'Socialism' is just a GOP scare tactic

I have been intrigued by the constant assertions of the vulture class that the future of American is now doomed to socialism under the Obama presidency.

Most of American life has been functioning under socialized principles since the '30s. Income tax, public health, property taxes are just a few obvious examples.

They do, of course, proudly tout the benefits of unbridled capitalism. You know, that's the system that collapsed the mortgage industry and pushed housing values down and bankruptcies through the roof.

And it's the system that has added over a million unfortunate souls to the unemployment rolls over the last year.

And how can we not appreciate the 40 to 60 percent reduction of our 401Ks and IRAs over the last year?

And who can deny the benefit of concentrating the wealth of the world in lesser and lesser numbers of people while shrinking the purchasing power of wage earners?

And we cannot fail to recognize the benefits to the capitalists that have resulted from 45 million uninsured in this country alone.

Now uncontrolled socialism will not work properly; that is true.

On the other hand, the havoc of laissez faire capitalism hammers us all every day in every walk of life.

All must realize that with increasing wealth comes increased social responsibility, particularly when that wealth comes from the exploitation of those who made that wealth possible.

The irresponsibility and social ignorance and class bigotry of the Republicans got them tossed into the dustbin of irrelevance.

If the Democrats fail to handle their newfound influence, they will switch places with them in four years.

So if the "Me" class would perhaps learn those marvelous new words like "us," "we" and "our," maybe we could forget about being Republicans and Democrats and concentrate on being 'Americans'.

By the way, I've owned my own business for 25 years so I've seen both sides of the paycheck process.

James Prescott

Schaumburg