Because it works as a political tactic.
Americans have no idea what actual socialism is, so they imagine that the smallest amount of statism is communism. This has been true since the labor wars of the 1880s-1920s, when Americans fought the rise of unions. It was true in the first “Red Scare” of the 1920s and 1930s. It was true during resistance to the New Deal. It was true in the “Red Scare” of the 1950s. It was true in Americans’ resistance to Medicare in the 1960s. And it’s true today, with Obamacare.
People do what works, and claiming that anything you don’t like is communist–or Hitler!–has often worked in American politics. So that’s what we claim …
–ADDENDUM: I should add that the same claims were made with the use of federal power to end segregation, to eliminate barriers to women in society, and now on issues like gay rights. It’s a fall back term of little meaning but deep cultural resonance.
ogtumble liked this
molliehaswords reblogged this from politicalprof
molliehaswords liked this buffalobuffaloninbuffalo-blog liked this
wigan-kebab reblogged this from politicalprof
adelaydeorchid-blog reblogged this from politicalprof
quaxie-blog reblogged this from politicalprof
alls-well-with-the-world reblogged this from politicalprof in50mniac reblogged this from politicalprof
in50mniac liked this
bikeridestonowhere reblogged this from politicalprof
ca-thar-si-s liked this
wanweird-of-an-argonaut liked this
allejbeanie-blog liked this
polyscinerd liked this
blissandzen liked this
j-for-justice-blog liked this
theging liked this
ninafernandesrosa liked this
other-stuff reblogged this from letterstomycountry and added:
When I returned from France I was startled to find that Solidarity and Lech Walesa were darlings of the Regan right,...
gumplr liked this
ghostchristo liked this
mentalnotes29 reblogged this from politicalprof
university-and-san-jose liked this
sharksnkillerbea liked this
memorymuseum liked this
the-scribbled-blog-blog reblogged this from politicalprof
1800764hero liked this
shy-ho liked this
raeraev-blog reblogged this from politicalprof
thehollowestknight reblogged this from politicalprof and added: I wish I could beat every single Teabagger in the US over the head with this post
liramuza reblogged this from politicalprof
makeoutmonsters liked this
politicalprof posted this
- Show more notes