Gonna try to keep an open mind.

I don't quite understand the hostility toward socialism. Here in the USA. It seems as if many Americans deem socialism as an evil. An alien type of economy and politic. Something to be abhored. But hey, there are democratic socialist parties thriving in other countries. Such as France and Sweden. And I don't think of the French or the Swedes as evil. In fact, they seem to be very nice and respectable people. Intelligent, too. Very civil. Likeable. Sensible. Even the socialists. But here, one is roundly criticized for being of a socialist persuasion. Socialized medicine is a dirty word. At least with Republicans. Our public education system and social security are socialist in nature. But they seem to be popular with most Americans. Probably, many don't even think of such programs as socialist. Perhaps that's an indication that we have little understanding of socialism. We equate it with communism. Maybe that's got a bad rap, too. Fidel Castro's brand of communism hasn't been too bad for Cuba. At least it's a country with good health care and educational systems. And I think a majority of Cubans are fairly happy with their form of government. So maybe communism isn't all bad. Any more than capitalism is all good. For the time being, I'm gonna try to keep an open mind. --Jim Broede