Facebook just may be in the process of blocking me. One of my friends, a co-worker, posted a snippit from one of PE Obama's speeches pertaining to his plans for a civilian police force. My reply summing the idea up as SS/KGB/Sharia Law Enforcers all rolled into one and paid for by your tax dollars got the attention of another friend, an Obama supporter. This person asked that I stop the partisan politics and support Obama as the new President. I'll copy the exchange between this person and I at the end of this post. It looks like Facebook is allowing me access after all, though it is running incredibly slow. In the course of the exchange I decided to look up the definition of Socialism and include it in my arguments as so many people are blatantly denying PE Obama is a Socialist. This is what I found off of dictionary.com, the American Heritage Dictionary:

1. Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.
2. The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

The first one is probably pretty widely known. The second is what raises my eyebrows because we just put a guy in office who supports theories of Carl Marx and Vladimir Lennin.

With that, here is the complete exchange:

DC: As long as the Progressives don't recind(sic) the second ammendment(sic)!

JD: The Second Amendment already allows us to be our own security force. That's the whole reason it's there. Obama basically wants Sharia Law Enorforcers/Gestapo/SS/KGB

all rolled into one...in America...paid for by your tax dollars.

RD: scary

RR: Obama is NOT proposing some new paramilitary organization. If you listen to the entire speech, or at least a couple minutes prior to this 20 second clip, you would realize that he is talking about expanding domestic and international agencies such as AmeriCorp and the PeaceCorp. As well as adding some new ones that are also proposed on his website. “He will establish a Classroom Corps to help teachers and students, with a priority placed on underserved schools; a Health Corps to improve public health outreach; a Clean Energy Corps to conduct weatherization and renewable energy projects; a Veterans Corps to assist veterans at hospitals, nursing homes and homeless shelters; and a Homeland Security Corps to help communities plan, prepare for and respond to emergencies.” It time to start supporting Obama and moving beyond partisan difference as McCain so graciously said in his conceding speach.

JD: If you can't accept debating ideas when someone disagrees with you then I suggest you move to another country. Expanding government to solve social issues is the very foundation of Socialism. It is done with good intentions and, generally, widely accepted by the public because of that. The very programs you name are the foundations of a Socialist state which means that government, not individuals driving the free market, get to decide just who needs more help and opportunity. I will always favor "Partisan Politics" if it means I get to raise my voice in opposition because I don't agree with the direction our country will take. Ending "Partisan Politics," though, is starting to become a form of government enforced censorship because I don't agree with the other side. The only countries that takes place in are those moving toward, or in, Socialism, Communism, Dictatorship, Theocracy or Monarchy, not in a Democracy.

SM: Well said!

RD: Owned!!

RR: I am totally open to debating ideas and I have no plans on moving to another country because I very proud to be an American and extremely happy with positive changes to come. My comment is directed towards this 20 second clip taken out of context saying Obama plans to build a "new civilian force" which is not true. Claims that Obama is a socialist are all based on the distortion of Obama's tax plans and misconstrued quotes. Obama is not trying to redistribute the wealth. He believes in allowing the free market to work so that more people can earn money, rather than using government to enrich a small number as Republicans have. With Obama’s plan those people who are making under $280k would be taxed less than when they were under Ronald Regan, hardly making Obama a socialist.

JD: [R], thank you for your reply and for being open to debate ideas. My reply will be made in at least two parts. I agree that statements given by anyone should not be taken out of context at a later date. The Civilian Police Force President Elect Obama is advocating in this clip is a complete thought, summed up in 15 to 20 seconds just as a thesis statement is proposed. It is very hard to take a statement made in such a fashion out of context, even when singled out in a presidential race stump speech.

JD: Pertaining to the agencies he would like to enlarge and create I have would submit these thoughts. First, no one makes money in the Peace Corps, and almost no living in the Americorps. Expanding these agencies is a direct assault on the American Dream part of which involves working hard to earn money and passing it on to one's offspring. Second, what can a tweaked and streamlined Department of Education, Health, Energy, Homeland Security and Citizens using their 2nd Amendment rights not do which requires yet more levels of government bureaucracy?

JD: Third, Socialism, from the American Heritage Dictionary (Dictionary.com) is defined as, "1. Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy. 2. The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved."

The very fact that Obama said he wanted to take the success from one American and make it available to others, his own words being "spread the wealth around," gives light to his socialist tendencies. I will not even address the fact $280K tax cap is the highest I have yet heard. It started at $250 and went down from there.

JD:Finally, Ronald Regan inherited his terms in office after President Carter, the man who almost single-handedly destroyed this country with high taxes, through the roof inflation and weak foreign policy. One cannot form views and opinions about a President based on what he inherits when he takes office, it's more how he governs when in it and the state of affairs when he leaves that more the key.