 |
 |
Olga, Yes. I have been to the USSR 3 times, once in 1977 and I concluded they needed a good revolution , rather than celebrating the one that overthrew the Czar, Poland, Hungary, Yugoslovia, Bulgaria, Romania, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and all of Western Europe. And to communist countries when they were Communist. We do have a "mixed economy"in the U.S. I am a former teacher of American History and know that to be true. I think our definitions must be different. We do not have a completely capitalist system anyway, altho as I noted in my email present day capitalists are getting much more than their fair share of the economic pie. I have an old Democrat friend who thinks we are going to become a nation of haves and have-nots - the middle class is disappearing. In the early 1900's of the Progressive Era we got many things Socialists wanted, like a progressive income tax with the 16th Amendment to the Constitution. President Roosevelt, a Republican, believed there were certain things the government should do - like rregulate the railroads (he was known as a trust buster) and the meat we ate and drugs we took with the Pure Food and Drug Act. He also favored protecting the environment with the etablishment of our national parks. He also believed the government was going to be big, just like big business - the question was what was it's role to be. President Wilson, a Democrat, who followed him during WW I believed in the "New Freedom" or going back to an era of small business. So you can see our political parties and their leaders have changed positions on the issues since the founding of the republic. I think it depends on the country and its history, what "socialism" means or is. I could write more, but my hands are tired. Ray ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn