>>>>>>Let's hope that it was only a nightmare and nothing else. It would tear this country apart literally. At this point in time, anything other than Obama winning and living a healthy life in the office would damage this country to such an extent that it would possibly have repercussions around the world that could be catastrophic and change the geopolitical landscape beyond recognition. I would rather live with a type of socialism than envision that. We have no choice.
>>>>>
>>>>>Would you for once, please, explain what's wrong with socialism that it merits this runner-up title as the lesser evil?
>>>>
>>>>I cannot speak for tracy, but socialism is believed the the big evil thing in the US. It is associated with the USSR and
>>>>often confused with communism, and to be believed the direct opposite of the american dream (if that still exists anyways).
>>>>Most americans don't even know that most european countries are having a form of social democracy implemented and are doing fairly well, even economical.
>>
>>>You are correct - you do NOT speak for me. Nor do you speak for many Americans. I think most Americans do in fact know that most European countries have a form of socialism in place. Many Americans admire it, but some do not. There is probably only a very small minority of older citizens still under the false belief that socialism and communisim are one and the same. I would guess (it is only a guess based on those I know or have met throughout my life) that most Americans would actually like a small amount of socialism in our system today.
>>
>>Tracy, I would beg to differ here. First of all I'd like to say that socialism != social democracy (see wikipedia), Further,
>>even up here on the forum, too many times, I've seen the two confused with eachother. Further, my point was more, that those european countries are doing well and even have as compatitive markets as in the US. Again I think much has to do with polarisation. Words like 'socialistic' and 'liberals' have gotten a negative load. Why (dragans question) ?
>
>Not to split hairs, but social democracy is not full socialism but it is a form of socialism. Since you like to quote wikipedia:
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_democracy
>

Thanks for the link. I want to point out that socialism and social democracy are different and not to be confused with eachoter.

>>>>Same with the word 'liberal' which succesfully has been degraded (by the republicans) to mean about the opposite of its original meaning it still has in europe. This is the power of 'mud throwing' in the media and using every instrument to let the people believe what they want them to believe. I view it as some kind of brain washing on a national scale.
>>
>>>>From my pov, it seems that even though many americans don't think as obama is the right candidate they begin to realise that a vote for mcCain as tremendous risk. Not only the risk that he will not be able to disconnect from the powers in his own party that are responsible for the disasters of the last 8 years, but also out of fear that may he die during his term they will end up with a pitbull with lipstick that might even be worse.
>>
>>>A good example of mud slinging right there
>>
>>First off all, I'm not taking part of the election, so I'm not a party in this whole event. Second, what part of the above do you regard as mud slinging?
>
>You're kidding, right?

Nope, I'm not. Except for the statement saying that the repulicans have succesfully degraded the word 'liberal', I don't see anything that remotely could be classified as mud slinging.

>>>>Personally I hope that people are getting fed up with the mud throwing and the massive polarisation during the election. Really, as an outsider I can only see this as a sign of immaturity that should have no place in an election.
>>
>>>I have tried numerous times in political chatter here to introduce the policies and the issues and no one will respond. They only respond to those messages that have a potential to be twisted to suit their purposes. If you spend as much time reading those messages as you do posting your own mud slinging, it might actually help instead of just contributing to the noise
>>
>>How do you make the conclusion I don't read your messages? Maybe people are only responding to messages where they think they can contribute a thing to it. For the record, my message was a reply to dragan, and not directly to you.
>
>
> You replied to Dragan's question to me. It's interesting that you state you cannot speak for me, but you feel comfortable making blanket statements about views or opinions of the rest of the citizens of this country.

Errr... Are you implying that you are the one who is the only one who can make statements of the rest of the citizens of your country? I cannot collow your logic. I did not speak for you, nor did I want to. I gave my view upon it. Nothing more, nothing less. If you want to read more into it... so be it...