Are you a socialist? If so why? Does that mean you are a communist too?

In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinborough, had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."

Ever wondered why there are different names for these ?

usually they are the same

Yes, I've been receiving Social Security for 5 years. No, I'm not a communist, communist nations didn't/don't have a social security program.

The Republican Party is driving me more and more towards socialism every day.

The only difference between a socialist and a communist is that a socialist hasn't been issued an AK-47.. Yet...

If you are conservative does that mean that you are a NAZI?

Hope that gives you some perspective

Socialism can still be part of a democracy where communism cannot, as such they are quite different. Even as someone who loaths the more extreme forms of socialism many of the new politicians represent I can acknowledge that. None the less opponents of socialism like calling socialists communists since it is a very effective way of scaring people. Democracy's end up with a mix of socialism, conservatism, capitalism and libertarianism as they vote in new policy and vote away old ones.

I think you could say that I am a social democrat. I'm in favor of European-style "soft socialism". Those are capitalist countries that provide good social benefits to their citizens, such as national health-care programs. I used to live in Europe, and I know how well they work.

No, I am not in favor of Soviet-style Communism or any form of totalitarianism, which is what Soviet Communism represented.

We already have some soft-socialist programs in the US. They include Social Security and Medicare.

Democratic socialism is socialism is communism. All the same sides to the same coin.

They will deny it but that’s how they deceive Americans

Sorry Lili, but it appears it’s YOU who needs to receive an education.