I'm going to bed in a few minutes, but since I only have a slim idea of what these two things are about and how they're bad for America,.. I don't really know much about them and I figured it would be a good topic of conversation to have for others who are the same.
I'm surprised at how so many American christians or "christians" are so anti "Socialism". If by "socialism" you mean communism then I would agree that it is not good (because communism forces the majority into communes and only the few elite have control, and other reasons*), but the word socialism does not actually mean communism, there have been lots of other types of socialism like Owen's. Surely the only people who can be totally anti socialist are the rich and selfish. (Like do you really support there being poverty and unemployment and homelessness and slavery and sweat shops / coolie labor and slums and beggars etc?)
(* Communism = class war, Classless society, Utopian, Trade unions, forces everyone into Communes/Kibbutzim, only a few elite have control, leveling the upper & middle classes, democracy, total state ownership of everything and no private property, internationalism, egalitarianism, "united we stand divided we fall".) (Though "the USSR was collectivist not communist".) (Socialism is "community ownership/control", social justice.)
Natural world facts:
"Man is a social animal". "We all need community". "No man is an island."
Socialism is the "left wing" and Oxford dictionary says that left is the side "by the heart".
Socialism (or society) is the opposite to capitalism and individualism. We know that capitalism & (hyper-)individualism has bad things.
Biblical world facts:
Jesus and the early church in Acts could be said to be "socialists" to a certain extant.
John the Baptist said "he/she who has two coats give to him/her who has none".
Jesus said "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
"Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. ... For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.
But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. Don't be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. ...."
James 2 says "Don't the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?"
Jews of the apostles times had "insulas" which were sort of like extended family compounds.
Acts 2 says "All who believed were together, and had all things in common. They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need." (This seems to be where Marx got his "from each according to his ability to each according to his need" from.)
Revelation 3 letter to Laodcieans says they are rich but don't see they are poor, naked (implying there were poor and unclothed amidst the rich?)
Jesus commanded us to love one another and to be one.
Ironically even though so many say they are against socialism the current western world regime in America etc is called "Leftist" by nationalists. Right is "old", natural/traditional, socio-biological, national/racial, left is "new/revolutionary", artificial, socio-economic, globalist/multicultural. Both the two parties in our countries are really on the same side.
Fluoridation is a form of communist leveling. (So if you agree with fluoridation you are a socialist.)
This western regime is half capitalist and half communist, eg private schools for wealthy, public schools for others; unfluoridated water for wealthy/elite, fluoridated water for public; home ownership for wealthy, rental homes/flats for poor.
I'm not a socialist, and not against private property, but nor am I anti socialist. I believe in a synthesis of the left/social and the right/national (that is not the the same as "center" though, nor the same as this western regime claiming to be in between the "extreme left" and "extreme right" which is a clever lie/twisting.) Common interest not just self interests.
Atlantis Account says "They ... treated the vagaries of fortune and one another with wisdom and forbearance, as they reckoned that qualities of character were far more important than their present prosperity. So they bore the burden of their wealth and possessions lightly, and did not let their high standard of living intoxicate them or make them loose their self control, but saw soberly and clearly that all these things flourish only on a soil of common goodwill and individual character, and if pursued too eagerly and overvalued destroy themselves and morality with them. ...."
