so⋅cial⋅ism    /ˈsoʊʃəˌlɪzÉ™m/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [soh-shuh-liz-uhm] Show IPA –noun 1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole. 2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory. 3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

Statism, collectivism, government by theorists and petty tyrants who think that more government is the solution to every problem... or at leas the secret to more power for themselves. Nationalization of major industries and financial institutions. Central planning of the economy. Sprawling centralized bureaucracy intruding into all aspects of life. Endless regulations to protect the individual from himself. A medical and pharmacological establishment controlled by the world's largets HMO with administrators from the DMV, and inspectors/auditors from the IRS. That's just for starters. Here's an interesting article, from of all things The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR2009032302830_pf.html

Obama is on a pretty good start at being a socialist. A layman's way of seeing socialism is that everyone is equally miserable, instead of a select few in society. A basic transfer of wealth from the upper class to the lower class is a simplistic form of socialism. Socialism is often integrated into a capitalistic economy, either by taxes or government ownership of private companies.

Great question. Most right wingers seem to think it means any social welfare programs. That's not the case. Lori K gave the meaning according to the dictionary. It's certainly possible to argue against Social Security, Medicare and public eduction, but it's disingenuous to call that campaign fighting off socialism.

Socialism already exists in the USA and has for almost 200 years.Any time taxes (Income,property,sales,etc) it is a form socialism.The fact that roads,infrastructure,buildings,parks have to be maintained for the public,s benefit is socialism.So nationalizing health care,banks,and other things are going to happen,and people won't even notice it for there is very little difference between socialism and capitalism and no country is 100% capitalistic.Socialistic societies these days are very stable,productive,and are geared for the betterment of all of it's citizens.

When the government controls wealth and property and your freedom in one way or another.

To some people, a socialist is anyone to the left of Atilla the Hun! : D

Icreasing government is a typical socialist trait. Liberal socialists like him feel more sorry for the criminals than the victims of the crime. He is going to close a Gitmo jail because his liberal socialistic heart aches for those detainees and not as much for the mothers, fathers and sons of the 9/11 victims.

Indeed, “socialist” has become one of the many dirty words of this exceedingly loquacious campaign season, and it’s an arguably useful one, inciting the kind of fear we saw during the McCarthy hearings and imaginably back in a little town called Salem a couple centuries earlier. But if we look more closely at Barack Obama’s proposals, do they really make him a socialist? Well, not if you ask one. F.N. Brill, National Secretary of the World Socialist Party (US): “Obama is as much a socialist as the Pope is an atheist. Income redistribution isn't a socialist act. It might aid in ameliorating income disparities within a capitalist economy for a limited time. But the logic of capitalism demands the rich grow richer (more capitalization is needed) and the poor grow poorer (their work creates the needed capital used by the rich).” David Schaich, Socialist Party Campaign Clearinghouse Coordinator: “The idea that Barack Obama is socialist, or quasi-socialist, or semi-socialist, or socialist-light, or anything of the sort, is far-right nonsense. Barack Obama, like John McCain, is very much a ‘politician as usual,’fully committed to the continuation of the capitalist system and the expansion of its empire.” http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28645