Lisa Benson for January 25, 2019

Their main problem was too much debt. Waters toward which the GOP is sailing us full steam ahead.

The Right likes to use Venezuela as the example of evil socialist government. They conveniently ignore the example of socialist Nordic countries such as Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland. Coincidentally, these are also some of the happiest nations on Earth. Nothing like a little cherry- picking to make your point if honesty doesn’t matter.

The right only likes to focus on dictator run, autocratic-style “socialism” because if they took a peek at REAL socialism, it would break their beautiful delusions!

Completely Laissez Faire Capitalism has failed every time it has been implemented, FACT!

Fascism under any other name is still fascism.

I’m telling you Americans that living in this “socialist” country of Canada is hell. So don’t bother to come over if you like worrying about healthcare expenses.

Autocratic socialism is not socialism; it’s just a dictatorship by any other name.

If you can own real estate and own a business, you are not living under Socialism; fact. All these nice countries mentioned in today’s snark section have market driven economies with minimal government intervention. “True Socialism” can only succeed briefly until the shortages and rationing start. Then comes the autocracy as the totalitarian state can only exist by suppression and force.

Change “Socialism” to “Despotism” and you’ll be closer to the truth. Maduro (and Chavez) acted more like Hitler, meaning they acted like…oh, you know.

Amazes me how so many “educated” people confuse socialism with communism.

The form of socialism in Venezuela vs. Canada and Sweden, etc. are quite different. Venezuela does not have a free market economy and resembles more closely the definition of socialism whereas the countries we often refer to as socialist really aren’t socialist – they just have a very generous social welfare program. Venezuela is suffering because of real socialism and corrupt leadership which seem to go hand in hand.

Still room on the boat for Bernie and Warren!

Socialism and Communism are the philosophies of lazy people and tyrants. Great cartoon, Lisa!

Don’t get too smug America.. many of the faults you clearly see in Venezuela.. are smoldering in your own back yard

It isn’t socialism that is killing Venezuela, it’s corrupt government!!

Authoritarians always seem to offer one “ISM” or another to first attain power when they then reveal that they are dictators with no intention to serve the public. With no educated or highly skilled workforce, and counting on the sale of resources for economic survival, not a very promising future with any type of self-serving leadership.

Socialism is what keeps the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay. Imagine that! The team is owned by the community!! We must destroy this evil at once!! /s

This is part of the outmoded notion that those working in the public sector are parasites, not citizens working their jobs just like other citizens. The difference is that the public is their constituency—the ENTIRE public. At least that’s the ideal, right?

The entire debate revolves around American views on government in general, and, writ large, their views on “communism and socialism”.

Reagan joked, " I’m here from the government and I want to help. He meant that as a bad thing. Obviously he was skeptical the government was effective and was more often than not, a negative influence. And just like ANY large human organization, government can be negative and dysfunctional. But the profit motive is not the be all and end all of our society, or at least it shouldn’t be. Neither is a more centralized, autocratic government the perfect example of government.

But let’s be clear. We need government. We have to pay for government. And it is the only type of entity that can do what it does—serve the ENTIRE society.

We really do need to learn how to respect and value our government workers, not deride them in ad hominem attacks. Labels stick. Let’s not be cynical. We are in the enviable position of still having elections, and the current abomination will pass. We are dependent on each other and no derisive hatred of government can erase that fact. Socialism, communism are outdated and irrelevant to our current circumstances. But the boogeyman created out of them by the regressives mirrors their fear that government can be put to many uses, some not to their liking because it might hit them in the pocketbook or challenge their racism or other anti-social beliefs. This fear poisons the well for rational thinking about the way governments could actually do a lot more good than harm.

Notice how all the comment from Trump Disciples would fit neatly onto a bumper sticker.

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Showing off their awesome analysis skills.

You think Lisa has learned the difference between Nationalistic Socialism and Democratic Socialism? Nah, me neither.

Got a match?

The Fascist hate socialism and democracy, truth, knowledge, facts, free press.

Still plenty of room on the boat for Sanders, AOC and most of the Democrats running in 2020!

As noted; a dictatorship is NOT “socialism”, period. Try Scandinavian countries, or New Zealand, where the democratic process is more open and free than where the US is going with “the right”. BTW: although no system is perfect, health care in New Zealand beats the US on all factors. Out of pocket expenses for prenatal care, delivery, and six months of care after delivery: $40 NZ, try that here.

Some of the most transformational and progressive events in American history where between public and private enterprise, which is a form of socialism – the Pacific railway, the Hoover dam, the Erie canal, the Garrison dam in North Dakota, the Fort Peck dam in Montana, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Space Program, and others. Many of these projects are still government-owned. For example the Hoover Dam that lights up and runs the irrigation pumps in the arid Southwest are owned by the American Government.

Guess that the old saying: “There is no free lunch!”, does not apply to healthcare?

Wondering if any of the “talking heads” of today’s biased news organization have asked Ocasio Cortez if she even knows where Venezuela is, and what’s been happening there for years under Maduro ?

This guy is supported by Putin. I wonder who else is supported by Putin?