Obama:"Promote the general welfare" - is this a socialist idea?

[BigJon3475]

Originally Posted by hardparts

I now own my own home, put my kids through college, own my cars and have no bills. I made my own money in the 90's. I did it without the governments help or yours.

But now you want handouts?

[hardparts]

Originally Posted by BigJon3475

But now you want handouts?

I don't want nor need handouts, I pay my taxes, willingly, that's the patriotic thing to do. Not like "Joe the Plumber" who has a tax lein on his house for 2007 unpaid taxes. My question to you was, which social program should we scrap first? Will it be Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment Compensation, or maybe free public education?

Can you please stick to the issue at hand, gosh you sound like those airheads on FOX.

[KRAMERCAT]

No. Is nationalizing our banks like Bush did, communistic?

[hardparts]

Originally Posted by KRAMERCAT

No. Is nationalizing our banks like Bush did, communistic?

It' the first step, it's called socialism, as opposed to social programs, like this country has relied on for generations, since 1935.

[helenejen]

Originally Posted by rightofcenter

This is from Obama's site.

""Promote the general welfare" means precisely what it says - promote the well-being of the nation's citizenry as a whole."

Is this a socialist idea or would this be considered an American ideal?

"General welfare" is also from Adam Smith's foundational text for capitalism and modern economics, The Wealth of Nations. Self-interest is also meant to serve the general welfare of the public.

I can't believe some of the responses to this thread. Get off this site and read something people!

[Toward the Right]

I just joined to get in on this thread, this is a very important question right now.

My input is to take the word "promote" and compare it with "provide", then define what "general" means.