Sorry to those who don't enjoy; but for me, a great thread.
I am a John Dewey type, thus philosophically, I reject "either/or" thinking.
I also come from a personal foundation that early on faced the reality that Jesus/Christianity has far more in common with pure communism/Marxism than Capitalism. "Lay down your worldly possessions and follow me." "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God, God."
I was arguing earlier about the common perception of socialism, the practical application of socialism, and the "theory" socialism. I was actually making a case for the three being out of sync�but also I was making a case that in the good ol' U. S. of A. than NO ONE is having their money "confiscated." And if any want to associate socialism IN OUR COUNTRY with totalitarian versions of Communism. . .well, he/she has a weak case.
In the U.S., if you do not want to pay taxes, thus do not want to participate in the socialism of our country, either vote and have that changed or leave; you are FREE to do both.
Communism and socialism HAVE been practiced in totalitarian regimes; but the immorality of those examples are the totalitarian elements�not the communism/socialism.
And on the other note. . .
One can be moral and not be religious.
One can be religious and not moral. (Ex., Southern Baptists, as a denomination, was formed as a stance for the institution of slavery.)
