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Socialism Is Worse McCarthyism Is Worse
Debate Score:6
Arguments:5
Total Votes:7
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 McCarthyism Is Worse (5)

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Socialism or McCarthyism, which is worse?

Definitions:

Socialism:

1. (Economics) an economic theory or system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned by the community collectively, usually through the state. It is characterized by production for use rather than profit, by equality of individual wealth, by the absence of competitive economic activity, and, usually, by government determination of investment, prices, and production levels Compare capitalism
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) any of various social or political theories or movements in which the common welfare is to be achieved through the establishment of a socialist economic system
3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (in Leninist theory) a transitional stage after the proletarian revolution in the development of a society from capitalism to communism: characterized by the distribution of income according to work rather than need


McCarthyism: 

1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the practice of making unsubstantiated accusations of disloyalty or Communist leanings
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the use of unsupported accusations for any purpose
[after Joseph Raymond McCarthy (1908-57), US Republican senator, who led (1950-54) the notorious investigations of alleged Communist infiltration into the US government]

Socialism Is Worse

Side Score: 0
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McCarthyism Is Worse

Side Score: 6
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Perhaps, it's a hangover from our Cold War with Russia. The American has learned to cringe at anything that merely sounds like socialism, although the more I examine it I usually find that they don't really understand what socialism and how it works. There are areas where socialism makes plenty of sense. It's a question of how far do you wish to take it?

Side: McCarthyism Is Worse

In my experience here in the states, it used to be an obvious thing in the 80's that anyone who screamed "socialist" was really just an old lunatic. It even seemed that way to people who didn't know what socialism was. Hence, long before I knew what it was I had a clear idea that it was about propaganda and not political philosophy when people used it in a debate.

Then in the 90's people forgot about politics all together and around 2003-2006, Fox News and the republican party started to bring it around again with only a slight improvement on their accuracy of it's use.

For example, it's fair of them to somewhat associate socialism with universal healthcare, but their insane base of moron zombies following them still has no idea and doesn't care. There was an old guy I spoke to once who blames the corruption of politics on the push towards socialist ideas and kept giving me the excuse "if only you saw what it was like in the 60's. People who worked hard got paid." I paraphrase but that's the general idea of what he said.

Despite how much skepticism reading Howard Zinn has left me with on that notionI still managed to stump him by saying, "Look I can see your point, but what if we could just say this much: If someone is willing and able to work 40 hours a week, they deserve to have all of their human needs met. I don't care if it's the lowest quality stuff on the market so long as it's safe. Healthy canned food, shelter that can survive the expected heat and the cold of their local climate, adequate transportation to work and their local community college, healthcare, protection from injustice, clothes, and enough water for drinking washing and bathing.

Make sure that every working individual has all of these necessities independently and you can have at it hoss. Compete to your heart's consent. The reason we need a base that every working individual is able to get and maintain is so that the investors don't just think they can choke the working poor for a greater profit."

He didn't have much to say against that even though the people who retaught him about the evils of socialism would have wanted him to scream at me for being so against free enterprise with that sentiment. American conservatives who listen to media like Fox News are delusional puppets.

Side: McCarthyism Is Worse

Because McCarthyism is fear mongering and causes individuals to be brought before Congress as a witch hunt.

Side: McCarthyism Is Worse
0 points

Socialism is an idea worthy of being experimented to various degrees in democratic systems. Unlike what many McCarthyist sentiments would suggest, Socialism is not independent from Democracy, nor is it tied to Communism.

Socialism also holds just as many dangers as Capitalism with only one difference, extreme Capitalism puts too much power in the hands of the wealthy while extreme Socialism puts too much power in those who hold the positions of the government.

The powers that be should ultimately be in the hands of the people, with only minor decisions ever being made against the majority demands to maintain some sense of logical consistency and strategic integrity. This is important particularly in the cases where the majority seek to unduly oppress a minority.

I find that the ideal society is much like the current US. Some parts capitalism, some parts socialism. Free enterprise should be managed over industries which are allowed to fail while industries which must maintain consistency and a purpose to serve the needs of the people should be organized and run by government.

McCarthyism on the other hand is the epitome of lies and propaganda pushing. It serves no one and unlike most hateful and harmful political positions, most of it's advocates are hardly even aware of it's existence.

Side: McCarthyism Is Worse

Disagree? Quit being a coward and give a better argument.

Side: McCarthyism Is Worse