Whenever i watch American media i always here stuff like "Democrats are Socialist because they want single payer healthcare etc " I'm baffled because when i look at the Democrats they have way more in common with the Progressive Conservatives that dominate the Canadian right then the very left NDP . Mainstream Conservatives here have little issue with single payer  healthcare  or public education and would never call these policies socialist.While many maintain conservative notion like pro life or Anti gay marriage . Thou rarely do they push these issues as they are unpopular  .It's Just weird observation i keep making . Not sure if it was worthy of a thread but it always bothers me .

It is a form of socialism, because the government is subsidizing these things. The problem is that we've somehow demonized socialism. at least, socialism for the poor. The rich get subsidies like nobody's business. They've demonized propping up the poor, because they know they have to get revenue from somewhere to run the country. And they refuse to take from the right, in fact they prop up the rich with more money, so they have to try to justify not helping people who actually need money and help.

The real problem is, we don't have choices. Both democrat and republican candidates usually fall in the authoritarian right. Nearly every presidential candidate we've had is closer to Hitler than Jill Stein. How few democrats really push for single payer anyway?

There were 54 in the senate in 2010.  Sadly, that was 6 short.

(February 1, 2018 at 5:09 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote:

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The real problem is, we don't have choices. Both democrat and republican candidates usually fall in the authoritarian right. Nearly every presidential candidate we've had is closer to Hitler than Jill Stein. How few democrats really push for single payer anyway?

Yup there is a reason political tests have two axises because politics is plural . But i myself find even these sorts of tests to simplistic . Because it only as precise as the questions .

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(February 1, 2018 at 5:07 pm)Chad32 Wrote: It is a form of socialism, because the government is subsidizing these things. The problem is that we've somehow demonized socialism. at least, socialism for the poor. The rich get subsidies like nobody's business. They've demonized propping up the poor, because they know they have to get revenue from somewhere to run the country. And they refuse to take from the right, in fact they prop up the rich with more money, so they have to try to justify not helping people who actually need money and help.

But the thing is subsidizing government programs is not even a socalist idea and long predates socialism. Hell even Conservative monarchies have done similar things.

(February 1, 2018 at 5:35 pm)Tizheruk Wrote: Yup there is a reason political tests have two axises because politics is plural . But i myself find even these sorts of tests to simplistic . Because it only as precise as the questions .

Oh yeah, they suck. You could be an Nazi who thinks all nonwhite races should be gassed, but if you have enough libertarian views to counter the three or so questions they ask about race, you won't get logged as a fascist. It's probably a better quiz for centerists really. I'm a non-statist Marxist-- I believe in freedom from capitalism and state oppression... but different quizzes will put me social democrat, anarchist, or even commie-- which I'm not. I probably overthink the questions too. Sometimes I know what answer will nudge me in the direction I truly fall, but I give the answer that is technically correct.

Here's two for anyone curious:

https://www.politicalcompass.org/

https://8values.github.io/

I kind of have a problem with single payor HC if it's managed by the government. Just take a look at the fraud in Medicare, Medicaid and the Vet's Admin, that's my concern.

Never knew I was plaid cymru. At least that's where I always land when I take that test. But then I question that tests validity.

(fuckin skeptic)

(February 1, 2018 at 5:51 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: I kind of have a problem with single payor HC if it's managed by the government. Just take a look at the fraud in Medicare, Medicaid and the Vet's Admin, that's my concern.

Never knew I was plaid cymru. At least that's where I always land when I take that test. But then I question that tests validity.

(fuckin skeptic)

But there is fraud all the time i private medicine i mean look at the horror stories of private health withholding information for profit or giving needless drugs and surgeries to boost their bottom line . It all depends on how it is run.

It's common for people to confuse social programs with socialism.

What is socialism without the social programs?