What's the deal with Vermont?

[hcallega]

Vermont has some socialist leanings, not communist. There is a big difference.

The biggest difference is that socialism is an economic system, whereas communism is an economic and socialist system. While they both seek centralized national control over industry, communism also seeks state control over property, as well as it's distribution. This is a huge difference. Bernie Sanders is a socialist, but would never support the government taking everyone's businesses and homes away.

Other differences (since you obviously have no idea what you're talking about):
-Socialism believes that the distribution of goods should be determined by an individual's production efforts, while communism believes that it should be determined by need.

-Communism is entirely based on the belief that capitalism is evil and must be destroyed, preferably as soon as possible. Socialism on the other hand believes that capitalism can simply be phased out over time (this is why some think Obama is a socialist, as they believe his policies are an attempt to slowly undo the core of capitalism). Also, many socialists believe that capitalism is incorporable with capitalism, as long as the results are made entirely fair.

-Finally (another big one), Socialism believes that the economy should be controlled by as many as possible, so that institutions like big business and the elite cannot keep all the benefits for themselves. Communism on the other hand believes that the economy should be controlled by as few people as possible, which is the biggest reason why communism has always failed, because it leads to total power in the hands of a few.

So there ya go. Vermont may have socialist leanings, but believe me it is nowhere near communism.

[hcallega]

It's the middle of the night in a shady coat room in the Capitol. Sitting around the table are Vermont's congressional delegation: Pat Leahy, Jim Jeffords, and Bernie Sanders, all smoking cigars.

Leahy: I just wish there was a way for me to become committee chairman again, so I could continue to pave the way for the revolution of the proletariat! Then I will be more famous then those other Irish-Catholics; Dodd and Kennedy. Damn them!

Jeffords: I've Got it! Since I'm basically a socialist already, I'll just join the Democrats so you can do whatever you want! And then I'll retire because I'm just like that.

Sanders: As leader of the proleteriat I will run for your seat, because all of the communists here will vote me in so I can do communist things like oppose warantless wiretapping, big military, and strongly support civil liberties, you know, things which authoritarian communist regimes always like.

Leahy: Excellent! Now all we have to do is kill Jim Douglas and then we can take over!

Jeffords: Yes, and then dumb-*** conservatives from New Jersey will be the only ones in the way from total world domination!

[hcallega]

Are there gulags in Vermont?

Are Ben and Jerry's faces plastered over backgrounds of cows marching to the beat of a red drum?

Are all the farms forcibly communal, and are all the crops shared by the "people"

Communism is evil, and perhaps posed a greater threat that the Nazi's due to it's ability to oppress via the guise of the people. Vermont is not communist, and is only borderline socialist.

Here are some examples of socialist groups: Sinn Feinn, Old Labor (sort of), The Canadian Liberal Party (sort of)

Here are examples of Communist Groups: The Red Brigade, the U.S.S.R., The People's Republic of China

[hcallega]

Here are some examples of socialist groups: The Canadian Liberal Party (sort of)

Do you realize the stupid thing you just said? Get a clue.

Yeah I know it's a stretch. Basiscally i was just trying to think of a left-wing political party, even though they are no were near socialism.

I'm just confused as to how Ben & Jerry's is somehow indicative of communism. It's a company that started out as a small business, become a national brand, and then the owners sold it to a mega-corporation. Sounds like a classic American capitalist story to me.

It's because conservatives are confused that buisnessmen would actually want to give back to the people that enjoy their products. Also they are pretty liberal, so I guess some people assume that they are socialists.

[hcallega]

I guess I'm just an ignorant American then!

[hcallega]

Man, guess we showed him!