Why are Americans so afraid of socialism?

Obama isn't a socialist. The Democrats are as much wedded to the interests of big business as the Republicans - much like New Labour and the Tories in the UK.

People who post that socialism is a dictatorial system, or that it will remove our civil liberties are completely wrong. They are getting it confused with Stalinism. I believe that a truly socialist society would mean more freedom and a better living standard for the vast majority of people. Only the rich would have any complaints - but socialists are not there to help the rich; they represent the interests of ordinary people.

George Orwell on socialism in the Road to Wigan Pier:

And all the while everyone who uses his brain knows that Socialism, as a world-system and wholeheartedly applied, is a way out. It would at least ensure our getting enough to eat even if it deprived us of everything else. Indeed, from one point of view, Socialism is such elementary common sense that I am sometimes amazed that it has not established itself already. The world is a raft sailing through space with, potentially, plenty of provisions for everybody; the idea that we must all cooperate and see to it that everyone does his fair share of the work and gets his fair share of the provisions seems so blatantly obvious that one would say that no one could possibly fail to accept it unless he had some corrupt motive for clinging to the present system.

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"The US constitution doesn't allow [for socialism]"

What about the Declaration of Independence?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness".

That pretty much sums up socialism to me (except Marx would have disagreed about the need for a Creator).

Socialism would give us more freedom, not less.

Opposing Barack Husein Obama , It is not a matter a fear it is a mater of choice , I'm not afraid of anything Barack Hussein Obama can dish out , I choose to live in a Country that has a Democratic / Republic system of Government and free market economic system , I want to live in a Country where the Right to Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness really means something and Individualism means something , settling for the nanny state is waving the white flag and I refuse to Surrender .

American ideals are basically individualist and often exceptionalist. Socialism is extermely collectivist and egalitarian. Really, socialism is pretty nearly diametrically opposed to the ideals of the American Revolution. About the only thing they do have in common is being down on royalty.

"In France, England, Canada and most of the world many people are happier with these systems so why is it so bad" If you are suggesting these Nations are socialists, then you need to get your facts right!

you will desire to truly artwork on your grammar.... anyhow, the question in itself is a good one. Is u . s . a . of america frightened of Socialism? Judging via many comments on Yahoo! solutions, you're able to particularly positioned forward a controversy of definite. despite the fact that, I doubt that's genuine. lots of the people that looked scared or what "worried" approximately u . s . a . of america starting to be a "socialist usa" in basic terms do no longer understand plenty approximately socialism in any respect. those people take rates from Marx or base their ideals on no longer something different then a Wikipedia submit, the two one in all that's greater usually then no longer, misinterpreted. Socialism isn't a brilliant undesirable entity that would desire to be prevented in any respect expenses. for my section would I ever vote for the NDP (you pronounced your Canadian, so which you will desire to have a archives of the political events and their ideologies...)? No. Many vocals have very valid factors that socialism can bankrupt a rustic. too loads of it it is. Socialism, like Conservatism and Liberalism, is in basic terms yet another ideology. like each ideologies, it has its advantages and its faults. to assert that maximum up-to-date-day-day socialists are after a Vladimir Lenin form Coup D'Etat isn't purely illogical yet very ignorant. There are exceptions of direction. you do no longer bypass balloting for the Communist social gathering Of Canada and anticipate it to coach out nicely. The NDP despite the fact that, on the assessment, is especially after redistribution of wealth. Taking from the wealthy and giving greater to the undesirable in maximum elementary words. Jack Layton won't grow to be the subsequent Josef Stalin if elected top Minister, i can assure it the two by way of good judgment and remark and with the help of particular provisions set interior the form of the Canadian government scuffling with it from occurring. Likewise, Obama won't grow to be the subsequent international dictator. in short, people in u . s . a . of america do no longer concern socialism. this is purely after all, an ideology. they're in basic terms worried approximately their government going interior the different direction of their pursuits. Others, as much as no person likes to confess it, are ignorant.

Tell you what.

If we are so "uneducated and brainwashed" to think that socialism is evil, try this.

Compare how many people are trying to get into America with how many people are trying to get out. Then do the exact same thing with Cuba, North Korea, Red China, or the Eastern Bloc. And for your information, the countries you mentioned are not full on socialist YET.

You are talking about a country that thinks Freedom and Liberty go hand in hand with Free markets.

The USA was founded on the principal of "rugged individualism".

We believe in reaping what you sow. So we're not interested in supporting somebody that doesn't want to work.

If you look at Western Europe, if you give them 9.5% unemployment and they will be pretty happy. Here in the USA, we're screaming that the sky is falling.

Yes you are correct america is brainwashed to fear socialism im a full blown socialist and have had to correct many people about the health care myths alot socialism would fix alot of out problems that all these capitalist scums have made

Capitalism breeds classism

Since MOST of the Rich and powerful in capitalist America are

Caucasian men-no one has a problem with capitalisim

But if MOST of the Rich and powerful in America were not Caucasian males-The socialist party would swell to over 20 million Conservative caucasian males

They Love the game called capitalism because MOST of the winners are caucasian males.