Socialism is Saving My Ass

My late father always used to say that too much of anything is unhealthy.

This credo obviously applies to political structures (left and right) as well, as history has proven time and again.

As such, in the pitch battle on healthcare reform I’ve grown beyond tired of those wailing about a pubic option, much less any type of reform whatsoever – including basic, common sense measures at the Federal level barring insurance carriers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.

A frequent battle cry of health reform opponents is that they do not want socialism taking over the government. Fair enough. But I’ve got news for these people: the notion of a public redistribution of wealth via taxation keeps the United States alive as a nation. Not to mention, such redistributions of wealth are also what’s keeping millions of jobless Americans (including me; I marked six months out of work this week) trying to survive the worst economy since 1929 from becoming homeless.

In fact, had recent extensions in unemployment been allowed to expire on schedule this year, I’m unsure where I’d be living in the near-future.

The point is that basic socialism is saving my ass, as it is the bulk of the US economy. It is also helping those—including aged teabaggers wailing on the steps of the Capitol Building today—wringing their mitts over socialism on one hand, while with the other happily accept monthly Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Do I want a government takeover off all institutions vis-à-vis the former USSR?

No way, and I don’t fear such an incident occurring in the US either despite what House Minority Leader John Boehner, and the hair-pullers at Fox voice to the contrary. Do I also believe that current health reform legislation wending its way thru Congress as we speak is a perfect bill? No, it needs a lot of work.

But to those so loudly protesting any form of redistribution of wealth in the US—including property taxes that fund local schools, police, and fire departments—maybe you should first learn how the current system (albeit light years from perfect) has benefitted you at some time in your life when you needed it most.