My 401(k) just took a direct hit in the trade war.
One minute, I was dreaming of a beachside retirement…
Now I’m Googling “how to turn moss into soup.”
📉💥🍃
That’s a very healthy and correct way to look at it. Government is a service, and it’s ‘usually’ cost effective to pool money together to provide all those services..
This is why the GOP & billionaire pals are trying to crash & grab the US Treasury as quickly as possible!! if enough Americans wake up to the fact that middle America has been totally scammed by the rich for the past 50 years - it could be a turning point to true freedom in America!!
How can you object to the person paying for the services own them? We the people need to take it back. The billionaires can go $%& themselves until they pay their fair share.
When these assholes ride around with the don’t tread on me flag they have no clue that the wealthy are laughing at them. Are they going to tell their parents when they lose their SS to pull themselves up by their boot staps??
A wealthy man's acts abusing our WH & Wealthy GOP abusing our Congress misusing Congressional Powers to force Working Americans to fund roads MEGA WEALTHY drive upon-bridges connecting those roads, water used in their mega wealth producing plants/industries/businesses/WH & Congress's PAY & utilities
Because that literally isn't socialism. Literally any economic system, people expect when they pay taxes to that system that it functions in their favor.
I'm a socialist. Unfortunately most of the American populace have been lied to about socialism.
Basically you pay your way through taxes. Taxes can sometimes be high because your transport, hospitals, garbage collection, schools are already paid for.
Capitalism and privatisation bills you twice.
Exactly! One of their distraction moves. When you demand things your taxes have paid for, they call you lazy and entitled. Knee jerk reaction for most people is, “I’m not lazy or entitled, so these things must be wrong.” Learn critical thinking folks, or you will forever be the simp for the con.
Government is the buffer between exploitation (corporations) and humanity (population). The taxes collected should be used to support the population. That's what government is for.
If everyone, including corporations, places of worship-POWs, and billionaires paid 10%, no one would feel it isn’t fair, and there’d be enough money for everyone & everything.
Why are people who pay nothing benefiting from those paying for everything?
Over half of American voters, for the first time since polling began, are open to a socialist govt, and are finally aware of the difference between ‘socialism’ and ‘communism’
Need a source for social programs that actually do something for the people in the US. The Defense budget. If we took less than 2/3's of that budget say 600 billion we would still lead the world in Defense spending.
Socialism is not a bad word. Socialism takes care of everyone, helps people prosper, gives people better opportunities. It takes stresses and fears away. It build strong communities.
For Christ's sake, can we ditch the "sOciAlISTs wAnT fReE sTufF" myth already? We want workers to be paid everything that they earn, with no profit margins, shareholders, or middle-managers siphoning wages off from the people doing the actual frigging work.
Without taxes, you don't have fire services. Police services. Water service. Electrical service. Natural gas service. Trash service. You don't have roads or streets. You don't get schools without taxes. In a sense everyone is socialist. You enjoy social services, paid for by yourself.
The way that any amount of economic and social fairness (let alone empathy) is often labeled as „socialism“ or „Marxism“ or „radical left lunacism“ is really irritating to me.
I am a socialist and proud of it. Socialism doesn’t eliminate wealth but ensures that the system is structured in a way that minimizes inequality and prioritizes the well-being of ALL citizens. That is why I am a socialist
I call myself a Socio-capitalist: everyone should have food, shelter, clothing, education, work - and I also enjoy the benefits of earning a little more
I like the ways the Scandinavian countries spread the wealth and take care of their citizens from cradle to grave, high taxation but many services are provided for ALL citizens.
It's called the Nordic Model, and my favourite point to make to all those lovers of the free market 🙄, is the Scandinavian countries do all their business in a capitalist world, so it can work anywhere!
I live in Sweden, pay 33% tax, BUT.. we have excellent services, rds,public transport, healthcare, our boys had free school lunches, laptops, field trips, fin study asst, now enj free uni tuition, can hire a city student flat for around $600, we are net receivers for our taxes..
Yes we do, I recently underwent a gastroscopy and colonoscopy, under anesthetic, full recovery team, cost = 350 crowns, about $25/$30.. I think even basic meds in the US are horrific prices..
The fact that you have to BEG YOUR GOVERNMENT for EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND JUSTICE speaks loudly to what kind of government has been INSTALLED. Is this what winning really feels like? 🇨🇦
Exactly. Nobody likes taxes, but when they pay for those things that benefit everyone, it works. Now we get nothing and directly hand even more money over to the wealthy. It's not hard to see what they are doing.
The word socialism has been systematically connoted to become associated with something evil and unpatriotic when in all actuality it just means that everyone should begin on an even playing field.
No in groups that benefit from structural unfairness, no out groups to persecute.
The word socialist has been bastardized by the right. Read what socialism is, then decide. They think we're communists, too. They don't understand the actual meanings of these words since people on Fox and podcasts tell you otherwise.
Spot on. And this is why they must dismantle education. The rest of the world understands that education is the teaching of critical thinking. Republicans are on a warpath to institute indoctrination.
There is a difference between socialism and social programs.
Kids should be able to eat.
I want someone to answer when I call 911.
You need roads.
What i don't need is mega corps paying even less taxes but giving execs $1M bonuses.
Exactly, it is our money, not their money. And I want support for my neighbors and myself with programs that only a government can provide. I am not willing, or probably able, to get all the services I need from the private sector.
We have a government to work for the many not the few.
The right makes socialism sound like a failed system and most successful countries, for example, are socialist democracy like Finland, Norway, Australia, etc. Their basic needs are met with their taxes at no additional cost. We need to educate!
I didn't realize how TRULY off the rails people had gotten until I was trapped in my house, in some actual danger of freezing to death, during the 2021 Texas Power Grid Fuckup.
Shitheads in my state were posting from their dying phones, saying shit like "THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T OWE YOU ELECTRICITY."
I am a socialist, I am Canadian, and what is happening to the US is what happens in End Stage Capitalism. You can’t have a predatory ideology in a finite system, you always end up at Fascism. Every fucking time, to protect the top. Happiest countries on earth are Social Democratic. Not Capitalistic.
Acts 2:44-45 King James Version (KJV)
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
What's your deal? Do you lack an understanding of satirical commentary? I checked your page I don't see where we do not agree. I will just have to assume you did not look to deeply before you decided I was wrong. It's fine if you don't agree though I'd like to know what you mean by No.
Could you maybe keep saying it , it gives hope in the face of Americans who vote against universal healthcare in order to give billionaires tax breaks ...because Charlie kirk said that's bad socialism or they actually think Vlad is a fkn socialist
And boy aren't the wannabe Marxist-Leninists outdoing themselves in the comments! Talking about boomers and GenXers believing faulty propaganda all these years...despite all evidence to the contrary! And their last bastion is always China, which hasn't been socialist since they know it doesn't work
I suggest we imprison this entire administration in an absolute hell hole of a gulag and then gleefully declare we’ve finally given up on wokeness too.
This is normal to want these things. I did not work my ass off all those years and happily paid my taxes for some greedy billionaire fuckers to become overlords. I want people to get help. For the first time in my life, I am witnessing the removal of public healthcare. Now I am affected.
My first major interaction with "socialism" was when I was saved by DHHS in 1985. Without the govt social programs to fund child welfare and foster care, I'd either be dead or unwillingly pregnant at 12.
I've fostered/adopted & am now watching every program to help foster kids be eliminated. 🤬
I am sorry to hear your childhood was so hard. I am glad you got the help to get your into a safe place. This stuff makes me so angry about social programs being eliminated. We have a Premier where I live that took away snacks and drinks from a child cancer care facility, here is Alberta.
Neither you or the person i the post seem to understand socialism which has many forms including Democratic socialism where taxes are used to promote the common good.
I'm a socialist democrat, and this speaks to me. That Socialists want free stuff is a lie. Everybody would love free stuff! Most people work for it, except for the grifters.
Socialism has an unfair reputation. What are libraries, police, public schools, decent roads, fire fighters, etc. if not things for the good of all of us and paid for with taxes?
I don't understand why one of the basic perks of being a citizen of the country with highest GDP on the planet by far isn't universal health care and education.
Everyone actually loves socialism because no one ever truly experienced it. If they did they’d never want to go back to backwards system like this one. Capitalists done a good job at making us hate the word for if socialism existed it would make rich more or less obsolete.
And I want all of that for EVERYONE- not just the people I like. I want maga parents to have doctors, schools, childcare, outdoor spaces, clean water, etc. ALL OF US.
Police, military, all socialist. Collective coordination is efficient. It’s only a political bad word because of right wing talking points, but they are all socialists also, we all are.
No, socialists want to feed people. I'm a socialist and have never wanted "free stuff." I do, however, cringe at the sight of a hungry person... it's called being a decent human being with compassion and empathy
We have all these things in Europe because we pay taxes and in my country the rich pay their fair share too. Simple.
Are we socialist then?
Just asking. We.pay.taxes!
When sanders ran we got accused of wanting free stuff but oddly enough when he was forced out half his supporters went to 🍊💩. Republicans like to label it as wanting free stuff so they can pocket the $ or their donors can
Abraham Lincoln said that the function of government is to do for citizens what they can't do for themselves. I agree: building interstate highways, providing for the poor, the disabled, hungry kids, the unemployed due to the greed of employers--all of these need larger resources and help.
When our earliest towns were formed it was common sense to pool citizen resources via taxes to build roads & schools, & wealthy people were required to support the poor. There was no expectation anyone would do these things alone as it’s unrealistic. Early taxes were like an insurance pool.
The radical libertarians, though, want to end government that can help citizens because they want to say that they don't NEED government and we shouldn't either. This is ALEC and the Koch brothers, who worked for decades to be FREE themselves to avoid taxes and earn unlimited $$.
It's a philosophy - not necessarily a political dogma.
If this speaks to you, you hold socialist philosophical beliefs. Regardless of what the right says, that's good.
Republicans hold socialist beliefs too. We pay the military to defend all citizens. The police and fire department the same.
Yes. It is all of these things. The New Deal was Liberal Order attempt at socialism, specifically to stave off communism and left socialism (which it worked and well)
So call that what you will. I will call it imitation socialism.
Elites have got you scared. If you agree with the golden rule, critical thinking leads away from any system that thrives on inequality but not caring enough to eradicate inequality. That's where "I'm no socialist" comes from.
Socialism and social democracy are better than what we have, by far. The spread between the 1% and the 98% is far less in both because of wealth distribution. Not to mention universal healthcare.
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!
Bring that shit back!
The whole rogue crew needs to go. They are doing things that dont represent the people. The US pays taxes that cover their salary.
Do Europeans pay high taxes? Yes, they do. In return, they get good roads, trains that run on time, free health care, free college, and a high quality of life in many ways.
We get none of that, and have to support the oligarchy and Orange Cheeto on top of it all.
I believe you are hung up on is labels.
Socialism is, at its core, the cooperation of people to ensure the wellbeing of the group. VOLUNTARILY!
What you have now in USA, Russia & China is Authoritarianism. Whether from the right or left its manifestation is identical - COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE MASSES
This would irritate the bible thumping Christian Nationalists, but Socialism as you explained it was the system used by the Seer Joseph in Genesis 41 to get people through a bad drought and food shortage.
"And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need." Acts 2:44
I hope you’re right but it does very much look like ‘disaster capitalism’ where chaos is deliberately caused so that the opportunists can prosper. Unforgivably created when USA was financially stable. Socialism is for the majority. Capitalism for the few, and currently it is the very few.
Instead of giving money to rich people, we could take that money and use it directly on the goods & services we need.
There’s no accountability to make sure the funds given to rich people (either directly or through tax breaks.) but if a poor needs food, they have to drug test & go through hoops.
Every budget item is a decision someone made. We’ve had the manufacturing capability to take care of most people, but we decide to distribute it badly.
Meanwhile, we decided that people like Trump must be rich, so they can fail and draw all they want from our coffers
Hard to tell is this about Socialists or Billionaires? Bezos loves delivering goods by using our roads but doesn’t want to pay taxes to help take care of them.
In the US you see socialism as a bad thing? I think it gets mixed up with Communism which is bad. Socialism is the NHS in the UK, it's you paying in and your taxes benefiting your whole community. My taxes just paid for my friend to have cancer treatment. I love that I could be socialist for him.
There's a difference between communist socialism and Democratic socialism. GQPers have blurred that difference. Capitalism doesn't work unless it's tempered with Democratic socialism, as we are all finding out.
Part of the concern about socialism is that communist countries (USSR, Cuba, etc) lable themselves "socialist" so people hear socialism and think communism. That's why Cubans vote for GQP, why many Americans don't understand the difference between socialism and communism so fear socialism.
But people don't seem to care that it costs between 3-5 million PER WEEKEND for him to play golf. That is not considering that a big chunk of that is paid directly to his golf courses and resorts. He is grifting, all the while making us pay the bill. Cnn won't even say the cost.
The Red Scare made a lot of ppl in the US afraid of anything that sounded even a little like communism. Because of that, many Americans mix up socialism and communism.
This led people to believe that anything promoting social programs, workers’ rights, or economic equality was "communist"
The right wing media, certainly here in the UK have demonised socialism. It doesn’t help that the major political parties here are capitalist. The link to communism is never far away which puts fear into a lot of people. It’s also used as an insult at times. Crazy, caring about others eh?
Unlike most countries, which are Democratic socialist, this shit doesn't happen. A country that desires to be solely capitalistic, well, this is what you get. When it's profit over the well-being of the country's people, this is what you get.
Socialists do *not* want free stuff. They want worker control of the modes of production. The very opposite of vacuous consumerist, debt-funded financialised capitalism. Social democrats want capitalism embedded in society. Not free stuff. Wages that track productivity, & investment not extraction.
The happiest country in the world, Finland, is also one of the most heavily taxed.
Taxes aren't inherently bad, as long as they're used to return value to citizens that they otherwise couldn't get: infrastructure, social programs, etc.
Cutting taxes just for the sake of it is short-sighted.
You don't have to be a Socialist to believe that your taxes should be used to make life and society better for the people paying them. That's not Socialism. That's just how any democratic form of governance should work.
I believe in having an efficient, well run and accountable government that collects taxes to: establish justice, promote the general welfare, provide for the common defense, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.
Only uneducated, selfish brutes would deny public services to everyone in the community, while allowing untaxed wealth growth to a few who exploit everyone else.
(2)Debate about National debt is economic one & lot of rubbish talked about it. All nations have national debt-like overdraft or credit card: facilitates managed spending if used wisely. Whether too high involves proportionate comparison between Nations, based on GDP & expectation.
(1)Fundamental expectations of resourced society of Government. In US aim of Fed to facilitate "..life, liberty & pursuit of happiness" Not beyond its means but certainly within a realistic framework. US is one wealthiest nations so should enable better quality of life for all, not just elites.
🧵1/3 The negative light shined on socialism/communism traces back to FDR’s era. Oligarchs saw the people embracing socialist policies—and panicked. Thus began the "red scare," a propaganda tool that’s poisoned our society for decades.
#classwar #capitalism
2/ The rich realized they couldn’t hoard obscene wealth if the public demanded empathy & fairness. So they manufactured fear, painting socialism as evil. The cruelest trick? Convincing the poor to fight against their own interests. #RedScare #Propaganda
3/ The "red scare" wasn’t about protecting freedom—it was about protecting oligarchy. By equating socialism with tyranny, elites ensured workers would reject policies that could uplift them. And the lie persists today. #WealthGap #Solidarity
What Americans call capitalism is simply the rich dominating, and counter to that are the ideologies of socialism which is what most governments are built on in the first place. What’s best in every nation comes from socialism, and the struggle always stems from wealth.
This individual doesn't understand what "socialism" is...it's infrastructure, roads, bridges, police and fire departments, libraries, public schools and colleges, and so much more...all the things Americans use and need EVERY SINGLE DAY.
these are nice things but socialism is about working class democracy. we live our whole lives without any democracy at work and fake elections controlled by rich people. we get nice things when working people get to allocate the resources of society to the vast majority
I wish people would say “included” instead of “free”. Like elementary school and the military and police and the postal service. Even congress and the Supreme Court are included in our taxes.
I am a social democrat. And a proud one.
A social democrat cares. A capitalist does not.
A conservative does not. And an economical liberalist doesn't give a fuck.
The ONLY human centered ideology is Social Democratic. All other ideologies are hateful. EVERY SINGLE ONE of all the political "isms".
That’s funny! Socialist pay for their “free stuff”. VAT in the UK is 30%. Referred to as value added tax. Imagine spending month in hospital with an original flu virus in isolation and your bill is 0.00. You are not going to go bankrupt for catching a virus. Get the 1% to pay their fair share!
It is quite complex, I didn't know anything could be higher than 20%, though, and I'm still not convinced they can.
I know there are things that vary, like gas and electric at 5% . The highest I could find for solicitors was 14%
What? I'm English and didn't know it was higher for solicitors. Obviously, justice comes at a premium here..
I know it's cheaper on fuel and isn't applied for some foods. Seriously, though, hiring a solicitor incurs that much VAT? 😳
The people demonizing socialism are the right wing billionaires who profit the most from an unrestrained capitalist system and who own the media companies who indoctrinate the people into believing their self serving twaddle! Democratic socialism delivers highest quality of life for the masses! Fact
People complain about the taxes in Canada. I think they forget that our infrastructure is mostly up to date. We DON’T fear of a bridge falling. Our garbage gets picked up weekly, kids can go to any school except private ofcourse. When you are sick, your only worry is the wait time and not a bill.
Are you not a socialist? Or do you think you aren't a socialist because of a knee-jerk reaction consitioned by a life of exposure to capitalist propaganda?
The super duper wealthy have throughout history vilified masses of people coming together as an aberration. This era it's called communism, in other eras, Jacobian, anarchists, populists, agitators, outside agitators, etc. On and on into antiquity. Ironic that the duper wealthy claim Christianity.
Capitalism is predatory, exploitative, and oppressive. An economic policy that requires profits to always go up, at all costs, is unsustainable and naturally abuses the working class.
Comments
Fascism the rich have everything you have nothing
One minute, I was dreaming of a beachside retirement…
Now I’m Googling “how to turn moss into soup.”
📉💥🍃
We work so they can play
As there's no IRS anymore, who can ask you to?
For example, Putin's Russia is certainly NOT communism. It's an oligarchy headed by an authoritarian.
What is a 'socialist' to you - or others? 🤔
Socislism means, to me, that wealth in a society should be distributed fairly enough, so that everybody has real dignity and safety.
I'm proud to have always been a socialist!
Basically you pay your way through taxes. Taxes can sometimes be high because your transport, hospitals, garbage collection, schools are already paid for.
Capitalism and privatisation bills you twice.
Why are people who pay nothing benefiting from those paying for everything?
And if they disagree just point out that the system benefits them more, so they should be willing to pay more for its upkeep.
Kind of a reasonable aim, yes?
americans seem to have this feeling that taxes are some sort of penalty imposed on people for making money
Regardless of how I feel about it.
What is so frustrating is that when one looks at how humanity works, socialism should be the most sensible way to exist.
But capitalism speaks to narcissism, the right of the individual over the collective good of all.
It’s literally common sense. No wonder the 🇺🇸 is fucked.
THEE most successful countries in Europe
But remember $ 4trillion tax break = good
Universal healthcare- socialism so must be bad
Of course socialism means not working and just wanting everything for free........ if your 4
No in groups that benefit from structural unfairness, no out groups to persecute.
Which is the polical equivalent to Jumbo Shrimp, Hot Chili, or Smart MAGA.
Oxymoron. I really wish this convo had taken place LAST Saturday. "Smart MAGA" would've set my class OFF.
Kids should be able to eat.
I want someone to answer when I call 911.
You need roads.
What i don't need is mega corps paying even less taxes but giving execs $1M bonuses.
We have a government to work for the many not the few.
Shitheads in my state were posting from their dying phones, saying shit like "THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T OWE YOU ELECTRICITY."
Like...motherfucker, you PAID for that electricity, at the START of the month.
If you hadn't paid it, they would've cut your shit off.
So yeah, someone owes you some goddamn electrons.
But they were sitting in the freezing darkness, warming themselves by "owning the libs."
Acts 2:44-45 King James Version (KJV)
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Could you maybe keep saying it , it gives hope in the face of Americans who vote against universal healthcare in order to give billionaires tax breaks ...because Charlie kirk said that's bad socialism or they actually think Vlad is a fkn socialist
Sorry If I offended anyone calling trump a rapist
Trump is a rapist
Join a rally -- our chance to speak our minds. (My mind has a LOT to say....)
https://HandsOff2025.com
I've fostered/adopted & am now watching every program to help foster kids be eliminated. 🤬
She should go live in the USA.
Also a CONservative. If that fucking Poilievre gets in I will lose my ever loving mind.
Sorry for swearing but it feels right.
It's NOT socialist to want what you are paying for.
Just crazy…
Just seems like soulless greed.
We pay similar Federal taxes in Canada that you do in the USA.
We have medical care included, while you pay extra for that.
Somehow a whole country was convinced this is better. By the guys that hoard the taxes.
It's not what the word means. It never has been. But it just is now.
If you’re not going to receive a refund, don’t file.
Are we socialist then?
Just asking. We.pay.taxes!
If this speaks to you, you hold socialist philosophical beliefs. Regardless of what the right says, that's good.
Republicans hold socialist beliefs too. We pay the military to defend all citizens. The police and fire department the same.
It's the New Deal.
As American as apple pie.
Yes. It is all of these things. The New Deal was Liberal Order attempt at socialism, specifically to stave off communism and left socialism (which it worked and well)
So call that what you will. I will call it imitation socialism.
Bring that shit back!
The whole rogue crew needs to go. They are doing things that dont represent the people. The US pays taxes that cover their salary.
We get none of that, and have to support the oligarchy and Orange Cheeto on top of it all.
Socialism is, at its core, the cooperation of people to ensure the wellbeing of the group. VOLUNTARILY!
What you have now in USA, Russia & China is Authoritarianism. Whether from the right or left its manifestation is identical - COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE MASSES
Most of the time those who claim to be socialists are not, like Sanders is not a socialist!
and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need." Acts 2:44
There’s no accountability to make sure the funds given to rich people (either directly or through tax breaks.) but if a poor needs food, they have to drug test & go through hoops.
Meanwhile, we decided that people like Trump must be rich, so they can fail and draw all they want from our coffers
This led people to believe that anything promoting social programs, workers’ rights, or economic equality was "communist"
These tenets are the basis of the Dem party platform.
Taxes aren't inherently bad, as long as they're used to return value to citizens that they otherwise couldn't get: infrastructure, social programs, etc.
Cutting taxes just for the sake of it is short-sighted.
I believe in having an efficient, well run and accountable government that collects taxes to: establish justice, promote the general welfare, provide for the common defense, and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.
Thats socialism
Only uneducated, selfish brutes would deny public services to everyone in the community, while allowing untaxed wealth growth to a few who exploit everyone else.
#classwar #capitalism
Goalpost moved.
Nothing to do with socialism 😁
M4A is centrist.
The problem is people in the USA face eons of indoctrination with regard to the term socialism.
But something about Vietnam
A social democrat cares. A capitalist does not.
A conservative does not. And an economical liberalist doesn't give a fuck.
The ONLY human centered ideology is Social Democratic. All other ideologies are hateful. EVERY SINGLE ONE of all the political "isms".
🤪
You are forgiven.
I know there are things that vary, like gas and electric at 5% . The highest I could find for solicitors was 14%
I know it's cheaper on fuel and isn't applied for some foods. Seriously, though, hiring a solicitor incurs that much VAT? 😳