Hi Marcia!

*Hi, Raoul!

What's the difference between socialism and communism as seen in the US?
I've got the impression it's exactly the same.

*They are close in that they spring out of the same idea that everything MUST be shared. Socialism doesn't impose it to the extreme that Communism does... depends on who is governing and how much power and control he/she/they want to impose on you and me.

Here, we consider socialism as a democratic ideology, that is more generous than the conservative, and that spreads wealth to a larger fraction of the population.

*It's really not a bad idea... we wouldn't have public education, roads, etc., if the idea of 'sharing' wasn't in our Democracy at all. I think that it should be done in moderation and when common sense (what's that?) is used. A poor man can become rich and help many through employment and distribution of goods, but if the government/system chokes him too much, everyone looses.

The conservatives, we call them "libéraux or liberals-in liberal there is liberty, meaning more in favor of freedom of enterprise than socialists are.
Last year, for instance, France which is governed by a socialist prime minister (Jospin) has said that 50% of all the wealth produced was redistributed in one form or another.

*In most cases ealth IS distributed in 50% or more in the US: Taxes taken out of paychecks for instance. :) ... and you still have to pay taxes out of the money you get to keep on the goods you buy. I'm just glad it works the way it does.

Communism, well, it's even less in favor of freedom of enterprise

* Exactly, that's the worst form of government.

but it's also democratic in western Europe.
But then, communism is more known as what ruled the Soviet Union for 70 years. Not democratic at all.
I find it quite amusing how Tom Brosz hates the left so much, while we know perfectly well it's as democratic as the conservatives (even more in my view).
The left is not against freedom, it's just more in favor of spreading the wealth than the conservatives.

Raoul

* Hmm, I like to think that conservatives don't just want to be rich. You have to have a good product in order to sell it.

The 'left' can also have a tendency to become selfish, greedy and destructive.

Stifling both to the extreme, as in some Socialist and Communist states, is wrong... it stagnates a society and goes totally against human nature.

Marcia