Political Memes

Yes, and fortunately in communist countries the “everybody else” is just the former bourgeoisie and other reactionary elements — a tiny fraction of the population.

I stand against communism and socialism in general, but not remotely for the same reasons Republicans do.

The Republican and right-wing practice of using “socialism” the same way it was used as propaganda during the Red Scare of the 1950s has seriously run its course. Of course, the problem is that many of the people who continue to vote for these politicians still genuinely believe the United States is facing some kind of communist takeover. That is precisely why this rhetoric continues to work.

Just in case anyone is wondering, I oppose socialism and communism based on the principles and practical merits of those systems, not because someone told me to fear the word “socialism.” I fully support things such as social democracy and a democratic mixed economy. What I do not support is replacing a democratic, market-based economy with a centrally planned socialist economy and coupling that with an authoritarian communist government. Historically, that combination has produced some very serious economic and political failures.

At the same time, I do not support using “socialism” as a political scare tactic to advance someone else's agenda. Morally, I see little meaningful difference between Stalin using communist propaganda to serve his political objectives and a modern politician using distorted anti-socialist propaganda to serve theirs. Propaganda is reprehensible regardless of whether it is coming from the political left or right.

I can oppose an ideology on its merits without turning the word itself into a political weapon.

Don't most communists claim they want to eliminate class though? Capitalists enbrace it while communists pretend that their government gets rid of class, so this framing is misleading.

Do not delude yourself into thinking the class divide in the US is as bad as in the east block countries.