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OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 9/26/10

STOP SOCIALISM IN AMERICA!

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Message Frank Silva

Socialism has overtaken our great nation and the American people must stop it in its tracks.

Before I go on, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that although I am not Christian I am somewhat of a Socialist, just like Jesus. If I could feed the masses with a fish and a couple of loaves of bread, I would do so. If I could heal the sick for free with nothing but a touch, I would do so. Like Jesus, I believe "Thou shalt not kill," but I'll admit that unlike Jesus I struggle with separating why I can't kill my annoying neighbors but can kill foreigners for reasons I have "no right" to see and that I cannot fully verify are true.

The point is, I'm not Jesus. But He was a Socialist and I'm somewhat of a Socialist, so that makes me more aligned with Him than most of the Christians I've met in my lifetime. And I'm pretty old. By their actions, most Americans prove that they are not, in fact, Christians, but rather, HypoChristians.

But I digress. Regardless of Christian concepts, the point here is to issue a patriotic challenge to all "real Americans" to stop Socialism in our country.

I've been told by right wingers that my "kooky ideas" and philosophies, not to mention my pro-democracy and anti-corporate leanings disqualify me as a "real American." Interestingly, their rebukes are sometimes in Spanish-accented English, sometimes in Texanese, which technically is somewhere between English and retarded lab monkey with a speech impediment. And, despite over 20 honorable years of service in the Army and Army Reserve, I've been insulted and had my patriotism questioned many times by people who never thought twice about putting a uniform on or picking up a weapon in defense of the nation they praise so highly.

Right Wingers constantly parrot opinions of millionaire members of Congress, millionaire right-wing pundits and millionaire "news" personalities about how "entitlements" are bankrupting our nation. Of course in their view the "entitlements" mentioned are those that benefit non-millionaires and the Working Class, those who are bankrupting our nation. By the reverse, corporate welfare, low tax rates for corporations and millionaires, bailouts for billionaires, and generous tax cuts for millionaires are fine by them. Go figure.

However, let's assume that entitlements are bad, including the most targeted one -- Social Security. Take it further. Is Social Security different from a pension? No. If Social Security is considered a "Socialist entitlement," then pensions are also.

Therefore I issue the challenge to all mentally stunted Palinites and insanity riddled Beckians to DO THE RIGHT THING. I implore them to do nothing more than act on their beliefs and stand firm in their convictions.

All those who believe Social Security and Medicare are entitlements, under the very negative connotation of that word, should stop accepting them if they are receiving them already, or sign a notarized form declining these benefits once eligible.

By the same token, since all pensions are Socialist, police, firefighters, military personnel, all government employees, and even members of Congress are, therefore, practicing Socialists, while most philosophically oppose Socialism. Furthermore, most egregiously, the most vocal majority in opposition to Socialism hypocritically continue to practice Socialism fully without question when it comes to their own "entitlements."

In addition to declining Social Security and Medicare benefits, I challenge ALL REAL AMERICANS to give up their pensions or decline their benefits upon eligibility, if they, in fact, believe them to be Socialist.

If members of Congress started and led by example, and prominent generals and admirals followed their lead, I'm sure all members of the Armed Forces would do the patriotic thing as well. Then it would just be a matter of time before all police, firefighters and other patriotic employees on pension plans would jump on board and give theirs up too. All for Capitalism and America!

As for me, I am a staunch defender of our Constitution, Democracy, Freedom, and non-destructive, competitive Capitalism. I have Socialist leanings when it comes to things like affordable and accessible health care, bridges not falling when people cross them, gas pipelines that don't blow up neighborhoods, salmonella-free food, and a dignified security in old age for contributing to our national community.

I believe that, since I paid into Social Security for my entire working life, I AM entitled to something back as stipulated by the program. I am entitled to it because I paid into it. It IS an entitlement under the true definition of the word for people who can read and know how to use a dictionary. I know that leaves out many wealthy and powerful people, most political pundits and at least one former president, but I can't help that. I didn't attend Yale, but I did get an education.

I also served more than 20 years in uniform and am entitled to my Army Reserve pension. Of course, I cannot collect on that until I'm 60. If I was, say, a one-term member of Congress, like Katherine Harris, I could collect a big fat pension starting at age 50. But I'm not. I was just a lowly soldier, and a somewhat Socialist one at that, so I am not privileged enough, or entitled, to earn that kind of scratch, right Ms. Harris?

By my actions and contributions to our nation, I consider myself a true patriot. As somewhat of a Socialist I personally subscribe to the things Jesus tried to teach that didn't quite take. I believe that the purposely twisted definition of "entitlement" should not logically apply to something like Social Security that I paid into my entire life or to my Army Reserve pension that I earned in a 20-plus year career. I believe I justly deserve both and I expect to collect both.

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Frank Silva speaks truth to power. A recovering Catholic, he is a member of his own Church, The Seventh-Day Pagans of the Church of the Latter Day Heathens. He is a former high school teacher with a Master's Degree from a University that cost (more...)
 

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