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 Why I'm a Socialist,  Kelly, 1/7/2012 7:53:06 AM
  RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Lorin Dixson, 1/7/2012 7:59:59 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist,  MilesCity.com Webmaster, 1/7/2012 8:02:07 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Buck Showalter, 1/7/2012 8:34:58 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Kelly, 1/7/2012 8:37:06 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, howdy, 1/7/2012 9:31:48 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Steve Craddock, 1/7/2012 9:38:41 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Steve Craddock, 1/7/2012 9:49:24 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, howdy, 1/7/2012 10:01:08 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Kelly, 1/7/2012 10:10:53 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Amorette Allison, 1/7/2012 10:42:25 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Bridgier, 1/7/2012 10:54:10 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, howdy, 1/7/2012 11:06:41 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Cheryl Pieters, 1/7/2012 2:10:36 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Wendy Wilson, 1/9/2012 11:46:15 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Kelly, 1/9/2012 9:55:23 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, SZ, 1/10/2012 7:18:42 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Bob L., 1/10/2012 7:32:47 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Kelly, 1/10/2012 8:02:48 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Amorette F. Allison, 1/10/2012 10:23:55 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Kelly, 1/10/2012 8:18:37 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, SZ, 1/12/2012 7:13:00 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Bridgier, 1/12/2012 9:07:02 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Kelly, 1/12/2012 9:44:20 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist. NOT!!!!, Harry Calahan*, 1/13/2012 3:39:43 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Kelly, 1/13/2012 3:51:25 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Amorette F. Allison, 1/13/2012 3:53:07 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Kelly, 1/13/2012 4:11:35 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Stone, 1/14/2012 1:02:17 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Stone, 1/14/2012 1:09:33 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, howdy, 1/14/2012 1:40:33 PM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Stone, 1/15/2012 11:05:32 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Skidoorulz, 1/16/2012 12:42:16 PM
RE: Why I'm an american, Rhonda Reinhart, 1/26/2012 11:07:06 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Gunnar Emilsson, 1/26/2012 11:13:19 AM
RE: Why I'm a Socialist, Amorette F. Allison, 1/26/2012 2:37:55 PM
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Many people read what I write on milescity.com. When they see me in person, they ask why I’m such a Socialist. Hopefully the following will adequately express my logic, especially since Socialism has been a catch phrase of the Republican Tea Party. I’m sure those who don’t know me will think, “Don’t break your arm, patting yourself on the back.” when they read this, but I must assure them I don’t have a big head. I’m just stating facts to prove a point.
So before we can talk about Socialism, let’s give some examples. Any kind of a subsidy from the government is Socialism. So the corn subsidy to Monsanto, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), and Con-Agra is Socialism. The oil companies, in spite of making record profits, receive subsidy. That is Socialism. I haven’t been in school for almost thirty years, but some of taxes on my home go to educate the current generation. That is Socialism. Our roads in Montana are in pretty good shape compared to other parts of the country that have bigger tax bases. Do you think we Montanan’s can afford the upkeep on our own? No, we receive federal highway funds. That is Socialism. Folks need to think about that the next time they have to go to Billings for a doctor appointment. Socialism is all around us. I’m not truly a Socialist, but I do believe in universal healthcare for all. Here is why.
When I was young, I had debilitating heart problems. These were so bad; I didn’t attend fourth, fifth, and most of sixth grades. In spite of having good medical insurance, my parents went bankrupt because the bills piled up so quickly. In spite of missing almost 3 years of school, I graduated third in my class of 133 people. I most likely would have been valedictorian had I not been graded down for physical education; like a guy with heart problems is going to keep up.
The summer after I graduated from CCDHS, I traveled to France for three weeks with 7 girls. We weren’t supposed to go out alone, but since I was already 18, was pretty fluent in French, and looked French from my heritage, I was allowed to travel stag. One night after everyone was asleep; I went out to explore Paris. After all, you can’t miss the City Of Lights at night. While crossing the street, I was hit by an automobile that ran a red light. I was not injured badly, but I required medical attention, so I went to the hospital. I was fixed up in record time and sent on my way. The chaperons, my travelling companions, and most importantly my parents were none the wiser, and I didn’t pay anything for the treatment. I was amazed at the efficiency.
I attended Montana State University, earning my Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology. While I was an undergraduate, I completed a research thesis and had my work published in a well-respected, peer-reviewed journal. I also took 2 graduate-level courses and taught a quarter of Microbiology 101 with lab. I had several scholarships, and was awarded the Frank B. Cotner Award for outstanding student in Microbiology.
I was accepted into the Microbiology and Molecular Genetics program at University of California, Irvine. There were over 300 applicants and 8 of us were chosen. I was awarded what was colloquially known as, “The Full Ride.” To give you an idea of the prestige of this program, I once shared wine and canapé with Dr. Francis Crick, the man who along with Dr. Watson solved the structure of DNA; earning them the Nobel Prize. I also smoked marijuana with Dr. Kary Mullis on the beach in La Jolla, CA. You might be familiar with his work in inventing PCR, a staple in modern cop TV. He also won the Nobel Prize. Imagine a guy from Miles City enjoying mind-altering substances and witty repartee with not one, but two Nobel Prize winners. That was cool.
About four years into earning my Ph.D., I once again developed heart problems. Because I was no longer a good investment since statistically I should die soon, I was required to write and defend my Masters; essentially being kicked out. After leaving graduate school, I went to work in Biotechnology in San Diego.
About a decade into my career, I developed excruciating pain in my right leg and hip. After three years of going to doctor after doctor and of mounting medical bills, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I had to leave work for chemotherapy. I didn’t survive this disease because I had good health insurance. I survived because I enrolled in a clinical trial. I was lucky enough to receive the actual drug, and it proved effective. So after surviving that, I had to find another job because they just don’t wait for you.
Just when I was getting back to even ground with medical bills, I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure because the chemotherapy drugs had further damaged my heart. Once again after recuperation I had to find a job. I did. I was there a few months and Bam! I had four heart attacks. The last one was so severe the ER doc told me that he’d only seen blood test results like mine on people who were dead and turning blue.
So now instead of doing ground-breaking research at a prestigious university, I’m a bum living in my mother’s basement. My medical bills are so high; I can’t afford to live anywhere else.
My point being, if someone who worked as hard as I did throughout the years, and who is smart can end up broke from medical bills, anyone can. I don’t care how good you think your medical insurance is, each and every person reading this is one catastrophic illness away from bankruptcy. I’ve dealt with it all my life. That is why I’m a Socialist, at least when it comes to healthcare.
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| Where is the like button? |
Lorin Dixson wrote:Where is the like button?
It's coming soon. I just finished coding it for the new site. (Still lots of work to do though.) |
| Please don't mistake the current healthcare reform with socialized medicine. The insurance and drug lobbies did their jobs so you'll still be screwed coming and going, but if it's any consolation it's going to be more difficult for your local docs to get their MCR/MCD reimbursements. |
| Agreed Buck! |
| +20 Kelly...As a person born with Marfans Syndrome, I understand many of the frustrations you have gone thru...My medical bills have been astonishing...I have a counterpart in Canada who has undergone the same surgeries as I, that paid absolutely nothing for them...At one point, the medical experts in Canada flew over a specialist from England to help with the surgery and that was also free...I was so jealous...Kudos to you, Kelly, for surviving your ordeals... |
Larry, it's great that you not only provide this site for us free of charge (DONATE PEOPLE!), but also continue to work on it to make it better. So, thanks for creating a Like button.
Kelly, until that Like button is available, let me just say thank you for sharing your story. Oh ya, and this:
LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE LIKE.... |
Howdy - interesting story about your friend in Canada. I have a cousin who lives in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory - and that's about as isolated a place as you can find in the civilized world. He and his wife raised three very active kids. No matter what the issue or crisis (e.g., broken back from a snowmobile accident, difficult pregnancies/deliveries, cancer, etc) they have received excellent care (including helicopter ambulances to receive emergency treatement from specialists) without encountering any problems like being put on waiting lists, etc. And they never were put in a situation of having crushing expenses and overwhelming debts, as happens in America far too often when a medical emergency hits.
Knowing about my cousin's experience with Canada's health care system has made it interesting to watch the Far Right's fear-inducing campaign against a single-payer system. And it should be no surprise that the fear campaign has been funded by none other than the insurance companies who profit so handsomely from the current system.
Thank gawd that Capitalism has saved us from the horrors of Socialized Medicine!!! haha
[This message has been edited by Steve Craddock (1/7/2012)] |
| the greed this nation has endured, has been the most debilitating thing ever to happen to it...Why on earth more Americans don't recognize it, is beyond me... |
Why on earth more Americans don't recognize it, is beyond me...
It is because they are too concerned that a woman may have a lump of goo sucked from her body, or that one boy will poke another boy in the naughty place, or that they won't be able to masturbate to cold hard steel. |
The current health care reform is Bob Dole's old plan meant to benefit the profit margins of insurance companies. Forcing the insurance companies to actually COVER things is why they demanded everyone had to buy insurance. Otherwise, their profit margins might be affected.
Socialized medicine, first promoted by Teddy Roosevelt (a Republican) back in 1907, had it been adapted, would have made miracles occur in our economy. |
| If you people had more morals, you wouldn't be sick all the time. |
Just stolen from Facebook: a site called "the opinionated Democrat"
Santorum needs to realize that having a stick up his ass would be considered a pre-existing condition. |
Quote of the day:
"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires. That’s the only reason I can see why people in the US continue to vote against their own interests."
- John Steinbeck |
| Excellent post, Kelly. |
Korky-
Where are you? |
As Edmund Burke, said, "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." Believe me, you don't want to repeat socialism…ever. According to The Black Book of Communism (Le livre noir du Communisme, Mark Kramer, et.al., 1997) between 85 and 100 million people have been killed in the name of Communism or one of its many forms (such as socialism). To give you a comparison, between 1540 and 1700, the Spanish Inquisition doled out 44,674 judgments, of which 826 resulted in executions (and another 778 in effigie). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition#Death_tolls. So, in 160 years, the dreaded inquisition killed about 826 people. In the last 100 years, socialism has killed over 100,000 times as many. That is roughly equivalent to killing every third person in the United States.
Socialism:
1. any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2. a system of society or group living in which there is no private property; a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3. a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done
com·mu·nism
1. a theory advocating elimination of private property; a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed
2. A doctrine based on revolutionary Marxian socialism and Marxism-Leninism that was the official ideology of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; a totalitarian system of government in which a single authoritarian party controls state-owned means of production; a final stage of society in Marxist theory in which the state has withered away and economic goods are distributed equitably
I changed the punctuation a bit to make it easier to read, but these two definitions come from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary.
Progressivism
There is a third group which is basically communist in nature, the progressives. Some work within the democratic party, http://pdamerica.org, and some are so radical even the democrats can't tolerate them, http://www.plp.org.
For simplicity sake, let's call them all socialism because the arguments are largely the same.
Socialism sounds good… share everything fairly. Socialism (as compared to communism and progressivism) at least gives lip service to paying for work done where communism and progressivism just advocates sharing without reference to an individual's contribution. Socialism (in general) calls for government ownership of industry and economy so that rich people and corporations cannot take advantage of the little guy. It all sounds reasonable, so why is socialism wrong?
First, socialism ignores fundamental human behavior and expects individuals will operate in a fair and altruistic fashion. Lenin initiated modern socialism's cure for this problem, he just shot those individuals who didn't show up to work on time or decided to take a day off for Christmas.
Second, it replaces the big "G" (God) with a little "g" (government). In a socialist government, government provides everybody with everything and the church has a dwindling role in society. What socialist country out there is also a God-fearing country?
Third, it assumes that the socialist economy will produce the same or better results than capitalism. Just read the financial news. Socialist economies all over the world are collapsing under the debt accumulated trying to implement socialist "reform."
Regardless of whether or not it's a good idea, socialism doesn't work in practice. |
Kork is watching The Flintstones and waiting for Walt the Postman to deliver Kork's government checks. |
SZ-
I am not advocating a purely socialist society. Did you read the post? You state that human nature destroys socialism. How is that different from human nature destroying capitalism? In a purely capitalist society, you need a healthy middle class, but what has human nature done to it? Our middle class has been decimated by greed.
To have a healthy society, it is a melting pot. You need aspects of ALL systems.
For simplicity sake, let's call them all socialism because the arguments are largely the same.
See, that is the problem. Folks try to lump everything together for simplicity sake, when they actually are quite different things.
[This message has been edited by Kelly (1/10/2012)] |
If you lump in all the bad ideas with all the good ideas, then you can condemn the good ideas without having to waste time thinking about them.
The first insurance was designed to be a non-profit method of paying medical bills. It was organized by doctors and hospitals. Then greed got involved and hello! The mess we are in now.
Single payer health insurance and government ownership of property are NOT in any way related, but if you pretend they are, you can reject health care reform out of hand. |
Hey Korky,
Still waiting for pearls of wisdom on this one. |
You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.
1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.
2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
5. When half of the citizens get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation. |
I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that conservatives can't read.
What Kelly is trying to say is: Life is brutish, nasty and short, we're all in it together, and if we try a little bit, we can make what little time we have immeasurably better.
But all some care about around here is "PROCREATE YOU, CAUSE I GOT MINE" and "HEY HEY HEY WHO MOVED MY GODDAMNED CHEESE!!!" |
I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that conservatives can't read.
Thank you Bridgier. I thought I may have been off-base in my thinking. |
Kelly, What the above Non-Socialists are trying to tell you is that Socialism has been tried and failed many times for many reasons. One might be the doctors to whom you owe your life, spent a hell of a lot of money and time earning the degrees they have. How many talented physicians would there be with socialism? I'll tell you that you may not have been alive to bitch about the positive aspects of socialism had you not had many competent doctors and healthcare workers. Also your big career would have been about as valuable as the janitor at wal-mart's is. Sad how so many people are persuaded to jump on a bandwagon based on half of the story.
Thank you
Republican at large!!!! |
many competent doctors and healthcare workers.
How 'bout the ones that about killed me, including the doctors who for three years kept telling me I had nothing wrong except a pulled muscle or sciatica, when in fact it was cancer? I still had to pay them off. I couldn't say, you didn't help me, I'm not paying you. What about the waiting room that made me wait while I was having my third heart attack? I had to pay that bill too.
You don't know NEARLY as much as you think you do about that subject.
I am NOT advocating a purely socialist agenda you procreates. If you could comprehend what you read, it would help.
[This message has been edited by Kelly (1/13/2012)] |
So, there are no doctors in the industrialized world?
Huh. I could have sworn friends of mine who live in Australia, Canada, the U.K., New Zealand, France, are all able to see highly qualified health care professionals. In fact, I know a young woman in England who just qualified as a physician and has started practicing in a hospital.
So much for that pathetic argument.
[This message has been edited by Amorette F. Allison (1/13/2012)] |
Also your big career would have been about as valuable as the janitor at wal-mart's is.
Care to elaborate since you are getting personal? To me it is more anti-science rhetoric from those who like people dumb, so they can be controlled workers more easily.
[This message has been edited by Kelly (1/13/2012)] |
Websters
Definition of UNION
1
a : an act or instance of uniting or joining two or more things into one: as (1) : the formation of a single political unit from two or more separate and independent units (2) : a uniting in marriage; also : sexual intercourse (3) : the growing together of severed parts b : a unified condition : combination, junction <a gracious union of excellence and strength>
2
: something that is made one : something formed by a combining or coalition of parts or members: as a : a confederation of independent individuals (as nations or persons) for some common purpose b (1) : a political unit constituting an organic whole formed usually from units which were previously governed separately (as England and Scotland in 1707) and which have surrendered or delegated their principal powers to the government of the whole or to a newly created government (as the United States in 1789) (2) capitalized : the federal union of states during the period of the American Civil War c capitalized : an organization on a college or university campus providing recreational, social, cultural, and sometimes dining facilities; also : the building housing such an organization d : the set of all elements belonging to one or more of a given collection of two or more sets —called also join, sum e : labor union
3
a : a device emblematic of the union of two or more sovereignties borne on a national flag typically in the upper inner corner or constituting the whole design of the flag b : the upper inner corner of a flag
4
: any of various devices for connecting parts (as of a machine); especially : a coupling for pipes or pipes and fittings
: an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions |
: an organization of workers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Now substitute names.
An organization of farmers formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interest in respects prices of crops, insurance, like political ideologies.
You could use farmers, cattlemen, Angus producers. |
Kelly, I hear you, as do many of the Americans that are in the same boat due to ill health...as long as these others are healthy, they will keep on pretendng they are fine and the present system is fine as well...Let one of their family members get critically ill and the insurance company drop them as a result and they will be singing a different tune...sad but true, but it is all a selfish attitude that drives this way of thinking...
[This message has been edited by howdy (1/14/2012)] |
| Sorry guys the above post by myself were intended for the post entitled Unions. |
Very very well said SZ.
You to Harry
[This message has been edited by Skidoorulz (1/16/2012)] |
One awesome thing about america is you may choose your physician, choose to believe what you like and the ability to squawk about it to everyone on this website. Sadly there are the ill-informed. Don't open your mouths about things you don't understand or are only partially informed about. People on both sides of this issue. Interesting how many people can get worked up about a subject before they are informed on both sides by someone is not a zealot for either side.
I may not agree with what you have to say but I will fight to my death for your right to say it.
[This message has been edited by Rhonda Reinhart (1/26/2012)] |
| One awesome thing about Republicans, is when they are wrong, and they are pointed out to be wrong, they generally don't care. They just continue to be wrong. |
| You can choose your physician if you can afford your physician or your physician is part of your insurance network. Anyone who thinks we have free choice in health care has never had to use health care. Sheesh. |
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- MT