The New Republic

That many more people believe that Socialism is a good idea than used to  isn't surprising after being told again and again by libertarian conservatives like Ron Paul and Rush Limbaugh that social security is "socialistic."

If that's there were to socialism, I would be one too.

- jacksondyer

April 11, 2009 at 6:05pm

marty:

John Judis has written several paeans to socialism in recent months.

george:

This is precisely the sort of Big Lie mentality mentality that Ideologues use to close the debate.

But here is a suggestion.

Over at ephilosopher the owners can [or used to] set up a debate between two opposing philosophical perspectives. The conflicting sides would argue back and forth and all the rest of us would follow it online.

Why don't you do something similar at TNR? You and Judis can debate your absurd charge that he is an apoligist for socialism. Or, if Judis is not interested, I will gladly argue the point.

But first we should establish just how Big the Lie is. Why don't you offer us your own definition of "socialism". In the end it just may well be that what YOU construe to be "socialism", no one else on planet would recognize at all.

I mean, if there is one thing I have come to grasp fully here at The Spine it is that "private definitions" are all the rage. That way you folks NEVER lose an argument...right?

george walton

- iambiguous

April 11, 2009 at 10:46pm

What is it with the dig against Judis? Jackson is right, of course, the anything to the left of Ayn Rand is Communism right wing crowd have argued themselves into irrelevance. I think people choose to take the "Socialistic" identification ironically, as Jackson does. If you are going to call a well regulated Capitalist Democratic state Socialist, then I am a Socialist too. The real thing I would never vote for.

Years back, when the Republicans controlled all branches of Government I read the National Review and was struck by the absolute petty whining of Nordlinger ranting about what some stupid thing some Dem. state rep. said somewhere. I could not imagine why he couldn't let it go.

I am glad I remember how vivid that memory is. I find Republican hysteria more amusing than aggravating. The only thing that does bother me is that while the Democrats had their loony left, they didn't control the party. It is saddening to see how low the Republican party has fallen in intellectual coherence.

- blackton

April 12, 2009 at 4:11pm

Good post, Blackton.

- jacksondyer

April 12, 2009 at 11:58pm

I wonder if George is lucid enough to know how boring he is?

The guy get a gold medal in aimless nuttering!

- jacksondyer

April 12, 2009 at 11:59pm