MORE ABOUT DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS (The Group that Obama Had Ties to in Chicago):
In its broadest sense, democratic socialism could refer to
any attempts to bring about socialism through peaceful democratic means as opposed to violent insurrection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_socialism
Social democracy is a political ideology that emerged in the late 19th century
out of the socialist movement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy
In general, contemporary social democrats support:
* A mixed economy consisting mainly of private enterprise, but with
government owned or subsidized programs of education,
healthcare, child care and related services for all citizens.
* Government bodies that regulate private enterprise in the interests of workers, consumers and fair competition.
* Advocacy of fair trade over free trade.
*
An extensive system of social security (although usually not to the extent advocated by democratic socialists or other socialist groups), with the stated goal of counteracting the effects of poverty and insuring the citizens against loss of income following illness, unemployment or retirement.
*
Moderate to high levels of taxation (through a value-added and/or
progressive taxation system) to fund government expenditure.
Social democrats also tend to support:
* Environmental protection laws (although not always to the extent advocated by Greens), such as combating
global warming and increasing alternative energy funding.
* Support for immigration and multiculturalism.
* A secular and progressive social policy, although this varies markedly in degree. Most social democrats
support gay marriage and abortion rights.
* A foreign policy supporting the promotion of democracy, the protection of human rights and where possible, effective multilateralism.
* As well as human rights, social democrats also support social rights, civil rights and civil liberties.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy
Socialism refers to a broad array of ideologies and political movements with the goal of a socio-economic system in which property and the
distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism
OBAMA POLICIES (BABY STEPS TOWARDS SOCIALISM?)
1. Obama wants to roll back Bush tax cuts and raise taxes even though we are being taxed nearly 600% higher than we were 100 years ago
Year - Tax Burden
1900 5.90%
1910 5.02%
1920 11.96%
1930 11.61%
1940 17.98%
1950 24.87%
1960 27.88%
1970 29.90%
1980 30.68%
1990 30.80%
2000 33.98%
2001 33.01%
2002 30.27%
2003 29.51%
2004 29.69%
2005 31.53%
2006 32.29%
2007 32.69%
Source: Office of Management and Budget; Internal Revenue Service; Congressional Research Service; National Bureau of Economic Research; Tax Foundation.
http://www.taxfoundation.or g/taxfreedomday/
2. Obama's Voting Record:
Barak Obama:
Strongly supports an increase in taxes for the wealthiest Americans
Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million
Voted NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts
Voted
NO on permanently repealing "
death tax."
Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax
Strongly opposes the reduction of taxes on capital gains
Voted YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut
Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains and dividends
Voted NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends
Supports universal health care which provides access to health care regardless of ability to pay.
Supports increased government spending on health care.
http://glassbooth.org/explore/index/barack-obama/11/
Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare? Barak Obama: NO
Eliminate government-funded welfare programs? Barak Obama: NO
http://www.vote-smart.org/npat.php?can_id=9490
3. Obama wants Universal Healthcare (Socialized Medicine):
Obama says that his healthcare plan would cost $50-$65 billion per year. However, he also says that he will have "universal healthcare" by the end of his 1st term and he does NOT attach a cost to that that I have seen.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/385287,051407obama.a rticle
"Health care spending is 4.3 times the amount spent on national defense"
http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml
About Obama's Plan: the
"costs would be staggering."
- Health Care Expert Stuart Butler of the Heritage Foundation
http://www.swamppolitics.co m/news/politics/blog/2007/01/experts_doubt_obamas _healthcar.html
Obama gets an endorsement from the "Communist Party USA"
"Our Party actively supported Obama during the primary election."
http://www.cpusa.org/article/articleview/858/1/39/
Criticisms of socialism
# 1 Reduced prosperity
# 2 Distorted or absent price signals
# 3 Reduced incentives for workers
# 4 Slow or stagnant technological advance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticisms_of_social ism
Summary of Obama's Ties to Socialism...
