Socialism In America

Now that the U.S. government has taken over or has massively bailed out dozens of the largest corporations in the United States, is it time to ask if America is headed for a future of socialism? Or perhaps we should ask this question: Is socialism in America already here?

In light of recent events, it appears that the answer is quite obvious.

You see, President Barack Obama's comprehensive new plan to regulate the financial industry would give the U.S. government vast new powers to seize key companies whose failure jeopardizes the financial system.

So essentially, the U.S. government would be able to grab any company that it wants whenever it feels like it.

Up until now, the U.S. government's authority to seize companies has been mostly limited to banks.

But after the recent actions at Chrysler and General Motors it is clear that we are in a while new ball game.

After all, who ever heard of the President of the United States firing the head of General Motors?

That is essentially what happened.

And are the American people protesting? Do they seem concerned about the future?

Hardly.

It seems that many of them will agree to just about anything if they think it will get them free money and free healthcare.

But nothing is free.

Just last week news came out that the United States government is going to take a 34 percent ownership stake in Citigroup.

In the old days that would have made headline news for weeks.

Now?

Hardly a blip.

The truth is that we do not need to debate if America is going to be socialist in the future.

America already is socialist.

Some time ago, Newsweek published an article entitled "We Are All Socialists Now". While the magazine probably just intended for that headline to stir debate and get attention, the reality is that Newsweek was completely and totally right.

The U.S. is now socialist and most Americans don't even realize it.

The truth is that the United States government is almost 40 percent of GDP already, and that number is quickly growing.

And when you add up all of the taxes that the average American pays out in one form or another, they total over 50 percent of what the average American makes.

For those of you who are a little slow at math, this is what that means.....

More than half of your money goes to the government.

How does that make you feel?

If you like that, then you will probably have no problem adjusting to socialism.

The reality is that Americans are being taxed into oblivion.

Consider the following list of the different kinds of taxes that Americans pay each year.....

Accounts Receivable Tax

Building Permit Tax

Capital Gains Tax

CDL license Tax

Cigarette Tax

Corporate Income Tax

Court Fines (indirect taxes)

Dog License Tax

Federal Income Tax

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

Fishing License Tax

Food License Tax

Fuel permit tax

Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)

Hunting License Tax

Inheritance Tax Interest expense (tax on the money)

Inventory tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)

IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)

Liquor Tax

Local Income Tax

Luxury Taxes

Marriage License Tax

Medicare Tax

Property Tax

Real Estate Tax

Septic Permit Tax

Service Charge Taxes

Social Security Tax

Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)

Sales Taxes

Recreational Vehicle Tax

Road Toll Booth Taxes

School Tax

State Income Tax

State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)

Telephone federal excise tax

Telephone federal universal service fee tax

Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes

Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax

Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax

Telephone state and local tax

Telephone usage charge tax

Toll Bridge Taxes

Toll Tunnel Taxes

Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)

Trailer registration tax

Utility Taxes

Vehicle License Registration Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax

Watercraft registration Tax

Well Permit Tax

Workers Compensation Tax

Pretty frightening, eh?

Soon you will be able to add a bunch of "carbon taxes" to that list.

Perhaps you still have doubts if the United States is socialist.

Ask yourself this - who is the biggest "business owner" in the United States?

The government.

Who is the biggest "spender" in the United States?

The government.

Who does everyone expect to "fix" and "run" the economy?

The government.

During this latest economic crisis, the federal government of the United States has "bailed out", nationalized or has taken ownership interests in a vast array of banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and large corporations.

Does that sound like "capitalism" to you?

The truth is that a new generation of Americans has arisen that expects the government to take care of them from the cradle to the grave. They expect the government to fix all their problems and to provide them with everything that they need.

In fact, the younger an American is, the more likely they are to embrace socialism. So, this trend is not likely to reverse itself any time soon.

Is living under big government socialism the future that you envisioned for your children and grandchildren?

If not, too bad, because it is here.

Welcome to socialist America.