• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Are these guys Socialists?

Are these guys Socialists too?

  • Yes...Damn forefathers were nuts

    Votes: 3 37.5%
  • No...How dare you say such a thing

    Votes: 3 37.5%
  • Uh...Those are fake letters,and you have a funny hat

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Socialism has evolved since then

    Votes: 2 25.0%

  • Total voters
    8

tecoyah

Illusionary
DP Veteran
Joined
Sep 30, 2005
Messages
10,453
Reaction score
3,844
Location
Louisville, KY
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Slightly Conservative
If Obama can be called a Socialist by some...by the same criteria, so must Reagan. But the Ideas go back much further, and are primarily Republican.

[h=6]"Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions or property in geometrical progression as they rise. Whenever there are in any country uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on. If for the encouragement of industry we allow it to be appropriated, we must take care that other employment be provided to those excluded from the appropriation." - Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison, October 28, 1785

"I believe it can be sustained, because it does not increase the tax upon the 'many poor' but upon the 'wealthy few' ... If, however, the wealthy should ... complain of the change, ... they are not sufficiently numerous to carry the elections." - Abraham Lincoln, Letter to William S. Wait, March 2, 1839
[/h]
 
Last edited:
No....
Progressive taxation does not make you a socialist.
But going on some of them users views on this some may say that just because you are in favor of progressive taxation that makes you a socialist... Such ignorance is hysterical.
 
I think people put way too much stock and meaning behind words like "socialist" or "capitalist," probably because they are unable or unwilling to understand the complexities of economic systems or of people's individual positions. It's much easier to label something as socialist(or some other label) and forgo any further study, because if it carries that label than it must be wrong therefore my ignorance is justified because I already know what I'll find if I looked into it further.

There's certainly no excuse for that kind of behavior.
 
"Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions or property in geometrical progression as they rise. Whenever there are in any country uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on. If for the encouragement of industry we allow it to be appropriated, we must take care that other employment be provided to those excluded from the appropriation." - Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison, October 28, 1785

When Jefferson was making his observations of the poor in Europe, his thoughts were that the poor should have their own plot of land to work and support themselves, if they were unable to find jobs. This isn't quite the same thing as Democrat social welfare policies. He appears to have believed that it was the responsibility of every man to provide for himself, and that he should have a plot of land to toil and labor if he was unemployed.

"I believe it can be sustained, because it does not increase the tax upon the 'many poor' but upon the 'wealthy few' ... If, however, the wealthy should ... complain of the change, ... they are not sufficiently numerous to carry the elections." - Abraham Lincoln, Letter to William S. Wait, March 2, 1839

Pretty typical politician, I would say. Just do what you want as long as you have the votes to get re-elected.
 
Tecoyah's here!!! Good to see you, tec.
 
I think people put way too much stock and meaning behind words like "socialist" or "capitalist," probably because they are unable or unwilling to understand the complexities of economic systems or of people's individual positions. It's much easier to label something as socialist(or some other label) and forgo any further study, because if it carries that label than it must be wrong therefore my ignorance is justified because I already know what I'll find if I looked into it further.

There's certainly no excuse for that kind of behavior.

You are giving many too much credit to many for critical thinking. What I've seen a lot of is that many are just informed and accept who their leadership is and 'think' what they are instructed to 'think'.
 
Last edited:
When Jefferson was making his observations of the poor in Europe, his thoughts were that the poor should have their own plot of land to work and support themselves, if they were unable to find jobs. This isn't quite the same thing as Democrat social welfare policies. He appears to have believed that it was the responsibility of every man to provide for himself, and that he should have a plot of land to toil and labor if he was unemployed.
Actually Jefferson was the ultimate socialist in this regard! He wanted every poor person to control their own means of production.
 
Actually Jefferson was the ultimate socialist in this regard! He wanted every poor person to control their own means of production.

He wanted them to produce, and did not expect others to produce for them. I have absolutely no problem with that idea.
 
Maybe something labelled "socialism" today has been actually common desire since long ago.
 
Maybe something labelled "socialism" today has been actually common desire since long ago.

It's an idea which seems to be desired by those who lack the skills, motivation, or ability to achieve by their own will and input, or by those who have a guilt complex about their own success.
 
It's an idea which seems to be desired by those who lack the skills, motivation, or ability to achieve by their own will and input, or by those who have a guilt complex about their own success.

Yeah, that's the point
 
Actually Jefferson was the ultimate socialist in this regard! He wanted every poor person to control their own means of production.


and like many socialists, he was unable to control his own spending, when he died his debt was greater than that of America's
 
Talk is cheap, and quotations mean crap. I could say I'm Queen Elizabeth and it doesn't make me a monarchist.

Reagan headed the largest corporate tax cut in history. That would be like me putting on the royal crown and waving from Buckingham.
 
If Obama can be called a Socialist by some...by the same criteria, so must Reagan. But the Ideas go back much further, and are primarily Republican.

[h=6]"Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions or property in geometrical progression as they rise. Whenever there are in any country uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to labor and live on. If for the encouragement of industry we allow it to be appropriated, we must take care that other employment be provided to those excluded from the appropriation." - Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison, October 28, 1785

"I believe it can be sustained, because it does not increase the tax upon the 'many poor' but upon the 'wealthy few' ... If, however, the wealthy should ... complain of the change, ... they are not sufficiently numerous to carry the elections." - Abraham Lincoln, Letter to William S. Wait, March 2, 1839
[/h]
I dunno.

It seems likely that they were discussing their thoughts with each other, much like we do on this forum - only far faster in our case.


Hell, from one perspective, I think he has a point.

But on the other hand, I can see possible issues with that approach.

I've always thought that a flat-rate tax (with, perhaps, some exemptions in some areas) would be better than a progressive tax.

But who knows?
 
No....
Progressive taxation does not make you a socialist.
I like to look at this way. "Progressive" means that you have to be progressing to some place. So the question is, are progressives progressing toward Socialism, or are progressives progressing toward Capitalism? Where are progressives progressing to? Where, Democratic Socialist, do you think YOU are progressing? I suspect it very much has something to do with your moniker. ;)
 
What is being discussed here is the 1785 letter from Jefferson to Madison.
I think it's much fairer to contextualize the lonely quote.
Here is the whole letter:
Letter to James Madison - October 28, 1785 - Wikisource
Jefferson was referring to France in the beginning then to how it should play out in our country.

and at least the full paragraph in question.
"..The property of this country is absolutely concentered in a very few hands, having revenues of from half a million of guineas a year downwards. These employ the flower of the country as servants, some of them having as many as 200 domestics, not labouring. They employ also a great number of manufacturers, and tradesmen, and lastly the class of labouring husbandmen. But after all these comes the most numerous of all the classes, that is, the poor who cannot find work. I asked myself what could be the reason that so many should be permitted to beg who are willing to work, in a country where there is a very considerable proportion of uncultivated lands? These lands are kept idle mostly for the aske of game. It should seem then that it must be because of the enormous wealth of the proprietors which places them above attention to the increase of their revenues by permitting these lands to be laboured. I am conscious that an equal division of property is impracticable. But the consequences of this enormous inequality producing so much misery to the bulk of mankind, legislators cannot invent too many devices for subdividing property, only taking care to let their subdivisions go hand in hand with the natural affections of the human mind. The descent of property of every kind therefore to all the children, or to all the brothers and sisters, or other relations in equal degree is a politic measure, and a practicable one. Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions of property in geometrical progression as they rise. Whenever there is in any country, uncultivated lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of property have been so far extended as to violate natural right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to labour and live on. If, for the encouragement of industry we allow it to be appropriated, we must take care that other employment be furnished to those excluded from the appropriation. If we do not the fundamental right to labour the earth returns to the unemployed. It is too soon yet in our country to say that every man who cannot find employment but who can find uncultivated land, shall be at liberty to cultivate it, paying a moderate rent. But it is not too soon to provide by every possible means that as few as possible shall be without a little portion of land. The small landholders are the most precious part of a state.".."
Clearly Jefferson is against Concentrated wealth and power which obviously makes for a poor democracy.

This phrase also very telling:
"...But the consequences of this enormous inequality producing so much misery to the bulk of mankind, legislators cannot invent too many devices for subdividing property.."
I think gives incite into what he would approve of today in the way of relief for the poor/unemployed/progressive tax/estate tax.

and it should be noted, the French Revolution Started just 4 years after this letter describing great wealth inequality in that country and seeking it avoid it in ours.

PS: the poll choices above are goofy.
This letter should get a more serious airing and I may do so in the future.
 
Last edited:
and like many socialists, he was unable to control his own spending, when he died his debt was greater than that of America's

but.... but ..... but ..... he was one of the sainted Founding Fathers and wrote the Declaration of Independence... so how could he be wrong? I thought you right libertarians could not get enough of folks who were the great minds of the 1700's?
 
Back
Top Bottom