58. It SHOULD not, tho. Words have meanings, and understanding

those meanings are critical to not being jerked around like fools by political manipulators. Socialism is a real thing with a real meaning, and there are many well-studied variations on it with their own names. To vary from them is to vary from the truth.

The fairly generic term "mixed economy" is useful for discussing modern governments. It refers to the mixture of capitalism and some socialized programs that all advanced nations have. But at that wholly socialized systems are not automatic in mixed economies because they may not be the best answer or not accepted by their peoples.

The U.S. has had a mixed economy since the New Deal created very partially socialized programs such as Social Security. SS and Medicare are not examples of socialism. The VA, our only large true socialized system, delivers better care for far less than partially socialized Medicare. Of course the Republicans are trying to destroy it.

In talking socialism, let's never forget that no wholly socialist or other centralized leftist form of government has ever survived its many dysfunctions. Centralization of authority and control over services creates hugely serious problems for their peoples. Most that try it either degrade into authoritarian states, like Venezuela, and collapse or manage to survive by allowing capitalism to return and invigorate, like China, while still oppressing their people through central government

Those who want socialized medicine should recognize that our national healthcare system will be of the ACA-Medicare type, at best only partially socialized, and might want to focus on saving the VA as a banner for the future. I understand some who see themselves as Democratic Socialists imagine veterans' care rolled into some grand new MfA scheme. Ouch! That wouldn't happen if they learned what just a few terms really mean. Or maybe some'd learn they weren't all that committed to democratic socialism after all. Whatever.