Americans throw around the term 'communist' and 'socialist' way too much. There can't be THAT many.

Taken from: http://www.merriam-webster.com...

Main Entry:
com·mu·nism
Function:
noun
Etymology:
French communisme, from commun common
Date:
1840

1 a: theory advocating elimination of private property b: a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed

Even the Russians weren't communists. They had and continue to have rubles as currency. When someone on the Internet uses that word, they mean to say 'Stalinist' which is more Soviet and dictator-centric. How many people do you see who really advocate sharing all property?

Main Entry:
so·cial·ism
Function:
noun
Date:
1837

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

Where in the US does government own corporations? It can be argued that many corporations own our government. No one in American politics adheres to these definitions.

I agree with your definitions.

I present my offense-
1. First, you must prove to me that people say 'Communist' and 'Socialist' way too much. If you don't do this, you cannot prove your own question.

2. Many people know what they're talking about and do not use this when it applies to a country that is obviously not communist. I'm sure some Americans use the word communist too much, but that does not represent the general public.

3. Define which countries most people commonly say are communist. I know you said Russia, and please notify me if this is the only one. This will allow me to attack specific arguments and not just broad questions such as this topic.

4. While I disagree with the way some people use 'Communist', or 'Commy', there is reason for it. Nearly every communist state has failed, and many exploited human rights.

Answers-
1. "Even the Russians weren't communists. They had and continue to have rubles as currency. When someone on the Internet uses that word, they mean to say 'Stalinist' which is more Soviet and dictator-centric. How many people do you see who really advocate sharing all property?"

The Soviet Union was Communist. Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. 'Stalinism' is the term used to describe his regime. The term was first used by Lazar Kaganovich and was never used by Joseph Stalin. Stalin's idea of Collectivization is most definitley commuist, because it made peasants sell their farms to the government.

2. "Where in the US does government own corporations? It can be argued that many corporations own our government. No one in American politics adheres to these definitions."

Who is saying America is communist? America is most certainly a democratic, capatalist state. I guess I agree with you that America does not own corporations. I need some clarification on this argument.

http://thinkprogress.org... <<<The Democratic Party labeled the party of socialism.

<<<Hillary Clinton repeatedly called a socialist.

<<<Hillary Clinton repeatedly called a socialist.

http://www.renewamerica.us... <<<Hillary Clinton repeatedly called a communist.

http://mediamatters.org... <<<Huffington, Molly Ivans, Bill Maher, Larry David, creator of Seinfeld, all called socialists.

http://www.usatoday.com... reads that an estimated 72 million Americans are registered Democrats. They are not socialists.

http://www.washingtonpost.com... displays the views of all 2008 presidential candidates. http://socialistparty-usa.org... and http://www.cpusa.org... depict the values of the Socialist and Communist Parties of the United States. Hillary Clinton's views (link above) differ drastically from both parties on every single issue.

...as do the views of Arianna Huffington, Molly Ivans, Bill Maher, and Larry David.

If 72 million Americans were socialists, it would be unlikely for them to keep silent for much longer. To put it in perspective, that's almost a quarter of all US citizens.

Socialism is 'not' defined by 'any' distribution of wealth. If it was, all nations outside of the Vatican would be socialists or communists. Socialism is a word, although respected and practiced in much of the world, is used as a scare tactic in the US, nothing more, nothing less.

Those sources are great and all, but that still links to my second argument. Most people in America know what they are talking about. Just because one person says Democrats are socialist, that does not mean it is popular belief. What I was looking for is something like a poll that shows how many people use the word communist, but I'm not going to start feeding you ideas. I know that most intelligent people only use Socialist and Communist are within context. You said yourself Hilary Clinton's views are not what these people think. Obviously you're intelligent and know that democrats are not communists.

Extend on all my points that were dropped:
1. The reason behind people using the term is just; Socialism violates human rights.
2. The fact that the Soviet Union is Socialist and not Stalinist based on the fact that 'Stalinism' didn't exist until after Stalin was out of power and of the idea of Collectivization.
3. The idea of communism in the United States does not exist.

It is sad that he had to forfeit this round. No matter what your opinion is, vote con if your tired of people quitting debates. Use also all of my points in the debate, which he realized I was right about.

1. The reason behind people using the term is just; Socialism violates human rights.
2. The fact that the Soviet Union is Socialist and not Stalinist based on the fact that 'Stalinism' didn't exist until after Stalin was out of power and of the idea of Collectivization.
3. The idea of communism in the United States does not exist.
4. Most people know what they're talking about.
5. His arguments aren't 'Popular belief'