This has taken me totally by surprise. I'm transported to my Cold War-McCarthy era childhood and as the son of Communist Party members it's not a happy place. When I was two years old our house was stoned by wingnuts incited by the local press. My father was called to testify in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Despite my background and a visceral disdain for the bosses, I am no longer a communist or socialist. I know Barack Obama is not a communist or socialist. He believes, as I now do, that a government in capitalist society can be on the side of the people.
Yet even with his really modest proposals, some are freaking out. "Socialism," they cry! I don't recall this kind of response to other Democratic candidates. Correct my historical memory if I'm wrong. Is it because Obama is black, African, Kenyan? Or is it a confluence of circumstances, with some of the mechanisms of the system failing and people going nuts, like they did with facsism.
What's your response to the "Obama's a socialist" meme?