Socialism in politics not the same as social programs

Published 11:00 am Saturday, July 23, 2022

I read with interest Peter J. Boylan’s commentary on Socialism (Progressivism) in politics. 

I believe he has confused a socialist government with a government which has social programs.  We are a capitalist country with a few socialist programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. 

I do remember Nikita Khrushchev from when I was a child. What I remember is that he said:  We will bury you. And that he was very upset because he was not allowed to go to Disneyland.

His granddaughter is currently a professor in this country and has lived in this country of a long time.

Let’s look at what Mr. Boylan noted in his letter: 

1.      Heath care: Millions of Americans still have little access to good quality health care. We who are of a certain age have good healthcare because of Medicare. Would not be a good thing for society in general for all Americans to have access to lifesaving healthcare?  Other nonsocialist countries have it. Why shouldn’t the USA?

2.     As I recall, it was the Democrats who had a War on Poverty which helped raise the living means of lots of Americans. It seems that Republicans are only interested in cutting taxes for the rich and well to do. Republicans always say it’s inflationary when workers get higher wages. They don’t seem to have the same concerns when CEOs get outlandish raises making them very rich. 

3.     Taxes. We have two choices in reducing the national debt. We either spend less (which NO administration has done of late) or we raise taxes to pay for the debt (which Republicans are dead set against). In fact Republicans cut taxes for the wealthy and move the burden to the poorest Americans when given the chance.

4.     Guns. We have more guns than people in this country. It certainly has not stopped mass killing and indiscriminate deaths of too many Americans. I only distrust the American government when incompetents are in charge who know nothing about how government is supposed to work.

5.     Welfare is what we pay to lots of people who work because they work in low-paying jobs and we supplement those low wages with social programs. If employers were to pay a decent, living wage, the welfare for working Americans would not be needed.

6.     As a retired teacher/professor, I can attest that radicalism is not going on in the schools. Too much time is spent on test prep instead of actual learning. And learning gets accomplished when the people who teach get support from those in the administration. Learning should be the most important thing going on in a school.  Sadly many times it is not. Radicalism is not prevalent that I have seen in public schools.

7.     Religion is something anyone who wants to practice it can. However there are many of us appreciate the separation of church from state. People who want to mingle religion and education only want one religion represented. 

8.     Class Warfare continues and majority of Americans have lost that war. Poverty is too prevalent in this country. We are a very rich country. No one should be forced to live in poverty. Wages have been constructed to remain low. And that has been a choice in order to make larger profits at the expense of the workers. 

9.     Inflation is prevalent in all countries not just ours. We pay less for gasoline that most of the other countries in the world.  We have too many people living in poverty. Alleviating poverty should be a goal for all who are part of local, state and federal governments. 

J. Henson Dies

Milledgeville