Hi there Tom, all, I didn't call anyone on this forum dumb. I find an argument publicly promoted with phrases like "Communist regime slayer" laughable and silly, and certainly not meriting serious discussion. I think that's a defensible premise, and well within my rights to make. Tom, if you want to make a case for "Communist regime slayer" being a credible statement worthy of serious consideration, knock yourself out. I'd be interested to hear it, anyway. Erin Stojan Ward 7, Dayton's Bluff ps By the way, in the most technical sense of the term, socialism, communism, and capitalism are all economic systems; democracy, oligarcy, monarchy, autocracy, etc. are political ones, and combinations of economic and political systems are possible, but they remain separate systems. So yes, there can be democratic capitalism, democratic socialism, or democratic communism (or autocratic capitalism, socialism, or communism), but it's not correct to say an argument is "democracy" vs. "socialism" or "communism." It's *capitalism* vs. socialism, or democracy vs. oligarchy or autocracy. It's always interesting to find those most strenuously advocating "democracy" over "socialism" failing to make that basic distinction.
Tom & Elsa Thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: "Or, we could decide that things have gone this wrong way for far too long, and renew our commitment to community, the common good, the welfare and happiness of all, democracy." That is not democracy that is a socialistic manifesto. Socialism, or bordering on Communism. Democracy is about people having the ability to vote for their leaders. Not that the state (government) takes care of every persons needs. That is Socialism or Communism. "I'm a bit confused---are we talking about a comic book or public policy? Right-wing fanatics at their dumbest (or most entertaining, take your pick)." I don't believe I'm dumb, nor do I believe I am a right-wing fanatic (any more than I believe you're a left-wing fanatic). I have beliefs, you have beliefs, you believe your right and I believe I'm right. That does not make someone dumb. I believe that this steps over the bounds of what is acceptable on this forum. Tom Thompson Como Park _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ ----------------------------------------- There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part; you can't even passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!--- Mario Savio ------------------------------------------ Erin Stojan Dayton's Bluff, Ward 7 --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Y! Messenger - Communicate in real time. Download now. _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
