>I should not have responded at all to the discussion of the phrase,
>"welfare state." I really cannot see why the topic ever came up. The
>general thread (though the subject line is bad) is important, but the
>quibbling over the meaning of "welfare state" is really silly. Why in
>the world would anyone, ever, want to call a socialist state a welfare
>state.
>
>I'll stick with my d? in the margin on this part of the debate.
>
>Carrol
Doug's point was that in a mainstream media interview you can say things like "I support the idea of a welfare state" and still be taken seriously whereas if you say "I would like to see the US become a socialist state" everything you say after that will be treated like so much static. He is essentially correct. Saying that this statement really means he isn't a true socialist because the concept of a welfare state is meaningless under socialism misses the point. When we finally have a socialist state here in the US I promise never to confuse anyone or reveal my true ignorance by using the term welfare state. Until then however I will use the term to help describe my beliefs to strangers. If that earns me a "D" in someone's imaginary class that's fine with me. I come here to learn, not to earn a grade. I haven't said that to anyone in quite awhile.
John Thornton