What is the word 'socialism' like a swear word in the US ?

Many people forget their duty to their fellow man. There is an overall opinion that all poor people want to be poor, and therefore don't work.

(you know, hard work like sitting on a yacht gambling the family fortune on Dividends and CDS)

The fact is that corporations tend to be the first ones with their hands out to the government, not the poor. The poor tend to wait until things are absolutely dire before accepting help. (maybe a weekend volunteering in a poor neighborhood would help many of these people understand this reality.)

The fact is they have no choice, because in order for the wealth to be so obscenely concentrated at the top, there must also be a dramatically opposite and downtrodden "peasant" class.

It's not, we do have roads, police, firefighters and public schools which could all be considered socialist.

It's only when it comes to money. Working slobs are just a drain on the bosses money. Some people would rather see one man make fifty million rather than forty and spreading the other ten around among the workers. That's socialism in their eyes, never mind they are also working for what they get.

7 D a Y s - LOL - What a GREAT story!!!

To be a Socialist you must believe WEALTH is a giant single pot of MAGICALLY appearing stew. Oh if we could just learn to SHARE we'd all have enough!

See, it doesn't matter who MADE the stew, the stew just belongs to EVERYONE.

Now EVERYONE understands that SOME of your wealth should go to the common good.

BUT Socialists more or less believe ALL of your wealth belongs there.

They make it impossible to become wealthy, and then wonder where the wealth went.

Obama will dramatically raise taxes on the 5% who create jobs, and then wonder where the jobs went.

From the bottom of my American heart....

...F*CK S*CIALISM!

Socialism sounds OK if you do not want to be in charge of you own destiny to a large degree. As I am sure you know, there are people who do all they can to contribute to society and to improve their own lot in life but there are also those who are happy riding on others backs. I am of the thought that a person should be able to achieve greatness by doing the footwork and for those who do not wish to work as hard let them get what they earn. I believe that families are capable of helping their weaker members and if not I am OK with helping but my country was not founded on socialism and that is one of the things I love about it.If you look at socialist countries you find that the high ranking officials get rich and everyone else struggles so even socialism has class separation.

The countries with very high standard of living for all its citizens have their economies based on socialist principles ... for example Finland, Sweden and Norway.

They are better educated than us.

They have better health care than us.

They have a longer lifespan than us.

The old, infirm and people who fall on hard times are treated better.

There is less crime.

Now all this comes at a cost and that means higher taxation.

Now if there's a word that American fear worse than 'socialism' it's 'taxation' ... unfortunately most Americans love the $$$$$ more than the idea of helping our fellow citizen ... altruistic we are not!

In America, the term "socialism" is an obvious misinterpretation, especially when it comes to the financial "bailout"...a socialist government would most likely say to financial corporations, "you messed up, that's on you...we'll buy you out if that's what you want"...but instead, the 700 BILLION bailout with no strings attached has prompted most "struggling" companies to give generous raises, vacation packages, etc. to executives who oversaw this recession- and many of which have renounced U.S citizenship for less taxes...Why not cede out that 700 BILLION to American taxpayers who are getting their asses kicked? Do the math and measure the impact on crime...

Because americans are offended at the idea of taking from those who have rightfully earned and giving it to those who haven't, not matter how obama spins it. My question to you is, why is socialism equated with helping your fellow man? We already have social assistance programs. I think we need to reform those before we start throwing more money at it. They work if administered properly. Capitalism believe it or not is not what creates winners and losers, it's politicians (on both sides of the isle). There's no reason we need to become socialist in order to help people.

I think socialism discourages the rich to become richer and encourages the poor to remain poor. In the end the economy will become stagnant.

Socialism and Communism have many similarities, so you are wrong in your assertion that they are totally different.

Capitalism doesn't create losers either, it breeds innovation, fosters freedom, and it streamlines business by culling the less productive.

Because this country was founded on the principles of freedom.

So you dont think there will be losers , sick, or poor with socialism?

wow dude.. you know very little of human nature or socialism do you?