Over and over, when talking with “conservative” police or public school supporters, I call those programs socialist, and the “conservative” says something like, “Those aren’t socialist programs, we pay for it.” Here’s another example of exactly that, and how I responded.

Crazy conservative lady says, “You are the one calling names here! NO we are not socialists if we send our kids to public school. WE PAY FOR IT. Many parents cannot afford private school. Glad you can; good for you. I don’t see you out there on the front lines trying to get more charter schools or doing anything else that’s positive. So what are your “personal sacrifices” – or are you just talk? Meh, Basic communication note: you won’t convert anyone to your side with your hostile, accusatory rhetoric. But I don’t think you care.”

I said, “I want you to re-read what you just wrote, and I hope that you will see that this is exactly why we are losing this country to socialism. We conservatives don’t have a clear understanding of what socialism is or why it’s wrong. How can we win a battle when most of the people on our side don’t even know who the enemy is? The battle for this country is all but lost if we don’t get this right.

Socialism is wrong, because it’s based on covetousness and theft. People are forced to pay for it whether they like it or not. People with five kids receive approximately $50,000/year in benefits while people without kids receive nothing. Some people don’t believe in public school and don’t want to support it with their money, but if they don’t pay their property taxes, they will have their home confiscated. This system is pure evil. I don’t understand why I’m the only one here that sees it. Socialism doesn’t work, because the system doesn’t have to please customers. Public school is socialism, and it’s contrary to historical conservative beliefs.

The next time socialists are on the verge of passing free healthcare are you going to say, “It’s not socialism. WE PAY FOR IT.”? Can you please be consistent and apply all the reasons that you would oppose free college or socialized medicine to all these socialist programs that you seem to like?

“You are the one calling names here!”

First of all, you need to toughen up a little. I haven’t actually insulted anyone, but put a label on the position people hold. People get called names every day in this group. It’s just that it’s not usually you. There is no doubt that people who send their kids to public school are welfare recipients. Public schools spend $10,000/year on each student. It costs parents nothing. They are receiving free education. I don’t even know why you object to being called that when it’s obviously true.

“I don’t see you out there on the front lines trying to get more charter schools or doing anything else that’s positive.”

Government schooling is evil and built on socialism. Charter schools are still funded by socialism, and still run according to government rules. If that’s what you’re doing, you are the reason we are losing this country. That is one of the worst things anyone could do. It’s like saying socialism is OK if we tweak it a little. It is a losing strategy.

I don’t private school my children. I homeschool my children and could do it for about $100 per year for books. That is why I say the anti-socialism in this group is hogwash when most people could easily homeschool their children, but they prefer the benefits of socialism.”