01-10-2017, 02:40 AM
(01-10-2017, 01:00 AM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:You just have to identify with/be one of them to be considered a socialist. BTW, if you identify with one of them then you're in the same bag as all of them according to your dictionary.(01-09-2017, 11:56 PM)Classic-Xer Wrote: I go by the definition of socialist. You've advocated the need for more socialism but you've also made it known to me that you'd prefer to stick with capitalism yourself. I'll give you some slack understanding the political position that you're in and have been in since the progressives took control over the bulk of your party.My dictionary came up with a list that looks similar enough to the ones we came up with above.
Quote:socialist
adjective
the socialist movement: left-wing, progressive, leftist, labor, anti-corporate, antiglobalization; radical, revolutionary, militant; communist; informal lefty, red. ANTONYMS conservative.
noun
a well-known socialist: left-winger, leftist, progressive, progressivist; radical, revolutionary; communist, Marxist; informal lefty, red. ANTONYMS conservative.
If I have to be all of the above to be a socialist, I'm not a socialist. There seems to be one contradiction. Some American progressives have been accused of being too much in favor of globalization. I'll deny I'm communist, Marxist or revolutionary. I'd like to see some big changes, but I don't think I qualify as a radical??? I think the government would benefit from a stronger labor movement, and distrust Wall Street's excessive pulling money out of corporate structures to give it to investors. Corporate structure sure needs changed, but not destroyed. I don't know that anti-corporate fits me.
In short, all the words in the above list aren't synonyms. I accept that some of them apply well enough to me, but not all of them. If you insist on lumping them all together, you'll won't be describing where I'm at.
Just for laughs...
Quote:conservative
adjective
1 the conservative wing of the party: right-wing, reactionary, traditionalist; Republican; British Tory; informal redneck. ANTONYMS socialist.
Quote:progressiveI'd say by these definitions, progressive describes me far better than socialist. I won't claim that all of the words in the progressive definition apply to me, but they are a lot closer than the socialist words.
adjective
2 progressive views: modern, liberal, advanced, forward-thinking, enlightened, enterprising, innovative, pioneering, dynamic, bold, avant-garde, reforming, reformist, radical; informal go-ahead. ANTONYMS conservative, reactionary.
I don't particularly peg you as reactionary or a redneck. Would you agree that these dictionary definitions don't peg either of us perfectly?
Simple definition of socialist....A socialist is a person who believes in socialism. A socialist is a person who advocates for or participates in socialism. According to those definition, I wouldn't peg you as being much of a socialist yourself.