Republicans call everything they don't like 'socialism' -- #1

[JHB]

A new recurring series. 'Recurring' as in every day, because it needs to be said. Every day.
Don't let them call the tune, don't let their framing stand.

Republicans call everything they don’t like ‘socialism’

[stonecutter357]

1. K&R

[treestar]

2. I argue all the time that

the government does not own the factories. They insist that any regulation is a government takeover of the factory. That is when we realize they think labeling is more important than reality. This is why they try to make out that the Nazis were on the left. Merely because the word "socialist" was included in the party name. Or that the Democrats started the KKK. Because the label 150 years ago means more than where we stand now.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

4. Correct. GOP is a party of lies and propaganda.

They have to be a party of lies and propaganda because their main agenda is to push through pro-billionaire tax cuts and deregulation. And no one would vote for that without lies and propaganda.

[Progressive Jones]

29. The nazis threw in "socialist" because socialism was enjoying some popularity

at the moment. It was used to pull in Germans who saw themselves as socialists.
Just another fascist lie...

[keithbvadu2]

3. Rejecting Donald's socialism?

Something you won't hear from a Trump-country farmer:
Rejecting Donald's socialism.

[Progressive Jones]

30. They would rather go belly up and starve. SMDH. nt

[TheBlackAdder]

5. Republicans, and especially Libertarians, are the hugest takers of government largesse.

.


They are self-affecting fucks and have a warped thought process.


They view every government program that they can plug into as 'deserved.'

If they can't plug into a program, then it is something that they are somehow paying for, and is viewed as a tax. There's a jealousy component attached to this, because their view is if another is getting something, then they are gaining some advantage on them.


Libertarians love stoking the jealousy component, because it helps pit people who share common plights against one another.

.

[JHB]

8. This is why I've decided to start posting this every day.

They've dragged the Overton window though constant repetition, and it'll take repetition to counter it.

Economic power, money-power needs checks and balances just as does political power.

[think4yourself]

6. The best is

that horrible scary word is losing its sting. They need a new boogie man because more and more, people think of Scandanavian countries and universal healthcare when that word is deployed.

[ck4829]

7. And they have grandkids "Not wanting to get shot in school" and "Valuing health over profit margins"

[The Genealogist]

9. Government spending is only socialism when it helps regular people

Not so much when it goes to rich people.

[Ohioboy]

15. Well said!

Short, to the point and true. I'll be using that.

[dalton99a]

10. The only thing they like about government is their ability to loot the Treasury and pay no taxes

Everything else is evil socialism

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Call everything socialist when interacting w them.

"Hey George, let's go get coffee at the corner {Starbucks/Horton/Dunkin)."

"Right Charlie, let's get some good socialist coffee."

"But they're not socialist!"

"Neither is the US government or the Democratic Party."

[Soxfan58]

12. Tell the gubmint to keep their goddamn hands

Off my Social Security and Medcare.

[jayschool2013]

13. FREEDUMB!!!!

[GulfCoast66]

14. Agreed. But we don't help the situation much.

Because lots of democrats have bought into the lie that things like SS and Medicare are socialism.

So rather than a simple denial or even better, laughing at them, we try to defend things that are not socialism as something socialist.

I know not a single democrat who wants the government to own the means of production. So I do not know a single socialist.

I know and am myself a believer in social democracy. Which is to socialism like an apple to an oyster. Both foods but that is where the similarities end.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

28. every good company is Marxist

"From each according to his ability; to each according to his need."

If a company is managed any other way, it fails. See an assembly line for the simplest example of this.

Try that out on a RWNJ and watch the conflict and confusion erupt.

[Auggie]

16. Suggested edit: CORPORATIONS call everything they don't like 'socialism'

They're setting the narrative.

Profiteers, the 1%, billionaires, oligarchs, rich, evil assholes ... call them whatever you want.

[JHB]

21. Nope. I'd considered "Conservatives", which would be more historically nuanced, but...

...screw it. Keep it simple. It's not as if there's much difference ever since Movement Conservatives drove Rockefeller Republicans out of power in the 70s and 80s.

It's not just the very wealthy. They provide funds to get the message out, but there are a bunch of True Believers who do the hard work, and did even before they got backing.

[47of74]

17. True. Even local stuff.

Around here there’s a group of vocal Reich wingers who complain if any money is spent on anything other than police. Fixing roads other than the ones they use or doing anything to improve the quality of life locally is socialism to them.

[Dorn]

18. Socialism : I don't think you know what that means

[JHB]

20. OK. n/t

[aSuperNova]

19. Unfortunately I have found that statement..

.. to be a sad fact. Having lots of acquaintances nestled in the heartland,.. many have been completely bamboozled by the fictitious spectre of socialism at every turn.
Some have even become obsessed with that particular paper tiger to the point that they have become utterly oblivious to anything else.
To those individuals,.. the only perspective they are willing to entertain is the ever present siren call of an immanent socialist takeover orchestrated by "the Left".
In essence they have become totally brainwashed by it,.. thus enabling them to be easily led into a blind allegiance to their hero/savior,.. trump.
He stokes the fear,.. continually threatening them with illusions of being shuffled off to make believe internment camps and loss of freedom at the hands of "socialist -dems." ,.. and they respond by heralding him as the only person able to save them from such a fate.
None of them are bad people at heart.
They are terrified and egregiously misled,..deceived by one who has only self serving interests in mind.
It's actually quite sad.

[gopiscrap]

32. welcome to DU

[aSuperNova]

34. Thank You.

[gopiscrap]

36. You're Welcome

[randr]

22. It is the 'monster under the bed' for Republicans

They know full well that the most popular government programs are Democratic ideas that they branded as 'socialism' from the get go.
For some reason we have never been able to defuse this. Fear of 'socialism' still outweighs a sense of security.
We need a tag for the antism that defines the Republicans. They are anti-civil rights, anti-social security, anti-medicare, anti-public schools, anti-any regulation that protects our lives, just anti everything. How is it we can't brand them as such?

[whathehell]

23. Medicare, Social Security, Veterans benefits all called 'Socialsm'

by Republicans when they unsuccessfully fought to stop those programs when first introduced .

[Duppers]

24. K & R

[CrossingTheRubicon]

25. If calling Medicare and Social Security "socialism" is a right-wing talking point...

and it certainly (without question) is, then is it any less disingenuous when Democratic Socialists use the same meme?

Let's consistently reject right-wing talking points, yes?

[Freethinker65]

26. They do it because it works. Their base votes based on fear

[aSuperNova]

35. Sad but true,..

... and the dorito shaded guru leading said base never misses an opportunity to stoke those fears either.
He knows his audience alright.
The main thing I consistently hear from those "truest of believers" unfortunate enough to buy into his sad little philosophy casting himself as the hero whom will save us all from original logical thoughts are always fear based :
1.) Unimaginable numbers of socialist despots are waiting at the door to take away everything we as a free society hold near and dear,.. thus leaving us in unending subservience to them forever more.
Or.. behind door number 2.) Every individual possessing even the most minute amount of Latin blood on the face of the Earth have somehow managed to band themselves together covertly and organize themselves into seemingly random M13 lead caravans,.. all in order to invade the good ole U.S.A. and force their unwanted drug shipments upon every U.S. citizen therein and perhaps snatch up a few white women to take back home for use as slave labor.
Thankfully we have trump to save us all from such atrocities huh?,..
Why just imagine what would happen were he not in office with open arms complete with tiny hands ready,.. willing and able to save us all from common sense and reality with his unequaled business moxie and experience.
And to think,.. all it took was a little ole wall,.. a wall which he'll no doubt build himself with his very own delicate little digits if necessary.
The most concerning scenario of all is that both ridiculous "sales pitches" have proven more than effective in beguiling his base to an even greater extent.
Throw in his never ending attempts to discredit our own intelligence agencies and operatives as being unreliable and disingenuous,.. dismissing them as plotting against him and his sincerest wish to save us all from ourselves,.. and it goes far beyond the outlandish and enters into the realm of the truly dangerous.

[MadDAsHell]

27. We live in a soundbite world. Everything is socialist or racist, depending on your side of the aisle

No one seems to have actual policy positions anymore.

[ck4829]

33. Yeah, Republicans call everything they don't like socialist and also say

Democrats say everything is racist.

[Initech]

31. All the republicans have is name calling.

And I've seen four year olds flip better shit than a lot of their AM radio hosts do.

[oasis]

37. K&R

[brooklynite]

38. And it makes it harder to defend against when some of our own people agree...

[Tiggeroshii]

39. ACA 2009

[Hekate]

40. Kick