Socialism in America
 

Socialism/The Cold War was the worst thing to happen to the United States. It made living in fear acceptable.

The Era of Emergency Powers has coddled us into believing that our leaders will protect us and have our best interest at heart. We've relieved our self of any responsibility to look after our own well being. We are The Nanny State.

I've become so furious with the attitude everyday, well educated Americans have about the role of government, often regardless of political affiliation. I struggle to think of an event in our country's history that has had a more negative and lasting effect.

Fear sells. Fear sold fallout shelters during the cold war. Since 911 fear has sold Americans on the idea that a degredation of our Constitutional rights is OK so long as we are "protected".

I agree TCAN, it because were lazy and totally single minded. Add to that the differences between living on the taxpayer teat or working for a living and weve got to admit, its not so bad to live off everyone else as long as you dont have to do anything to get it!

The Middle Class is disappearing much faster than it came here and that make us all either rich or poor to some extent. When your poor, your not likely to ever become otherwise, the differences between the lifestyles of the Working and non working poor are minimal. Why work for nothing when you can get the same without working?

Its getting worse, not better. If we do not save the middle class, we will resemble something out of the Middle Ages before you know it. The Shining City on the hill will be replaced by the Lord of the Manor on the hill and the minions serving in the trenches!

It's called 'Operation Dumbing Down.' And, wow! does it work! :eek:

Yep, Like no child left behind.

Well stated Webley

While reading what you posted my mind went back further in history. 1861. Lincoln did many things during the War that were not his to be doing but due to the fear of the war and threat of it going on even longer he was allowed to do things beyond the power of the executive branch. It happens every time something happens to threaten the perceived security allof of people think we have. Just look at all we got from 9/11, Patriot Act, Homeland Security, TSA.

Despite all of this and all of the power the executive brach wields we still had a Russian nuclear sub in the gulf waters this summer that went undetected, thought we paid allot of money for that sort of thing to be kept an eye on.

Bad thing now tCan is that we are living more in the fear of our own government. There are days when I seriously believe it is a bigger threat than terrorist. Especially in the scope of freedom. I'd much rather die a free man than live in a country with no freedom.

We have created and saved the middle class; we just did it in China. A hell of money was made in the process.

During my youth and young manhood, the middle class got a substantial part of the wealth by working for it. Now most of wealth is created by and for investors, speculators and bankers, and corporate raiders, who do not produce goods or services. It has been a redistribution of wealth from the workers to the shysters.

I am glad I made most of my living in the 70s, 80s and 90s, cause there is not much for the working man out there now.

I grew up during the Cold War and I have never lived in fear. Maybe I wasn't paying attention......I am now living in an economic war and am still not living in fear. (althoug I am pissed a bit) I have seen all kinds of changes, and other than the nastiness of the people towards each other and the government, not much has changed.

You seem to think that "Socialism" is a new thing since the cold war. There has always been some degree of "socialism" in our society. That is why the founders talked about things like:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Common defence and general welfare could be read as "socialist" ideas, and discussed in the first paragraph of our Constitution....

It is all a matter of degree.

I have always been proud of my country and loved it more than my own life. To see our national flag floating in the breeze still makes me damn proud. I honor our founders and the servicemen and women that sacrificed for over 200 years. I served honerably, in our military, during the 1970s and I have to say, I am getting damn sick and tired of people talking about our failed or failing nation. If people really feel that the country has gone so bad they should either work together to change what they don't like or don't let the door hit them in the ass on the way out.

Chainfire I do agree with you, it really ticks me when I hear all this crap about us living in a police state. Comparing the U.S. to the nazi Germany because a Leo asked for identification. Well one way you can tell that's not true is your on a public forum saying it and you haven't disappeared. No it not perfect, no I don't like a lot of what's going on. But ranting a lot of militant BS is not going to change a thing. Get involved, call and write your senators and congressmen. Run for office. Win support from others by showing positive light on gun owners.
Yes I think that government all government (local, state, and fed) is and has been overstepping their boundaries more and more. And they are great at using divide and conquer. They start with the smallest groups, you don't care because it doesn't effect you, so they get away with it. Then they get to something you do care about, you have no support because you gave no support. Hell why do they have a right to decide I can't see or by anything larger than a 16 oz soft drink in a cup. Look at all the smoking bans, the government telling business owners they no longer have a right to allow smoking in a building they own. How many of you set quietly while these people lost their rights. I could go on but you should get my point.