Posted at Third Party and Independent Daily:
From the Columbia News Service, via the Memphis Socialist Party:
The economic crisis may have sounded a death knell for investment banks, construction companies and countless small businesses, but there are some groups that are benefittng from the general malaise. Alternative political movements such as communism and socialism are hoping that some Americans will go outside the mainstream and adopt a socialist ideology, breathing new life into these organizations. . . .
Officials from the Communist Party USA and the Socialist Party USA say they have never seen such interest from Americans as they see today. A poll conducted by Rasmussen in 2009 showed that 20 percent of Americans favor socialism over capitalism, with more support among younger people. Of adults under 30, 37 percent of them said socialism was the better choice.
FYI: Other upcoming film screenings on Palestine:
All at 7pm, following a potluck at:
Center for Theology & Social Analysis (CTSA)
1077 South Newstead
St. Louis, MO
April 18th: “Amreeka” (www.amreeka.com)
May 16th: “Occupation 101” (www.occupation101.org)
June 20th: “The Visitor” (www.thevisitorfilm.com)
This capitalism versus socialism talk seems misleading to me . . . the two are not dipolar, not mutually exclusive, not a trade-off . . . I don’t see the capitalist/socialist dichotomy as clear thinking. For example, say your town makes a rule against selling things on the street. That makes your town less “capitalist”, but there’s nothing “socialist” about it.
Of course Rasmussen is great for asking questions that don’t make sense, like “would you rather have more freedom or more security?” and other such false choices.
As novel an idea as socialism is, its end result – a dream society with no classes, capital, or scarcity – requires a completely global zeitgeist in practice.
Those in Washington are currently not pushing socialism, but a bastardized version of it secured through the means of the State.