>> http://www.galvestoneconomicreport.com/Pics/NewsweekSocialists.jpg

>> - TMS

> I'd like to remind everyone that we are *way* closer to a socialist
> economic system than a true laissez-faire capitalism.  The America that we
> are supposed to love-or-leave has been predominately socialist since
> everyone (gryphon mostly) has been alive.

> Medicare
> Medicaid
> pretty much any non-defense/road tax
> Social Security
> Earned income
> schools
> fire departments
> police departments
> public utilities
> parks
> bailouts
> anti-trust legislation
> public housing
> public transportation
> EMTALA
> price-fixing in the guise of farming subsidies
> school lunches
> free clinics
> etc...

> The simple fact is that a very significant portion of your income
> (punishing productivity - very American) is taken from you and given to
> others.  Sure, most is in the guise of 'public good' and even if you don't
> have kids those school taxes probably keep some of the ingrates in school
> or on the field and not robbing your house but you don't have a choice.
> But to even suggest that America is a capitalist nation (some elements
> sure but probably not even the majority) is absurd.