WHOSE SOCIALISM?

Obama is a socialist. Obama is not a socialist. So the sides argue.

Each side is debating on a different premise and neither seems to realize it. The Left sees socialism as that form of government represented by Sweden or Germany and argues for it. The Right sees socialism as it is exemplified by Venezuela, Cuba or the USSR and argues against it. Resolution cannot occur as long as the two sides continue to argue past each other.

A recent Rasmussen poll reported that 47% of Americans either think socialism is better than capitalism or are unsure which is better. Liberals heaved a ho-hum, conservatives expressed alarm. Rasmussen asked one question. The respondents each interpreted the question differently and answered accordingly. Conservatives would do well to realize 47% of Americans are not leaning in Hugo Chavez’s direction, Sean Penn notwithstanding. Liberals would do well to realize the Right fears socialism because it is aware of how many times socialism has brought totalitarianism and tyranny to the people.

The Right and the Left have been with us since Aristotle and Plato. We will never agree. But we might learn to understand each other if we only had the book of life open to the same page.

Bob B