Friday, August 21, 2009

USSA

I'm sure many will disagree with these thoughts, but I just want to say that I am absolutely baffled by the way Americans have demonized socialism. Literally I feel like we're living in 1950's America and the socialism-paranoia is reaching McCarthy-esque levels of absurdity.

How exactly does socialism threaten America? How can providing everyone with health care harm democracy? Or is it capitalism? A public option wouldn't mandate anyone to leave their private insurers behind. If anything, it would improve competition and care (what ardent capitalists value), kind of like the competition between UPS, FedEx, and USPS. Why can't we think of democracy and socialism working together to foster better forms of governance? Must we insist that they remain mutually exclusive?
And how does this tie into a common American fear of Russian strength and civilization?

I feel like this is a lost cause in America. Socialism has been stigmatized to a point of no return, and our national political discourse doesn't examine it enough for the populace to re-examine misconceptions and identify how major media outlets have propagandized our minds and minimized our ability to think creatively about governance, civilization, and how it connects to modern and ancient history, recent trends in geopolitics, and the stifling superiority complex that clouds our ability to connect with unconventional religion & spirituality, politics, and ways of life.

Universal health care for all! Coverage for all! When a dangerously ill individual primarily feels fear when approaching treatment options because they worry over inability to afford care, then we simply need to establish opportunities for the sick to feel confidence, support, and assurance that they will be taken care of. As my dad always says, health is number one. Without it, you have nothing. So why not allow the government to offer the OPTION (not a mandate) to cover those who need it? Even universal coverage wouldn't hurt, but now I flirt with socialism and will ruffle too many feathers.

Is it feasible: a United Socialist States of America? Never in name. But strands of socialism can uphold our capitalist democracy. Look no further than the VA.