P. Sainath on American Elections: Socialism haunts America

Pro-Obama television channels are running dictionary definitions of ‘socialism.’ These aim to clear the air by establishing that nothing he has proposed falls into that dreaded territory. In no other electoral democracy in the world is this kind of response possible. Certainly not in Europe where so many of Washington’s allies wear the labels — if not the legacy — of ‘socialism’ and ‘labour.’ To those from most other countries, this ‘debate’ must seem whacko. In the United States, it still has adherents, even if they are confounded by the scarier spectre of economic crisis. Two million families could lose their homes in the mortgage avalanche. But the buzzword, for the Republicans at least, is ‘socialism.’ “Obama says he wants to spread the wealth around,” Mr. McCain now protests. “That’s a basic tenet of socialism. If I were President, I would never do that.”  more  

 NewsBlaze Published: October 25,2008

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Obama Wants A Welfare State For America

By National Black Republican Association

Thanks to Joe the Plumber, we now know for sure that Barack Obama wants to "spread the wealth around." But the Democratic candidate still hasn't come clean on just how much of a European-style socialist he is.

Look at the "tax cut" he says he'll give to 95 percent of Americans. In fact, this is simply a government check he'd hand out - including to millions who don't pay income taxes, since each year 38 percent of Americans already get a full refund. In other words, his "rebate" is a welfare plan, plain and simple.

When called on this, Obama's answer is that those 38 percent still pay payroll taxes, so he's rebating part of those payments. But that actually puts him deeper into the socialist hole. Here's why.

Payroll taxes go to fund Social Security and Medicare - the main US social-insurance programs. The taxes are dedicated because these are insurance programs - you're paying so that you'll be covered when you hit retirement age.  more