The Biden/Harris sign on Oxford Road was covered this Friday night, by a red hammer and sickle flag, the symbol of Russian Communism. I can’t be certain it was sheer stupidity, but I lean toward a desperate, misinformed Trump thug who has no clue about communism or totalitarianism but is a glassy-eyed, right-wing radio zombie.
He feels that liberals are socialists and thus, communists and the Democratic Party wants to move America to communism. Despite the fact that Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders’ views of government are widely disparate, people like this Trump supporter likely have no clue that Social Security, Medicare, which many Trump supporters rely upon, are socialistic institutions. The fact that liberal Democrats had to fight conservatives for these two American institutions appears to be a mystery to them. That FDR’s socialistic work programs of the 1930’s were essential to this country’s emergence from the Great Depression.
When the Trump Administration doled out millions of dollars to farmers and billions to small businesses, that out-and-out socialism is OK. When Obama “bailed out” the auto industry with loans, not so good, despite the fact that US auto giants also paid back those loans. When states provide free public education from K-12, that is a form of socialism that Trump supporters fail to grasp is socialistic – and how it helps them.
The lie that socialistic programs lead us down the slippery slope socialism which lead to communism is almost obscenely stupid, but it works to frighten folks who don’t grasp the nuances. Yet it does serve as a convenient smokescreen for ultra conservatives to mask their strong tendencies toward fascism and national socialism. Trump announced he is a “nationalist”. He is more likely a “national socialist”, in that some of his most ardent supporters use the swastika, or versions of the swastikas, flown interchangeably with the confederate flag in their demonstrations.
Having myself been referred to as “Comrade” Terrone here on the Talbot Spy, I’ve abstained from responding in-kind to that type of political reference from someone who should know better when debating issues of the Talbot Boys. This is a cheapshot but commonly used by people desperate to tell a false narrative. In the very recent case of the hammer and sickle photo is a desperate and overt act in defiance of the truth. When was the last time you saw a Democrat flying the hammer and sickle at a rally? Yet right wing fanatics regularly fly swastikas and confederate flags. Those are the facts.
Mickey Terrone
Oxford
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Mr. Terrone, The political signage should be left alone. What I suspect to be troubling to Trump supporters is the perfectly valid concern that Joe Biden lacks both the physical and mental strength to hold off the radical left of his party(AOC, Bernie, Ilhan Omar, Gavin Newsome, etc. and so forth. In time, President Biden will surely drift away from his more centrist views. This is, I believe, the crux of the issue. What do you think?
Dominic "Mickey" Terrone says
Stephen, sorry for the delay in my response. I seriously doubt Biden himself wouold go off the deep end and turn into a rabid socialist. Besides, for anyone worrying about that, with a Republican majority (however minimal) in the Senate will necessarily color his centrist thinking. But this is not the 1970s-80s anymore and issues like climate change must be promoted more forceably. Health insurance available to everyone at reasonable rates regardless of pre-existing conditions is not radical. Just ask the conservatives supporters who will become destitute if Trump wins and abolished ObamaCare. Is the enforcement of equal rights a radical issue? Would the reassertion of the Equal Rights Amendment be a radical move in light of the abuses we’ve seen since it was cut out? The Green New Deal is SO important to move toward clean energy and all the great new jobs it will bring. It will take years to fully develop and we have to pick up the pace immediately. The madness of claiming Democrats are socialists who WANT the US to become a communist state is obscenely stupid. We’ve welcomed some socialistic institutions like Soc Sec, but there is nothing to demonstrate an inexorable march toward communism. The US today seems to be on more of a march toward national socialist aryan white supremacy fascism with demonstrators waving swastikas, confederate flags and versions thereof.
How can ANYONE legitimately claim to be concerned about Biden’s physical and mental health after watch Trump for the past 5 years (and especially this past year)? Don’t you worry about his massive debts to other countries’ institutions whom he may be forced to share our state secrets? How about his overt racism and trying to collapse our legal justice system (esp with his Yes Man Barr). These are clear and present dangers to our country. That alone disqualifies Trump IMO to reasonable people. This is the crux of the dangers to the future of the country to me.
Richard Marks says
Well, Steve, in the absence of a response from Mickey, here are my thoughts:
Firstly, “the crux of the issue” as presented is about one uneducated person’s disregard for private property. Secondly, and in response to your question, since many Trump supporters seem very comfortable with Trump’s encouragement of the radical right, they should be legitimately concerned that Biden may struggle holding off the radical left. Thanks for acknowledging our next President will work towards bringing us together rather than tearing us apart.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Mr. Marks, I regard private property as sacrosanct, off limits. I have dealt with trespassers, poachers, for many years.Had watermen with blindingly white boots drive right on down my lengthy driveway and step over the bulkhead and take oysters.Not acceptable.
I fully understand Joe Biden has done well not because the electorate supports his policies, but because he is not Trump.I always ask ardent opponents of Trump how this President has destroyed their families, Each and every one is mute for me. Huh.
Hopefully, the voters will make a clear, concise choice.
I will accept the outcome, regardless of who prevails.
Bob Parker says
Neither Trump nor his “nationalist Patriot” supporters understand what constitutes a Socialist or Communist. They don’t realize that Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, all of the Nordic countries and many more have governments with strong Social Democratic traditions and policies. None of these countries are “Communist” or autocratic socialist state, each are strong democracies. Those who falsely label Biden and the Democratic party as socialists, as leading us to communism need to go back to school and learn their history. They need to leave behind the scare tactics of the cold war and the Butchers. Ignorance represents a greater risk to our democracy than does creeping socialism.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Agree. Again, we would probably not have Donald Trump in the White House if we had an educated electorate. Please, bring back Civics! Eliminate the Electoral Collage so one wins when one has the most votes.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Ms. LaMotte, One of my favorite movies has always been “Rocky”, released in 1976. The loan shark employer of Rocky tried to explain why his driver was always giving Rock a hard time. The boss told Rocky “some people, they hate for no reason”. Always stuck with me.
Carol Voyles says
Our Constitution not only demands the best of us, it has been suggested that a nation is great only as long as its leaders and its people are good.
As corruption and lawlessness must trouble all of us,
let us hope for a transition of power that moves us in a positive direction.