Open Court Topic #1: “U.S.S.A.” (The United Socialist States of America)??? Surely Not! What Do You Think?
By Corey Thompson, filed in Open Court on Feb.26, 2009
***(Editor’s Note: In an effort to promote more dialogue among our readers, “The Thirsty Quill” will now run a special series entitled “Open Court” each week. Typically these questions/prompts will run in conjunction with a controversial issue or ‘hot topic,’ while others may be entirely random and cover a more obscure subject altogether. Regardless, the aim of these questions/prompts will be to encourage more debate, dialogue, and discussion among readers of ‘The Quill.’)***
“Open Court” Question for the Week of February 23-27:
Do you believe that America is currently on the path to Socialism? Why, or why not? If so, what are the potential consequences or problems associated with such a system in the United States of America? If not, what measures do you believe are in place to prevent such a change?
February 27th, 2009 on 12:17 am
Do you believe that America is currently on the path to Socialism? No
I think that conservative republicans who have lost most, if not all, faith in our government are floundering using this term to ratchet up rhetoric to keep what’s left of their political base holding tight around the flagpole long enough for a real political leader to emerge for their party.
I happen to think that the odds of conservatives staking their claims into President Obama as there own conservative leader is more likely than a better political option arising in the next four years or socialism taking hold of our government.
If not, what measures do you believe are in place to prevent such a change?
Democracy, Liberty, Freedom of Speech, Freedom to assemble. Americans, no matter how aloof, will never stand for a dictator in charge of this Country.
Perhaps a question about whether we are at risk of global corporate fascism would be more appropriate? Not more palatable, but more appropriate?
February 27th, 2009 on 9:15 am
Freedom of Speech liberty is about to be taken away. RE: Fairness Doctrine.
February 27th, 2009 on 9:48 am
It is a shame what the government is doing. I understand Obama is doing what he thinks is best for our country, for our economy, and for the American people individually, but he needs to begin to look at what our founding fathers fought for, FREEDOM. Our founding fathers may not have known what America was going to be like 100-200 years after they signed that Constitution, all they knew was that they wanted it to be a free market, society, and religion.
I woke up today at 6am to the news that our government has just taken ownership of 40% of CITI Bank. Great..the complete opposite of what our country was founded upon.
February 27th, 2009 on 6:51 pm
You talk about our founding fathers like they were this homogenous group who all believed the same thing. Remember the Federalist debates? The Federalists advocated more Federal control of banks, trade, higher taxes, etc. Our second President was a Federalist and to assume that he hated freedom because he advocated a strong central government is absurd.
“The operations of the federal government will be most extensive and important in times of war and danger; those of the State governments, in times of peace and security.”
James Madison- Federalist Papers, No. 45, January 26, 1788
March 1st, 2009 on 11:18 pm
Let the record show; the liberal is the only one who has actually answered the question.
March 2nd, 2009 on 7:24 pm
Are we moving in the direction of socialism? I’ll let Webster’s answer it.
so⋅cial⋅ism /ˈsoʊʃəˌlɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [soh-shuh-liz-uhm]
–noun 1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
-”vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution”: Auto bailout. Game
- “of capital”: AIG, Citigroup. Set
-”land”: Mortgage Bailout Plan. Match
If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck I’d call it a duck. I guess some on the left may see it as the goose that they hope will lay the golden egg.
Are we moving in the direction of Socialism? Yes… or perhaps I should say Oui.