Editor, Times-Union: Million-dollar bonuses for executives whose companies get astronomical amounts of bailout money from the government (our taxes, our money) – socialism. The oil industry benefits from $5.3 trillion in subsidies annually (our taxes, our money) – socialism. The NFL gets billions in subsidies from U.S. taxpayers (our taxes, our money) – socialism. Subsidizing the rich through tax breaks and loopholes, consequently the cost to taxpayers is in the billions (our taxes, our money) – socialism. By the end of 2008, bailout of just the financial-services industry during the Bush Administration had reached over 7 million (our taxes, our money) – socialism, also under Obama 80 billion to the auto companies (our taxes, our money) – socialism, also 70 million to AIG (our taxes, our money) – socialism; $20 billion a year to farm subsidy programs (our taxes, our money) – socialism. It is estimated that the U.S. federal government spends $100 billion a year on corporate welfare (our taxes, our money) – socialism. Hundreds of billions of dollars to other countries called Structural–Adjustment loans that never get paid back (our taxes, our money) – socialism. The cost of subsidizing banks and insurance companies, in addition to the banks of Europe, in addition to endless wars and a global standing army (our taxes, our money) – socialism. Yet, there are those who do not know the term socialism until somebody mentions such concepts as helping the poor, or universal healthcare, or educating the young, and then they scream socialism – they’re spending other people’s money – our money. I could go on and on, however I think you get the idea. What is up with this? We the people have been brainwashed from the day we were born by the ruling class – the capitalist – in this capitalist society. These capitalist are parasites who have infected the minds of the American people, and have caused us – the American people – to act, and think against our own self-interest. Whenever something tries to get done to enhance the lives of people in the American society it is called socialism. While all along these parasites’ whole makeup is socialism. The parasites have infected the minds of millions of Americans and made us oblivious to what is really going one. Socialism seems to only be defined when it is goods and services which enhance the lives of average Americans; on the other hand, when it comes to subsidizing major corporations, financial institutes, the wealthiest and the military industrial complex the term socialism is never considered. In short, million-dollar bonuses for executives whose companies get astronomical amounts of bailout money from the government is never called socialism. Neither is $5.3 trillion annual oil subsidies, or the cost of subsidizing banks and insurance companies, however though when someone mentions helping the poor, or universal healthcare, or educating the young, everyone screams socialism. Again, what is up with this. The parasites have infected the host. We the people. We act against our own self-interest. Bennie Hively Warsaw, via email
