Progressivism? Socialism? Communism?

[Sam]

not my personal experience but that of someone else...

I remember asking dad about Castro when I was about 9 years old. I asked, "Is Castro a good guy or bad?" Dad said he couldn't tell!! This was about 1955. We were living in Louisiana at the time . Dad was in the army there.

Cuba was fairly close and in the news a lot. The Cubans were asking the same question! Ike was president.

This past July, we had the pleasure of sharing a summer barbecue with a refugee from Cuba. Our dinner conversation was starkly different than most. This refugee came to the United States as a young boy in the early 1960s. His family was more fortunate than most as they were able to bring a suitcase and $100 when they fled Castro's newly formed revolutionary paradise.

Our dinner consisted of all-American fare: hamburgers, potato salad, watermelon and fresh ears of sweet corn. This is a menu shared with family and friends nationwide, while celebrating the birth of our beloved America on the Fourth of July.

We began with a simple discussion about our country and the direction it has taken since Barack Obama came to power. We shared the usual complaints about the sour economy and liberal social engineering emanating from the rulers in Washington.

But then he said it. The sentence came naturally. I assume it was. unplanned. But it carried the weight of a freight train. "You know when Castro took power, none of us knew he was a Communist."

We sat stunned. He continued, "Yes, we all thought he was a patriot, a nationalist. Before the revolution he didn't sound like a radical."

The comparison at this point was easy, and I interjected, "You mean just like Barack Obama?"

He responded, "Yes, just like Barack Obama."

He continued, "We were all shocked as the government just continued to grab more power. First they said the revolution is over, so please turn.. in your guns. We all complied."

"I remember my uncle saying after it started, 'Castro will only nationalize some of the big industries, he will never come and take our family hardware store. 'But that is exactly what happened, Castro started with the sugar mills and the large industries, but they eventually came and knocked on the door of our family hardware store. My family had run this store for generations. They said we now own the hardware store, you work for us. And that nice, large four-bedroom home you own, it is now our property also, and you can move yourself and five children into two rooms of the house because others are moving in with you."

The lesson learned from this discussion is a lesson most Americans refuse to hear. Political leaders can lie about their agenda and once in office they can take totally unexpected turns.

If you had asked us three years ago if we thought General Motors would be nationalized, we would have never believed it. We could never contemplate a country where the rule of law, the most fundamental building block of a justice society would be evaporating just like it did in Castro's Cuba in the early 1960s.

But the news of injustice keeps increasing. Black Panthers are not charged with wrongdoing by the U.S. Department of Justice because their crimes are against whites. The bondholders of GM are stripped of their assets without due process by the government. Governmental leaders are bribed in full daylight only to have all investigation of the crimes stifled by the Attorney General. The U.S. borders are overrun with crime.. and illegal activity and the leaders in D.C. act as if it is important to protect the lawbreakers while the innocent are killed and overrun. When local communities attempt to enforce the law, they are ridiculed and threatened as racists and bigots. They are sued by the very administration entrusted with enforcing the law.

Without the rule of law the U.S. Constitution is a sham. Without the rule of law our beloved America is swiftly becoming a country where only the well connected and politically, powerful will be safe. As Michelle Malkin has so eloquently explained in her recent book, a culture of corruption has replaced honest government.

The only way this problem will be fixed is by massive citizen action. All honest citizens that want to be treated equally must come together and demand that the favoritism, the bribes, the uneven enforcement of law end now. And yes, it can happen here.

[Sam]

One comment on the above.
While Barack Obama was running for President he made it quite clear that he was an advocate of redistribution of wealth. His agenda once he is in office, which includes socialism, racism, and unionism, should not come as a surprise to any of us.

[sandie]

Those are very sobering thoughts.

Hopefully America will continue to wake up and turn this ship around.
Obama shouldn't have the same kind of power he's had, starting with the 112th congress. That is if the new congress people bring their spines along for the journey.

[A.W. Bowman]

God bless ya, Sam!

[Sister Alvear]

if America only knew....

[Seascapes]

I do not believe that our President is a "socialist or a communist", that is just what the republicans say about every democrat. The only sharing of the wealth that he was speaking about in his campaign was, not continuing the Bush tax cuts to the top 2% of the wealthiest. The Healthcare Bill and other Bills that he has signed in are good for most of the American people. I was very angry with our President when he compromised and continued the Bush tax cuts, but at least he did get the unemployment insurance extended for 2 million Americans.

[aegsm76]

I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody.
Barack Obama

I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It should be repealed and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor. I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying.
Barack Obama

I've been fighting with Acorn, alongside Acorn, on issues you care about, my entire career.
Barack Obama

I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby.
Barack Obama

It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.
Barack Obama

Over the last 15 months, we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in 57 states? I think one left to go.
Barack Obama

The thing about hip-hop today is it's smart, it's insightful. The way they can communicate a complex message in a very short space is remarkable.
Barack Obama

We can't have special interests sitting shotgun. We gotta have middle class families up in front. We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back.
Barack Obama

Not to mention, private business as the enemy, leaving out endowed by the Creator several times and other nonsense that I don't have time to look up.

[Seascapes]

Do you believe every thing you read on the internet? You post so-called quotes, but not where (media) they came from, anyone can post anything and put Barack Obama name on it. Now I believe you are sincere in your post, but you and I know that anyone can have a blog page and post lies, even pictures can be deceptions. Just like in the Bible, you take one verse to prove your point, but if you hear or read the lines or verses above, then it will mean something totally different. We have to look at the whole picture, to get the true meaning.

I heard the President's speech, which I thought it was very good, he just said the first part of the phase, because he was making a point, and endowed by the Creator was not the point he was making, that is why he didn't say it. People are looking for fault, they will certainly find it.

[sandie]

Originally Posted by Seascapes

I do not believe that our President is a "socialist or a communist", that is just what the republicans say about every democrat. The only sharing of the wealth that he was speaking about in his campaign was, not continuing the Bush tax cuts to the top 2% of the wealthiest. The Healthcare Bill and other Bills that he has signed in are good for most of the American people. I was very angry with our President when he compromised and continued the Bush tax cuts, but at least he did get the unemployment insurance extended for 2 million Americans.

How much above and beyond are you giving to the government?
There is nobody stopping you from spreading around what you have.

Do you put your money where your mouth is?

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

if America only knew....

If American only know what Sister Alvear?

There are several possible answers to that question. That's why I'm asking.