I am a Socialist.

Should come as no shock to anyone reading this site.

I grew up in a very leftist town. Probably had to do with the influx of Finns from the 1800's through mid 1950'. Finns are a bit leftist, or so you might think if you watch Fox News. In fact, if you watch that station, you might think that people like me, hard working folks who believe that Government has a responsibility to its citizens, that no one should go hungry, the mentally ill should be cared for, that children should have access to good schools and we all should have health care, etc... Well, if you watched that station, you just might think I'm the boogyman or some such thing.

Take the Ed Show. They looked at the use of the word Socialist (and it's derivations) and made it the Psycho of the day, and I have to agree.

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You see. I'm of the mind that I live in the United States of America and that guarantees me certain freedoms, including the freedom of speech or in this case, thought.

I have the right to actually THINK about what I want from government and then, I also have the opportunity to push for those things that I want. Like how I want my daughter to be able to go to college and get a Master's Degree. In Finland, she could do that.

How can a small, affluent country such as Finland maintain a high-wage, high-skill economy? It can't compete with the low-cost economies of Asia, so it must, as a matter of economic survival, invest heavily in education and training.

"In Finland, we believe we have to invest in education, in research and in higher education.

"Education can pioneer new areas for jobs. We always need new skills for the labour force - so it means that we have to keep investing."

I know it's a boogeyman to distract from the real conversation that needs to happen about education or health care. Fear mongering has worked for Republicans in the past by labeling opponents as "liberal" but that's lost all it's negative meaning now. So, they find themselves looking for a new name to use to deride. They've come to Socialist. Wonder if they'll do the same concern trolling that Nixon did in the 60's when he claimed that an opponent was pink (as in Socialist Pink and Commie Red) down to her panties. BTW, I do wear pink panties and sometimes, leopard print, too. I know, I'm dangerous, thoughts are you know, dangerous.

So, here's my suggestion to all the Psycho talkers claiming that moderates are Socialists. I respectfully suggest that we take the money from our missiles and put it toward health care and education.

And now for a musical interlude:



Oh, and Congresswoman Bachmann,TV entertainment personality Beck, and all the others, um, HELLO! If you're so scared of folks like me, perhaps you might benefit from a trip to Finland. They're Socialist and according to you two, we should be very very scared. Me, not so much. I'm hoping to take my daughter next year to see family that still lives there. Hey all you Paananens from Viitasaari, you got a cousin right here!! Hauska tutustua!

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Well, so to speak. I doubt she actually watched the show, but for some reason she's talking to me about immigration and working.

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Okay, so you've now seen the video from The Ed Show from yesterday. So, let's talk about Karen, my coworker.

She comes by my desk and says, "Did you hear about the idea of making sure everyone has an ID? I mean, even illegals?"

So, I'll bite, "WTF are you talking about?"

Karen: Think about it. If they have IDs, then they can also pay taxes.
Me: oh, okay. Can we make drugs legal too? I'd like to tax the hell out of the suppliers and products.
Karen: No, come on, I'm serious. If I have to pay 25% of my income in taxes, then they should, too. It's only fair.
Me: And balanced?
Karen: Ah, a Faux News jab, nice.
Me: Karen, it's interesting. I like the idea of ensuring that people who have come here legally have a path to citizenship.
Karen: Brilliant, isn't it?

So, Karen seems to be on to something that was discussed last night on the Ed Show, and I know she doesn't watch it, she doesn't get home in time. But I have to think the AFL-CIO and CtW are on to something here. Here's what Trumka said that kind of goes to what Karen was talking about:

Where do the unions, and in this deal, deal with those students that are here that are forced to go home?

TRUMKA: Well, first of all, that‘s called the status adjustment.

Look at them and see if they are actually needed and let them stay here.

They‘ve contributed. Many have stayed here for several years.

About 40 to 45 percent of the illegal immigrants in this country don‘t cross the border. They come in legally with visas and then just don‘t leave. So we need to have that adjusted as well so that workers—so a permanent underclass isn‘t created, those workers exploited, those exploited workers drive down wages for all workers.

She was arguing, in her very Karenesq way that immigrant workers shouldn't be exploited and be forced to live under the radar, because, when they do, they also don't pay taxes. Income or payroll taxes. She sees these things taken out of her pay check, she pays her taxes on or before April 15th every year and she only really wants the same for workers here.

I told her that CtW and the AFl-CIO were talking about this sort of thing too, but in a way that first protects US workers first, you know citizens. When we talk US workers, I mean every naturalized citizen and every native born one as well. I'm only 2nd Generation American. If my family hadn't gotten a legal shot at citizenship here, I'd probably be in Finland right now. But we did, and we all pay taxes (that I know of). Kind of like a blending of Karen's idea and that of the AFL-CIO and CtW. Who knew great minds could think so alike? I bet Karen did.

For more Ed Show stuff, you should check out his show!!

Veteran talk radio host Ed Schultz joins MSNBC's primetime lineup hosing 'The Ed Show' from 6 p.m. EST to 7 p.m. EST. The show will debate and discuss issues affecting all Americans.

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