Why do Americans fear "socialistic ideas"?

[Deathknightish]

Ideas such as free health care, free college/uni is common, welfare for the people in need and such are standard in nearly every western european country.
Yet, when Americans hear these quite a lot start to think of "communism" (wut?), or at least "socialism and that's bad".

I live in Sweden, a country definitely built on socialistic ideas. We have the "Folkhemmet"-philosphy during the middle of the 1900's that states that the government is obligated to see to the wellbeing of ALL our citizens. The social democrats is our biggest party (I know SD is topping them in polls, but for now, the social democrats are in the lead officially.).

I'm not saying our way of living is better, but I do believe that our poor people generally have it better, while our rich have it "worse" than the super rich in the US. I think it's better that there are as few people possible living a crappy life than the rich being able to afford one extra Ferrarri Rolls Royce Extreme 9000.

How come this is such a scary idea in the US? Why do so many americans freak out when the idea to help the weak to the fullest comes to discussion?

[TrumpIsPresident]

Deaths under Communism:
65 million in the People's Republic of China
20 million in the Soviet Union
2 million in Cambodia
2 million in North Korea
1.7 million in Ethiopia
1.5 million in Afghanistan
1 million in the Communist states of Eastern Europe
1 million in Vietnam
150,000 in Latin America, mainly Cuba
10,000 deaths "resulting from actions of the international Communist movement and Communist parties not in power."

Repressions and famines occurring in the Soviet Union under the regimes of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin:
the executions of tens of thousands of hostages and prisoners
the murder of hundreds of thousands of rebellious workers and peasants from 1918 to 1922
the Russian famine of 1921, which caused the death of 5 million people
the extermination and deportation of the Don Cossacks in 1920
the murder of tens of thousands in concentration camps in the period between 1918 and 1930
the Great Purge which killed almost 690,000 people
the deportation of 2 million so-called "kulaks" from 1930 to 1932
the deaths of 4 million Ukrainians and 2 million others during the famine of 1932 and 1933
the deportations of Poles, Ukrainians, Moldavians and people from the Baltic Republics from 1939 to 1941 and from 1944 to 1945
the deportation of the Volga Germans in 1941
the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1943
the deportation of Chechens in 1944
the deportation of the Ingush in 1944.

[Deleted]

10/10 for that first response Zombergy. Please don't get a passport.

[Deathknightish]

Deaths under Communism:
65 million in the People's Republic of China
20 million in the Soviet Union
2 million in Cambodia
2 million in North Korea
1.7 million in Ethiopia
1.5 million in Afghanistan
1 million in the Communist states of Eastern Europe
1 million in Vietnam
150,000 in Latin America, mainly Cuba
10,000 deaths "resulting from actions of the international Communist movement and Communist parties not in power."

Repressions and famines occurring in the Soviet Union under the regimes of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin:
the executions of tens of thousands of hostages and prisoners
the murder of hundreds of thousands of rebellious workers and peasants from 1918 to 1922
the Russian famine of 1921, which caused the death of 5 million people
the extermination and deportation of the Don Cossacks in 1920
the murder of tens of thousands in concentration camps in the period between 1918 and 1930
the Great Purge which killed almost 690,000 people
the deportation of 2 million so-called "kulaks" from 1930 to 1932
the deaths of 4 million Ukrainians and 2 million others during the famine of 1932 and 1933
the deportations of Poles, Ukrainians, Moldavians and people from the Baltic Republics from 1939 to 1941 and from 1944 to 1945
the deportation of the Volga Germans in 1941
the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1943
the deportation of Chechens in 1944
the deportation of the Ingush in 1944.

Socialism isn't Communism, though.
All Scandinavian countries are socialistic to some extent, and we are among the top countries when it comes to being happy and living in.

[TrumpIsPresident]

Why do so many americans freak out when the idea to help the weak to the fullest comes to discussion?

Because that is the lie that is sold to get the masses to support giving evil men the power to oppress.

[Chaochamp]

Ideas such as free health care, free college/uni is common, welfare for the people in need and such are standard in nearly every western european country.
Yet, when Americans hear these quite a lot start to think of "communism" (wut?), or at least "socialism and that's bad".

I live in Sweden, a country definitely built on socialistic ideas. We have the "Folkhemmet"-philosphy during the middle of the 1900's that states that the government is obligated to see to the wellbeing of ALL our citizens. The social democrats is our biggest party (I know SD is topping them in polls, but for now, the social democrats are in the lead officially.).

I'm not saying our way of living is better, but I do believe that our poor people generally have it better, while our rich have it "worse" than the super rich in the US. I think it's better that there are as few people possible living a crappy life than the rich being able to afford one extra Ferrarri Rolls Royce Extreme 9000.

How come this is such a scary idea in the US? Why do so many americans freak out when the idea to help the weak to the fullest comes to discussion?

Because our society is full of ignorant older people who still link socialism with the red scare.

It's all about perception, and how old the individual was when they entered the Information Age. It's a pretty clearly cut between youth and elderly ideals (of course there are outliers on each side of the coin). Ignorance is the largest limiting factor in this country, other than voter turnout.

Somehow socialism cannot exist with democracy, even though so many European countries show that is a real possibility that actually works. It will come eventually, though; people die, and new life replaces them.

[TrumpIsPresident]

Socialism isn't Communism, though.
All Scandinavian countries are socialistic to some extent, and we are among the top countries when it comes to being happy and live in.

They are one in the same.

I know so called intellectuals would love to dispute the difference btu at the end of the day communism is just socialism with a gun.

Besides these new-gen radicals are taking things they like from both concepts.

[Deathknightish]

Because that is the lie that is sold to get the masses to support giving evil men the power to oppress.

You mean how evil men opress and conquer in Sweden, Norway and Denmark among others?

[IKT]

Because that is the lie that is sold to get the masses to support giving evil men the power to oppress.

false dichotomy

[TrumpIsPresident]

10/10 for that first response Zombergy. Please don't get a passport.

Thanks.

I've gone through many passports.

I doubt our paths will ever cross, though.

But worry not even if they should know that I always tip handsomely.

[Orloth]

Because that is the lie that is sold to get the masses to support giving evil men the power to oppress.

And Capitalism is different how?

If anything, it is worse because it encourages and rewards psychopathic behavior. The only difference is the power is money rather then allegiance.

[Deleted]

They are one in the same.

I know so called intellectuals would love to dispute the difference btu at the end of the day communism is just socialism with a gun.

Besides these new-gen radicals are taking things they like from both concepts.

Wtf? Europe is now Soviet Russia without guns?

[TrumpIsPresident]

You mean how evil men opress and conquer in Sweden, Norway and Denmark among others?

None of those three are socialist states.

Having a party that adopts socialist ideals and works to implement them does not make a nation a socialist nation as the degree in which socialist ideals are implemented is curtailed by non-socialist elements.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_socialist_states

[Chaochamp]

None of those three are socialist states.

Having a party that adopts socialist ideals and works to implement them does not make a nation a socialist nation as the degree in which socialist ideals are implemented is curtailed by non-socialist elements.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_socialist_states

This thread is about socialist ideas, not socialist government. Universal healthcare, state-funded college, etc.

[TrumpIsPresident]

And Capitalism is different how?

If anything, it is worse because it encourages and rewards psychopathic behavior. The only difference is the power is money rather then allegiance.

In capitalism you control your fate.

In socialism government decides your fate is shared with others who may or may not have your capacity or degree of contribution, and that your fate has a cap.

[Deathknightish]

None of those three are socialist states.

Having a party that adopts socialist ideals and works to implement them does not make a nation a socialist nation as the degree in which socialist ideals are implemented is curtailed by non-socialist elements.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_socialist_states

Being a socialistic country, officially, and having socialism in your culture and mindset is different, though.

I'd beg to differ though, seeing as we pay huge taxes (30-50% of our income) to the government to make the lives of all citizens better. Where railroads, hospitals, transportation and such are owned by the government.
If that's not socialism, I don't know what is.

[TrumpIsPresident]

This thread is about socialist ideas, not socialist government. Universal healthcare, state-funded college, etc.

Being a socialistic country, officially, and having socialism in your culture and mindset is different, though.

Fair enough.

But the OP asked why people are against it.

And it takes a government to implement ideals so the two become one in the same.

[Chaochamp]

In capitalism you control your fate.

Have you ever heard of the term "wage slave"? I assure you it didn't come out of thin air.

Fair enough.

But the OP asked why people are against it.

And it takes a government to implement ideals so the two become one in the same.

No. Great Britain, a representative democracy (exactly the same as the US), has incredible social programs that benefit their entire society.

[Independent voter]

And Capitalism is different how?

If anything, it is worse because it encourages and rewards psychopathic behavior. The only difference is the power is money rather then allegiance.

Here is a conservative person explaining his thoughts about capitalism

[Chaochamp]

Here is a conservative person explaining his thoughts about capitalism

All of the comments on that video are so hilariously propagandized it's hard to imagine the people believe what they're typing.

"You cannot have a democracy (or republic in America's case) without a free market." -youtube comment

So I guess Great Britain is just no longer in existence?