Socialism

We've heard a lot about the "socialist" nature of the proposed health care reform. Well, we've been going "socialist" for a long time now. Imagine the uproar if we proposed giving up Social Security, Medicare, etc. What about all the hidden "socialism" in the form of gov't subsidies?

I was upset a bit with the normally rational Congressman McCotter and his support for the clunkers program. It seems very, ahem, inconsistent with his overall philosophy. A much better solution would be a tax credit or deduction for the clunkers/new purchases. Then, people who have been keeping abreast of better mileage cars wouldn't be paying for others' cars.

These "anointed" go after the CEOs and other corporate types because of their salaries, bonuses, etc. Why haven't they gone after athletes, entertainers, etc.? How can there not be "outrage" at some baseball player, playing a kids' game, making tens of millions of dollars? Why aren't these folks who know better than the rest of us making comments about Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter, and tons of other professional jocks? For that matter, where is the concern with the millions Oprah makes? Why is her income sacrosanct, yet the pay of the head of Microsoft fair game for criticism? And, what about the Kennedies and the other millionaires on Capitol Hill? The hypocrisy is nauseating.

And, come to think of it, if we are buying other people's houses, cars, etc., when will we start paying for their groceries, fuel, and other necessities? After all, if "the anointed" hold that owning a house is "a right," how far behind can eating be?

A good insight to socialism was found in Scott Turow's book, Ordinary Heroes. With my take on it, it goes something like this: Under socialism, ordinary people are "entitled to want more, while the rich [are obligated] to want less." Isn't that so?