Why do Americans hate/fear the dreaded 'socialism'?

They cannot both exist in the same country at the same time.

One is not exactly better than the other, but socialist countries usually don't work too well.

One of the things Americans generally believe in is hard work. Socialism takes away people's motivation because it really doesn't matter if you work hard or not; either way, the government would take care of you. Plus, the government is in too much control in socialist countries.

I will give you an example. Some people on Welfare and government assistance really DO need help. I mean, we all go through hard times. But there are many people on Welfare who are not motivated at all, and continue to not work and not do anything because why should they? They're getting taken care of.

I really don't buy the excuse of "I can't get a job". What they mean is, "I can't get a high paying job that I like".

Well, not everyone is going to find a high paying job that they like, actually the majority don't.

I now am college educated, and do have a nice job, but while struggling to get my degree, I worked at factories, fast food, making $6.50 to $7.00 an hour. There is no excuse. People can get jobs, they just choose not to.

Democrats and cutting-edge republicans are 2 palms of the equal socialist beast. The simplest change is the pace that the U.S. heads for a socialist constitution. Socialism has failed time and time once more and the men and women are passed the invoice for failed techniques. I paintings lengthy tough hours within the oilfield in an overly top tech sector of the oilfield. Many instances there is not any jogging water and no porta potty. The nearest town is frequently over an hour away. I am never wealthy, however I do make a tight residing doing what I do. If the federal government informed me I needed to retain my task however I am simplest going to receives a commission what the Waitress or waiter on the regional eating place will get paid. I am no longer pronouncing that those men and women don't paintings tough however they don't require the schooling and undergo the equal problems of inclimate climate and loss of average accomadations. Will any individual inform me how this could be reasonable and justified, please?

I, too, live in Canada, but am a US citizen I was born and educated in the USA.

Americn citizens are not afraid of socialism. They reject socialistic government. Most Americans over the age of 30 are nationalistic capitalists ...... not because they do not like other governments, but because they do not understand other governments.

From the age of six, I was brain-washed into believing that Communism was a threat to my life. I was taught to be patriotic and support my country at all cost because it was the 'only free country on earth....the richest, the most powerful' ....... and we were taught that all other political philosophies were a threat, consisting only of propoganda.

I remember school drills : when an alarm went off we had to hide under our desks until the all-clear annoouncement. Yes, it was 'drilled' into our heads that our country was at risk.

In 1986, during the Republican Party re-organizational meetings, the conservative party was infiltrated by the Christian Coalition.

You cannot know a country until you understand their religion. America was borne of a strong, Christian foundation which still exists.

Americans do not understand the word Socialism. Most Americans don't even vote.

The USA was founded as a Republic, not a Democracy. America was founded by war, and the need for a strong military has been bred into the hearts of Americans for as many generations as the country has existed. It is, actually, more Socialistic now than people must realize, yet the word is a threat because Americans do not want to support what appears to be lazy citizens who want to be supported by the blue-collar workers, and they identify the word Socialism with hand-out programs for the lazy.

But, Americans have been brain-washed into thinking that that their government is the best on earth. Less than 10% of Americans have a passport. World history is not emphasized in schools.

yet, having said all off this, I, too, love my country of origin. I still salute the American flag as it passes by, and me eyes well with tears whenever I hear the National Anthem. Americans are taught to LOVE and PROTECT their country. Unfortunately, Americans have been so busy trying to exist financially that they haven't taken the time to participate in the governmental process.

I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who said, when asked about the content of the Declaration of Independence just after it was signed, that it was written so that America would always have the government they deserved.

I lean pretty far to the right. According to my kids, I am a fascist. I don't believe in socialism because I believe that most policy makers in the government are dishonest and greedy. I don't like the idea of bureaucrats having any more control of my life than they already do.

The public education system in the US is a shining example of why I feel this way. I currently have four kids going to the same schools I went to as a child. I thought the standards were low when I went, but they are worse now.

Our school district is incapable of providing a quality education with the resources they have. Most of my property tax money goes to the district, where it is promptly wasted. My money is spent subsidizing lunches for the children of illegal immigrants and providing copies of every pamphlet, presentation, and document in English and in Spanish.

Meanwhile, my kids can't spell! My daughter brought home a test last year that she received an "A" on. It was a second grade geography test; she was supposed to name the continents. Somehow, despite spelling the names of every continent incorrectly (you and I live on the continent of North Amarca), she received a 100% score. She was proud of her grade, and I didn't want to hurt her, but I had her look up all of the names of the continents in a dictionary and correct their spellings. Global warming classes have taken the place of actual science. My son got an "A" on a science project that didn't involve anything remotely resembling scientific method. He didn't know what it was. The boy has learned more science watching "Mythbusters" than by going to science class.

Our state's department of motor vehicles is even worse. Their offices are filled with nasty, apathetic workers and every transaction is made into something twice as complicated as it needs to be. To top that off, my state's former governor was found guilty of using our Secretary of State's office to procure bribes.

Our local county hospital may be the scariest place I have ever been. It is overcrowded and understaffed. The elevators and climate controls for a few of the floors did not work the last time I was there. The emergency room waiting area was so full that people were waiting in the hallways. I shudder to think that all of the area hospitals would be run by the same people.

Our roads are constantly under construction, but nothing ever gets finished. Our politicians engage in voter fraud, bribery, and worse. The government's idea of fairness has made our housing and credit markets a mess. I really don't want these people doing any more damage, thanks.

They sure mostly like the socialism they already have. NO ONE who lives more than 10 years on Social Security has paid into the system enough to pay for their benefits. That is SOCIALISM, and we have chosen to pay for this. They also haven't footed the bill for Medicare and many other programs.

We have found that privatizing services like corrections just doesn't work. Some teaching can be done by private business like Edison Schools, but they can't handle ALL the kids in this country. We could privatize more, but bureaucracies that have outlived their usefulness is the problem, not socialism.

Freedom of choice is a good reason. Being born in a country as free as America, it is hard to understand socialism. How do you think this country became as powerful as it has? Competition.

I am a teacher. I have worked in both private and public systems. You must realize that private enterprise usually does a much better job for far less money. Check school results, you may be surprised of the differences you find.

Socialism breeds complacency. Where will we be when the half of the country who struggles to succeed and financially carries this country decides that they have had enough and decides to join the other half on the front porch. Who will flip the bill then?

What happens to our medical fields when you socialize them? The number of medical students will drop to nothing. Who wants to spend half of their life going to school so they can either give all of their earning to people who want to do nothing for a living or at government wages, work for free?

I think I could go on and on

Most Americans do want socialism. But if you use the word "Socialism", they have been taught to be afraid. They do not realize just how many socialized economic functions we actually have in America. If you don't like the USPS, what's stopping you from using Fed-Ex or UPS? If you don't like your neighborhood school, what's stopping you from a private school or homeschooling? If you don't like your fire department, you're on the WRONG PLANET! I understand why people don't like the police, but that is another matter. I just watched Michael Moore's movie "Sicko" and it made me cry. People who have voluntary socialism for medical care would not go back to a free-market system for nothing! I have spoken to some of them personally. Lots of tourists come here from all over the world, so I have heard their reasons first-hand.

Because they've been brainwashed since childhood. Some of my earliest memories of school are learning about "Russia" and how their political system was evil.

Never mind that most of Europe operates very nicely with socialist leanings. Nationalized healthcare works beautifully in Scandinavia. So why not here? Oh no, that would be the "big evil socialism".

Nobody here even knows what it means except that it's "bad". Brainwashed sockpuppets.

Socialism forces you to depend on your government. This is great in a world that government is only concerned for the well being of it's citizens. In the real world government is tainted by the natural propensity of people to get greedy. Greed and socialism = oppression and misery. We as Americans have been undereducated about why we should protest socialism and we have already allowed it to begin to overtake us. I believe in the saying, "If your government is big enough to give you everything you want it is big enough to take it away." I already resist dependency as much as I can. I do homeschool, I have underspent on my house, and I don't use credit cards. I have to say that reading these posts is disturbing because it proves our schools have done a fabulous job of sugar coating the ugliness that led Americans to fight for our freedom and now we don't even know why socialism is something to avoid.

I am glad it is working for you in Canada I hope it stays that way. That would be a first in history and then you could all call me wrong. When we become a socialist state I hope our government is as trust worthy as yours seems to be right now , and doesn't muck things up for you guys. That would be a shame.

You won't get any decent answers to this question, most Y!A users don't seem to know what socialism is. Half of them think Obama makes Chairman Mao look like a right-winger.

Socialism has failed on nearly every level in every country that has ever tried to use it as a system of governing. People will claim today that places like Sweden are an example of "benevolent" socialism. Well, maybe, but only since about 1975. Before then the government enforced and systematically abused and tortured people of different races, the mentally ill, and homosexuals: all paid for by the tax payers of Sweden. Not to mention at times that the average tax rate of some citizens was as high as 90%. Somebody has to pay for all these programs. The Socialists were voted out in the early 70s and the country's rule has improved dramatically since- mainly because- get this, entrepeneurs have been allowed to start and run businesses without having to pay as high of taxes (what an amazing capitalist idea). But the average citizen still pays close to 50% taxes, only France comes close in such high taxes. SO, they actually have sort of a socialist/capitalist mixture going on which in NO WAY resembles true socialism. So socialism, in its true form, fails on EVERY level. The ultimate problem with socialism is that "the bad guy" always rises to the top to control and well, destroy their people. Stalin, Ortega, Mussolini, Franco, Castro, Chavez, etc. You know the drill. So, what do I think? Socialism is a horrifying bad idea.

Even your country, the prescious little snowflake known as Canada operates on some levels as a modified socialist government. And if your healthcare system is so great, for example, why do your wealthier people regularly schedule operations in American hospitals? But your country is not full-fledged socialist. if it were, you would not be able to enjoy many of the elite niceties you enjoy now, Dr. doolittle.