What you people don't understand is that socialism requires the individual to become subservient to the needs of the larger group. There can be little or no individual liberty in a socialist state and maintain the socialism itself................those are mutually exclusive and incompatible concepts.

Many of you seem to think that the only difference betweeen Communism and Socialism is the dictator factor. Actually, either society must function at the direction of central planners rather than individual whims. Eventually, the central planners will be in disagreement on the nature and extent of the needs of the masses, much like the current Democratic politicians can't agree on the depth the roots of universal healthcare should extend. When agreement can't be reached within the ruling class in a socialist society, a final voice must be selected to which every other planner must yield. This can be referred to as a dictator.

So, the end result is the same regardless of semantics. Liberalism, progressivism, socialism, collectivism, or communism are all the same thing...................government control and provisions for the benefit and greater good of the masses, rather than the selfishness of individual freedoms and property as touted by capitalists and conservatives. In this modern world of growing populations, growing environmental concerns, growing healthcare concerns, and growing educational concerns, the only rational direction to move is the one we've been moving in for the last 50 years..............further to the left with more central planning and enforcement.

Today, we face a choice in Presidential candidates, with ALL falling to the left side of the scale. My suggestions on this board have been to get over distaste for names and tags, and finish the evolution into modern society by casting off old and outdated notions of individual liberty and property. Government provision is the only logical system to consider. Obama, Hillary, and even McCain understand this and have track records we can have confidence in. Really, we finally have the opportunity for completion. Embrace the hope and change.