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SunnySide · 09-02-2020, 11:20 AM

I think it would be hard for many americans (me included) to have any real intelligent discussion as to the comparison of the definition of "socialism in europe" vs americans definition of socialism. I think we americans really do live in a bubble and dont really think about other countries. i think just the geographical position of the US being guarded and having the atlantic and pacific oceans as huge buffers to europe is part of the reason for our bubble mentality. We arent forced to get along with other countries.

I do think America would be vastly different if we were bordering europe. We border Canada, seemingly a great country with a good head on their shoulders, and Mexico.

I think Mexico is a good segway into the fears some Americans have about their vision of "socialism". Part of our country doesnt want people migrating from el salvador or mexico and then getting "free stuff".

My guess as to how most Americans define "socialism" is "working people paying for lazy poor people". Things like:

- universal healthcare. I personally am weary of universal healthcare bc I saw what medicaid is like for my kid for the first few years of her life. The doctors she could see were limited, often overbooked and hard to get appointments, quality of the facilities and staff were shocking to me. Now my kid is on my very expensive health care plan but she goes to a dentist with tv on the ceiling, has the best pediatrician around with a swank office and getting an appointment is easy.

I think many americans think "universal healthcare" = we all go to medicaid and get crappy service. Doctors in america do not want medicaid bc they get paid pennies on the dollar vs private plans. So if all doctors now have to all get paid gov't set prices and take on any patient who calls ... what incentive is there for the doctors to have a nice office with updated equipment and highly qualified staff?

I work hard, went to post graduate school etc .. why should my kid have the same access to doctors as a family who doesnt work, smokes cigarettes and leaves trash everywhere they go?

I and many americans would need someone to clearly explain to us that the quality of care we currently receive will not go down.

If you say, well you can pay an additional amount to see your preferred doctors .. many americans would say why do i have to pay into a system that i wont even use just to have the privilege of paying even more to see my preferred doctors? Would the quality doctors eventually disappear anyway?

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2835...7i16384!8i8192

I posted this before but this was where my daughters dental office was when she was on medicaid and we lived in Baltimore City.

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1. I dont think your perception is wrong. What many americans view as socialism is actually moderate/centrist for Europe.

2. the american view of socialism (as I tried to describe above) is probably the majority, not the minority.

3. Why are views so vastly different? One, I think america living in its bubble is a major reason. Two, the older generation got hammered during the cold war that socialism = communism = anti america.

Three .. we are a very young country, all things considered, and we had a rock star rise to power based on our perceived notion of american exceptionalism. That if youre strong and committed, you will thrive on your own laurels. That each man is his own island, his home his castle and that if a person sinks or swims is up to them. However, that ignores the fact the some of us were born with life jackets and some were born with nothing. Some were born with diver weights tied to their ankles.

09-02-2020, 11:20 AM	#2
SunnySide Playmaker Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 4,568	Re: The U.S. definition of "Socialism" etc I think it would be hard for many americans (me included) to have any real intelligent discussion as to the comparison of the definition of "socialism in europe" vs americans definition of socialism. I think we americans really do live in a bubble and dont really think about other countries. i think just the geographical position of the US being guarded and having the atlantic and pacific oceans as huge buffers to europe is part of the reason for our bubble mentality. We arent forced to get along with other countries. I do think America would be vastly different if we were bordering europe. We border Canada, seemingly a great country with a good head on their shoulders, and Mexico. I think Mexico is a good segway into the fears some Americans have about their vision of "socialism". Part of our country doesnt want people migrating from el salvador or mexico and then getting "free stuff". My guess as to how most Americans define "socialism" is "working people paying for lazy poor people". Things like: - universal healthcare. I personally am weary of universal healthcare bc I saw what medicaid is like for my kid for the first few years of her life. The doctors she could see were limited, often overbooked and hard to get appointments, quality of the facilities and staff were shocking to me. Now my kid is on my very expensive health care plan but she goes to a dentist with tv on the ceiling, has the best pediatrician around with a swank office and getting an appointment is easy. I think many americans think "universal healthcare" = we all go to medicaid and get crappy service. Doctors in america do not want medicaid bc they get paid pennies on the dollar vs private plans. So if all doctors now have to all get paid gov't set prices and take on any patient who calls ... what incentive is there for the doctors to have a nice office with updated equipment and highly qualified staff? I work hard, went to post graduate school etc .. why should my kid have the same access to doctors as a family who doesnt work, smokes cigarettes and leaves trash everywhere they go? I and many americans would need someone to clearly explain to us that the quality of care we currently receive will not go down. If you say, well you can pay an additional amount to see your preferred doctors .. many americans would say why do i have to pay into a system that i wont even use just to have the privilege of paying even more to see my preferred doctors? Would the quality doctors eventually disappear anyway? https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2835...7i16384!8i8192 I posted this before but this was where my daughters dental office was when she was on medicaid and we lived in Baltimore City. -------------------------------- 1. I dont think your perception is wrong. What many americans view as socialism is actually moderate/centrist for Europe. 2. the american view of socialism (as I tried to describe above) is probably the majority, not the minority. 3. Why are views so vastly different? One, I think america living in its bubble is a major reason. Two, the older generation got hammered during the cold war that socialism = communism = anti america. Three .. we are a very young country, all things considered, and we had a rock star rise to power based on our perceived notion of american exceptionalism. That if youre strong and committed, you will thrive on your own laurels. That each man is his own island, his home his castle and that if a person sinks or swims is up to them. However, that ignores the fact the some of us were born with life jackets and some were born with nothing. Some were born with diver weights tied to their ankles. __________________ 19,937 car accidents a day in the US. Buy a dash camera for everyone you love. Insurance companies are increasingly denying claims.