chatting with a coworker today

[shugah]

i do not discuss politics at work, for the most part. in fact, i rarely discuss anything at work as i go there to work, not to participate in social activities. but, things get off topic sometimes. so today the airport groping somehow came up in an otherwise generic conversation. the conversation proceeded to the patriot act, the fact that some of the things that cause terrorism include abandoning our afgahni "allies" so abrubtly, abu ghraib, and torture. this is my coworker talking. i was nodding and agreeing, surprised mostly, because he is, rumor has it (and various statements he has made mostly confirm it) something of a fundie christian. and yet, here i was, agreeing with him (or, it seems he agrees with me ;-) ) about our lamentable losses of freedom, what the constitution says, decisions we have made in the past that have affected decisions we are making today, and what is wrong with some of the choices our government has made/is making.

great, right?

except that he then said, "what's going on now - it's socialism!"

:wtf:

[Mister Ed]

1. Socialism is government ownership of industry

What's going on now is that industry owns government.

That's what I'd tell 'im.

[shugah]

4. i should have quoted some fascist mussolini to him

or suggested "oligarchy." but when he called it "socialism" it was a conversation stopper. he is not an ignorant person. in light of the conversation, i have to think he is also not uninformed. so i am flabbergasted that he thinks it is socialism. how did he draw that conclusion?

[readmoreoften]

6. Socialism is working class ownership of the means of production.

Whether the workers are organized into a "government" or not.

[shugah]

7. yes

the ownership society, in that the society is the owner.

[SnoopDog]

2. I had to translate this to English so I can read it....

"I do not discuss politics at work, for the most part. In fact, I rarely discuss anything at work as I go there to work, not to participate in social activities. But, things get off topic sometimes. So today the airport groping somehow came up in an otherwise generic conversation. The conversation proceeded to the Patriot Act, the fact that some of the things that cause terrorism include abandoning our Afghan "allies" so abruptly, abu ghraib, and torture. This is my coworker talking. I was nodding and agreeing, surprised mostly, because he is, rumor has it (and various statements he has made mostly confirm it) something of a fundie christian. And yet, here I was, agreeing with him (or, it seems he agrees with me ;-) ) about our lamentable losses of freedom, what the constitution says, decisions we have made in the past that have affected decisions we are making today, and what is wrong with some of the choices our government has made/is making.

Great, right?

Except that he then said, "what's going on now - it's socialism!""


Sorry....old school...

[shugah]

5. thanks snoop

i actually make a living as a writer, and i appreciate your need to edit. it overcomes me from time to time too.

when i write casual/personal stuff, i maintain my right to ignore conventions. i like the lower case :-)

now that you have taken the time to "translate" go ahead and tell me what is lacking in my grasp of english? not a thing! i just like typing without CAPS (not really shouting - just wanted to let you know that i do know where the shift key is ;-) )

new skool, i guess... ;-)

[antigone382]

10. Do you correct people in casual conversation as well?

Proper manners are more important than proper English.

[CoffeeCat]

3. The stupid is strong with this one...

Glenn Beck is their Yoda, and they listen to his every lie
and twisted, bizarre ramblings.

Then they go to work and are oblivious as to how ridiculous they
sound, so they repeat Beck's flawed foolishness.

Ugh.

[krabigirl]

8. Well, he is wrong..it is corporatism, but you know? Focus on what you guys had in common,

Sounds like a nice conversation.

[lise]

9. his definition

of socialism is probably something like government sticking it's nose where it doesn't belong- or something like that.

I agree with the poster who says this is more akin to fascism.

And also with the poster who says "sounds like a nice conversation", maybe keep it up and don't sweat the small stuff.