We all know how Trump hates socialism. Trump and his cohorts in the Republican party keep talking about the socialist ways of the Democratic party. If the Democrats win the upcoming election, would that be the worst thing that could happen? Let’s take a look at facts — real facts.
Socialism in America is not the same as it was in the Soviet Union or Russia. Trump is very smart and knows that Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid are examples of American socialism. Aside from those two, perhaps he’s not familiar with some other examples of American Socialism. If not, allow me to present the following examples of American Socialism:
Guaranteed public education, public transportation, fire departments, police departments, public libraries, every branch of the U.S. Military, roads and highways, public, not private prisons and jails, public hospitals, the Veterans Affairs Administration, public universities, public parks, public toilets, public water fountains, public parking and public everything.
But there is part of another form of socialism that Trump seems to prefer, one of control, a form that has not only been predominant in another country but the term of socialism itself has been officially part of that country’s name.
From 1922 to 1991, the Soviet Union was officially known as The Union of Soviet “Socialist” Republics and was a socialist state. In 1928, Joseph Stalin introduced the first five-year plan for building a “socialist” economy. In industry, the state assumed control over all existing enterprises and undertook an intensive program of industrialization. In agriculture, forced collectivization of farms was implemented all over the country. Eventually everything was under control of the country’s leader. Those opposed to this state control faced execution and there were millions of such executions.
That’s what socialism was all about, Russian socialism. Total control. It seems that Trump also wants total control. We see how he reacts when anyone disagrees with him.
In America, our form of socialism has accomplished wonderful things. It has helped make America a great country. Let’s keep it that way, but let’s not do it the Russian way. Perhaps Mr. Trump should take a lesson in American history and for the sake of our country, we must figure out a way to keep him under control.
Alvin H. Goldberg
Great Neck
