Via email from Blackwing1:
This probably first appeared on October 13th, 1965. But this mindset in U.S. politicians goes back to at least FDR. And internationally it goes much further. It is not quite so blatantly as Linus’s delivery here, but there is a probably at least a fragment of this mindset in nearly everyone. I strongly suspect the foundation of it had survival benefits from the time our ancestors first started roaming the savanna in tribes. Hence it is probably hardwired into our brains.
Just like believing the world is flat and the center of the universe, it takes a special type of brain to push aside the hardwiring and see reality. I really, really need to make that blog post about how to determine truth from falsity.
Funny timing. Just got this meme in my feed today:
“The problem with socialism is you eventually run out of other peoples money.” “Babe, we are $38 trillion in debt under *capitalism*.”
Please look at the portion of the federal budget allocated to socialistic programs. That can not be blamed on capitalism.
What’s your definition of “socialistic programs?” Is social security socialist? I mean, we pay into it and in theory it’s just an investment program, but it’s got social right there in the name, so I assume all the good capitalists won’t be drawing “social” security when they retire.
Medicare? That’s probably socialist.
Is the military socialist? Because that’s where the debt is growing fastest thanks to the Orange Shitgibbon bombing random people for no good reason. (Have we invaded Cuba yet? I hear that’s next. Or are we just planning on blockading it, removing the blockade, then blockading the blockade?) It’s on track to jump two spots past interest on the debt and non-military discretionary spending into third place, right after social security and medicare.
https://economicsinsider.com/us-federal-budget-2025/
Have you considered moving to North Korea? I’m sure they’d let you, if only for the propaganda value.
Have you considered making an argument? Or are you just here to post snarky replies?
“Is social security socialist?”
It is a Ponzi scheme, fully and completely… which matches what happens in socialism pretty well in terms of actual outcome.
“I assume all the good capitalists won’t be drawing “social” security when they retire.”
Why wouldn’t I? I disagree with the federal government spending money on it (for multiple reasons), but until they stop wasting money on it, I might as well get my share to try to make up for the taxes I paid into it (but don’t worry, the odds that there’s any left for me to collect by then are actually very, very, VERY small).
“Medicare? That’s probably socialist.”
Yep. Fairly directly. And the outcome of it is bad enough to match, generally speaking, along with it having horrible warping effects on medical care (and how we pay for it) in general. In fact, that’s been one of the primary causes for the giant mess that was medical insurance (before Obamacare made it so much worse).
“Is the military socialist? Because that’s where the debt is growing fastest”
Congratulations on being financially and economically illiterate to match your civic illiteracy. The military is one of the very few things the government is actually SUPPOSED to do.
Iran has been at war with us for 47 years. It has been the primary funder of international terrorism for nearly all of that time, as well. Nice of some President to finally notice and do something about it.
If you’re worried about the cost (and 95+% of the people acting worried about the cost are not remotely worried about any other cost from the Federal Government, EVER, to the point that they get mad at people for pointing out fraud, so it’s clearly in bad faith), then I will just point out that’s what happens when you don’t pay for something for 47 years – you end up paying lots and lots of interest on it.
Are we now to endure an argument that the Roads and Highways, Telephone System, Electricity Grid, and Natural Gas Systems are Socialist programs because anyone who wishes to can buy whatever automobile or bus ticket, telephone account or other utility account to avail themselves of the benefits of these things?
That has been my experience in the past whenever someone asks what in particular is a ” “Socialist program”.
Way back when, the founding Fathers saw that separating the defense out among only the states that felt the harm and threat directly did not ensure the common defense, which is why the Legislature was given the power to among other functions, “provide for the Common Defense”.
Social Security is not a savings plan. The money isn’t invested. It is closer to a Ponzi scheme. All the food and housing subsidies count just as the medical subsidies.
Just because someone accepts the money does not mean they cannot be opposed to the money being originally taken from them.
If I am opposed to the money being taken by Big Government to the extent that I cannot do for myself due to the money being taken for others in taxes, then I should spurn what little money I can get back through the program? It’s hard to calculate what the program costs the taxpayer, because there is time consumed by keeping the records so the taxpayer can survive an IRS Audit (or does that not count?). Then there is the money actually paid for the program, which may or may not be considered as a tax. Then there is the non-trivial amount consumed in administrative costs AND the costs of auditing the recipients to reduce the loss to fraud as recent audits in California and Washington and Minnesota show (or does that somehow also not count?).
Whatever is left from those costs can be then distributed to the worthy program recipients.
If we are to be taxed for this program, against our philosophies and against the idea that we can do better over 40 years than a Ponzi scheme can, are we to be reduced to beggars on the street rather than recoup whatever percentage is returned through the magnanimity of the government?