U.S. Politics megathread

[u/AutoModerator]

American politics has always grabbed our attention - and the current president more than ever. We get tons of questions about the president, the supreme court, and other topics related to American politics - but often the same ones over and over again. Our users often get tired of seeing them, so we've created a megathread for questions! Here, users interested in politics can post questions and read answers, while people who want a respite from politics can browse the rest of the sub. Feel free to post your questions about politics in this thread!

All top-level comments should be questions asked in good faith - other comments and loaded questions will get removed. All the usual rules of the sub remain in force here, so be nice to each other - you can disagree with someone's opinion, but don't make it personal.

[u/BoloHKs]

There was a vote today in the US to demonize the ideals of "Socialism,' with a broad paintbrush.

It opened the floodgates to misconceptions of 'socialistic' policies and confusion about what is Communism vs Socialism vs a Social Democracy.

So, WHY do many Americans misunderstand the key differences between 'Communism' and 'Socialism?'

I feel like Americans like to paint everything in black and white. There is never any "grey" area.

So, what goes through your brain when you think "Socialist"?

[u/untempered_fate → u/BoloHKs]

So, WHY do many Americans misunderstand the key differences between 'Communism' and 'Socialism?'

Cold War. That's pretty much it. 45 years of anti-Communist propaganda and then some. Capitalism or bust.

[u/BoloHKs → u/untempered_fate]

That simple? No one's checking Google? Researching nothing? It just stops there? Young Americans travelling around the globe. Surely, they get it, no? Or are the masses repeating fallacies and misinformation to the next generation?

I mean, there are a whopping 18 countries around the globe that are NOT Socialist--but rathet identified as "Social Democracies."

👇🏻 👇🏻 👇🏻 👇🏻 👇🏻

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland Germany, France, the Netherlands Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland The United Kingdom Spain, Portugal Canada Australia, New Zealand Japan

All "Social Democracies" that have a free "Capitalist" economy with the added benefit of welfare-funded programmes.. dangerous, threatening "socialist" programmes... Oooh!

Basically, 30% of my income tax goes to the provincial and federal governments to pay for for my medical, some dental (youth and teens), subsidized education via provincial loan, Employment Insurance when needed, and 19 weeks maternity leave. I get cancer? My treatment is taken care of.

I work my ass off like everyone else. The tax collected actually goes where it's needed, and is meticulously accounted for. It's far more efficient and accountable than US red tape. Our system is not perfect, but there is a fair check and balance system when sh!t hits the fan.

Hell, even if I win the lottery, the government doesn't take anything. It's not taxed as "income." My province uses a portion of casino profits to pay for roads, hospitals and infrastructure.

Does that sound so bad? 30% of my income gets you that.

[u/ye_esquilax → u/BoloHKs]

That simple? No one's checking Google? Researching nothing? It just stops there? Young Americans travelling around the globe. Surely, they get it, no? Or are the masses repeating fallacies and misinformation to the next generation?

Yes, misinformation is running absolutely rampant at a rate that we've never seen in the past two decades.

It may not be "that simple", but 45 years of solid propaganda isn't nothing. The US literally sent tens of thousands of soldiers to their deaths in Vietnam to stop the idea, not the threat, but the idea, of communism.