Define "socialist"? (Eugene: rich, ordinances, property)

[haggardhouseelf]

The word socialist gets thrown around a lot when people are trying to describe Eugene.

Would anyone care to define what they mean when they use that word with regards to Eugene? It always comes across like it is meant as a put-down or snide remark.

We have so many things that go on in Eugene without votes or voices heard from the community, and we have quite a few rich people with their own private agenda's who bulldoze through with their own plans regardless of whether it's good for the community or not... I don't really understand how Eugene could be seen as a socialist community. It doesn't feel that way to me, but maybe I just don't really understand the "socialist" comments?

[1208]

It's a word reactionary right wingers incorrectly use to label anyone with any leftist tendencies, making them sound ignorant.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Please put the political BS aside, it doesn't help or answer the question in any way.
Here are two very simple but by no means complete explanations of "Socialism" found on the web:

1. The philosophy that everyone should share as equally as possible in the wealth of the society and no one should be extremely rich nor extremely poor.

2. Robin Hood syndrome; take from the rich, give to the poor.

And just to be a butthead (), I give you this:
Let me google that for you

[1208]

She asked for socialist in the context of how people use it on here, I think my answer is closer.

[haggardhouseelf]

Thanks to both of you. That is a funny google link! I know what socialism is, I just don't understand why it's thrown around so much in reference to Eugene. When you really stop and think about it, it really doesn't apply. I was hoping someone who uses that word in their posts regarding Eugene would speak up and explain why they use it, so that their comments might make more sense to people not from here - like me.

[YellowHorse]

I grew up in Oregon, though I haven't had much experience in Eugene other than the Oregon Country Fair , but another thing that some may be referring to is what I and many refer to as "nanny" laws/ordinances. Many incorrectly call these "nanny" laws socialism. "Nanny" laws are ones that have no victim, or are preemptive or regulate what you may or may not do on your own property. It is easy to see the applied correlation, just as the government steps in to regulate the wealth, so too they step in like an overprotective parent or nanny, and say what risks you are not allowed to use your own judgement and even if nothing bad happens or it affects no one, you still get fined/ticketed for them. These laws/ordinances often may be referred to as socialistic and a city/community that has many of these laws/ordinances may be called the same.
I can't say if it would apply to Eugene or not, that would be for the residents to judge for themselves.

[1208]

That's what I am saying, it is incorrectly being used for another meaning. Like calling feminists "femi-nazis", they are not really nazis.