Prepare yourselves, because everything you thought you knew about the politically liberal-conservative continuum is about to be refuted. Fascism, according to a book by conservative writer Jonah Goldberg, is quite paradoxically a facet of liberalism. I'm not buying it, because there is nothing remotely liberal about totalitarianism, just as the actual, tyrannical practice of Communism is not a recognizable continuation of far-left ideals. Socialism, on the other hand, is a recognizable aspect of modern American life, despite neo-conservative claims to the contrary, which suggest that Obama's oxymoronic "Hitlerian" proposals will destroy the fabric of the United States. And his health care plan isn't even true socialism!
Take public education, for example. Since 1642 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, there has been a history of compulsory education in some form for all residents. Under the current model, education is mandated and paid for by the state from kindergarten through 12th grade. Theoretically, in order for someone to be opposed to public education, he or she must also be against equalizing opportunities for underprivileged and socio-economically disadvantaged students, a stance that is undeniably elitist. And of course, "elitism" is an epithet reserved only for the most liberal by Beck, Hannity and Co.
Don't be fooled, though. Conservatives love socialism, too. George W. Bush's favorite tool of government was the U.S. Armed Forces, and he used them for personal reasons in addition to some legitimate defensive measures. Halliburton, the oil company of which Dick Cheney was CEO until he began his term as vice president, secured a $1 billion deal with the U.S. government during the still-ongoing Iraq war. While American citizens were originally told that the country was being invaded because of Saddam Hussein's (non-existent) ties to al-Qaeda, over $695 billion of tax-payers' money has been spent on a war without purpose: our country is arguably less safe now than it was in 2003, at the dawn of the conflict. That money comprises a large percentage of the price of providing universal health care.
On the home front, the U.S. Post Office is currently the subject of much criticism—both good-natured and some not-so—but to paraphrase Bill Maher, when it comes down to it, you address an envelope, stick it in the mail, and x-number of days later, it arrives exactly where you wanted it to. All for much less than a dollar. And those postmen and women deliver mail in the snow!
Medicare and Medicaid are my personal favorite socialist examplars, as they represent small-scale case studies for Obama's health care proposal, both of which have had undeniably successful histories in the United States. In contrast to Obama's government-run insurance option, these two actually are single-payer and therefore of a socialist nature. This past summer, one presumed "tea bagger" misinterpreted the purpose of a town hall meeting, telling Representative Robert Inglis of South Carolina to keep his "government hands" off this gentleman's Medicare. As they say, don't bite the hand that feeds you.
No politician on either side of the aisle wants to get rid of either program—doing so would be political suicide among senior citizen constituents—but raising taxes to pay for the programs would be unheard of, because of the Conservative dictate mandating complete individual responsibility or some such nonsense. Which only allows conservative politicians to highlight the fiscal shortages surrounding Medicare and Medicaid and their supposed inefficiency.
The product of health care is people's lives. It is not a commodity that ought to be traded or trifled with or subjected to the ups and downs of the capitalist system. Ultimately, insurance companies aren't producing anything but waste and inefficiency, and if that can be prevented through government intervention, then so be it. There is no benefit to the American people if the insurance industry is allowed to profit without regulation. Socialism has become another four-letter buzzword without true meaning, its greatest effect the production of hysteria among American conservatives. If you have such a problem with the concept, take your kids out of school, hand deliver your letter to your aunt in Michigan, and defend our nation on your own. And when your elderly grandparents can no longer afford their yearly medical exams, just do them yourselves.
Caitlin Hurwit is a member of the Class of 2012.