You, like a depressingly large portion of the Republican Party seem determined to keep trying to insinuate that Obama is a socialist or communist (more likely than not, because all other avenues of attack have failed miserably.) Now, I know well enough the odds of getting a straight or satisfying answer to this question are currently lower than McCain’s chances of winning the election, but I still feel obliged to ask: What specifically has lead you to believe that the policies Obama would implement are inherently socialist?
The most obvious answer would probably be that you heard the idea from some conservative pundit or another (potentially even the one you just linked) and lacking the desire or ability to consider the issue yourself, made the pundit’s opinion your own. Throw in the disregard or outright disdain for facts and reasoning common-place in modern conservative anti-intellectualism and it is no small leap for that parroted opinion to become an unquestionable fact in your mind. However, “pundit X said so” isn’t a particularly convincing or easily defended argument, so I personally hope you have something more concrete to argue with.
Take all the time you need, do all the research you want. Through the internet, you can have all the information you could ever want about both candidate’s planned policies. I want you to come back with clear examples of what, specifically, you consider to be socialist about his policies and plans. However, remember to be careful while you do so. Be sure that your arguments don’t accidentally incriminate your own candidate, a significant portion of the western world, and past conservative heroes such as Ronald Reagan of socialism at the same time, as many of the current arguments tend to do.
I am open to your argument, if you can offer a comprehensive and consistent reasoning behind your opinions; I will genuinely consider your point of view. However, if you are unwilling or unable to put thought and justification into the positions you hold, I ask that you either reconsider these positions, or refrain from participating in political discourse, as democracy is only a viable system of government when it is an informed population that participates in it.
