On 30-12-2009 13:45, Darren New wrote:
> andrel wrote:
>> In short: to Europeans the difference is huge. Americans using the 
>> term 'socialism' are generally regarded with a friendly sort of 
>> paternalism. 
> 
> It doesn't seem that way to an American.
> 
> You're talking about the political differences. There doesn't seem to be 
> much *economic* difference, except in the way the government manages to 
> take the capital to be redistributed.
> 
> I think the Americans are talking about economics and you're talking 
> about government forms.
> 

Might be. I wouldn't know if there is a standard definition of socialism 
that everybody agrees to, but for me the economic policies of socialism 
are conceptually hard to separate from the economic policies of our 
socialists. Wikipedia does not seem to support your view of what a 
socialist economics is, but that is just one source.

The US does not have or had a socialist party that plays any significant 
role. So I don't think an American can comment on what socialism is or 
should be, at least not when Europeans are present ;) Or would you want 
me to refer to all Christians and neo-conservatives in the states as 
Mormons?

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