What Is Socialism?

There is lots of talk these days about socialism coming from the McCain camp. According to the dictionary, socialism is: "Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods".

Because Barrack Obama wants to restructure our tax so the top 2% pay about 2% more and then provide tax cuts to the lower income levels from where they are is not socialism. It is simply modifying our tax structure. To some this is leading our country toward socialism.

Taking ownership of banks which the Bush administration has recently done is closer to real socialism then changing the tax code. Universal health care can also be considered a socialistic program like social security or medicare, a change in policy which leans toward socialism.

The main point is the republican party has always been against social programs period. Unless you fall into the top two percent, you are on your own if it were up to the republicans. Unless you have lived under a rock the last eight years, this should be clear to you.

So when Joe The Plumber says he supports republican policy, he is supporting the belief that there should not be social security, instead we should find our own retirement plans. He does not believe in medicare, we again should find our own medical insurance on the market. He believes that any public program which benefits anyone should not be funded by our government or we the tax payers.

Therefore, if all these beliefs became reality, we would pay little or no tax. So now we, the middle class would have this extra $100-$300 per week added to our income. That's amounts to about $8,000 a year extra. Health insurance alone costs $12,000 and up. Some of us would invest our retirement into stocks of which 401K's have lost 40% of their value recently.

If you wanted to start a business, there would be no low interest loans to start with. Meanwhile, other countries are providing their citizens with all these benefits while we just fund our military, based on republican policy.

I suggest you really think carefully before supporting this "no social programs idea". The McCain camp has drilled the idea into your head that all this is bad and taxes are bad as well. But look around you at all the things we have thanks to our taxes. We have police, roads, lights, parks, to mention a few. Retirement and medical money for our elders, many of which depend on for income and health issues.

So this evil word "socialism" in itself might seem to us the worst thing that can happen, yet social programs that serve us as a nation can be a great benefit if our government uses and spend our money wisely.

This is the key; the problem isn't really social programs, it's the purpose of the program and how it is managed that matters. Social security is a great example of a program that works. We need to strive for this as a solution, not reject the idea of any kind of government involvement. We all will have a better country in the outcome if our government operates with us in mind, not the top 2% only.

Barrack Obama has pledged that he will work for us. Yes he wants to create a national health plan. Here is my question to you: Why would you not want to see all Americans covered? Is it because some of us don't count? Is it because some shouldn't matter to us? Is it because you just want to keep all your money like Joe The Plumber does and the hell with the rest of us? Is it because you believe some of us are not Americans?

Remember our parents and grand parents worked all their lives to provide us with a better tomorrow. I believe we should all work to leave our kids with a better tomorrow. By the way, you just can't take all those toys with you when your times up.

Most important, leaving your children with this ever growing huge bill our country has created, leaving children without health care, leaving elders without any income just so you and I can have less taxes is just not the right thing to do, especially if your a Christian like many of you are.

Aloha Mike