Is Sarah Palin's energy refund redistribution to each Alaskan resident an example of her being socialist?

Question

McCain/Palin have been unrelenting in their accusation that Obama is a socialist because of his "share the wealth" tax plans. In Alaska, governor Palin gave $1,200 to each Alaskan from money collected from additional energy taxes. So, doesn't this re-distribution of wealth show the socialist philosophies of Palin?

Answer 1

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This does represent a double standard from the McCain/Palin camp and demonstrates why negative connotation in a words associated meaning is a powerful tool to convince some voters. McCain is using socialism as almost being communist (thus anti-american) and demonstrates a very misleading and untruthful approach in his campain as of late. It is similar to saying Obama is a muslim (he is not and never was) but the fear of this being true is enough to gain some votes is the only reason it is mentioned. Palin's wealth redistribution is exactly the same as Obamas redistribution - or even medicare and medicaid that both parties support. Some people claim Palin's redistribution is justifiable because it is taking from corporations rather than individuals yet the tired "Joe the plumber" that would be taxed is a corporation. McCain should drop the whole socialist argument and instead focus on issues rather than duping people into fearing what isn't true.

Remember, Obama has been endorsed by such titans of the Establishment as Warren Buffett and Colin Powell. Both Bush, McCain, and Obama supported the governments bailout of private banks.

On Sunday, Fox News' Chris Wallace asked McCain about whether he's as much a socialist as the rest of us. Here's their exchange.

WALLACE: But, Senator, you voted for the $700-billion bailout that's being used partially to nationalize American banks. Isn't that socialism?

MCCAIN: That is reacting to a crisis that's due to greed and excess in Washington. And what this administration is doing wrong, and what Paulson is doing wrong, is not going out and buying up home loan mortgages, home mortgages, and giving people new mortgages at the new value of their home so they can stay in their home. They're bailing out the banks. They're bailing out these institutions.

WALLACE: But you voted for that.

MCCAIN: Of course. It was a package that had to be enacted because the economy was about to go into the tank.... That's the reason why we have governments, to help those who need help, who can't help themselves, and when time of crisis to step in and do what's necessary to preserve the lives and futures of innocent people. It wasn't Main Street America that caused this. It was Washington and Wall Street.

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Asker's Comment:

You're exactly right! Its an unfair characterization.

Answer 2

absolutely not. she did not take money from one group of people who made more than another and then give that money to those who needed it. the government taxed the citizens and then when there was a surplus of revenue in the gov't coffers, rather than spend it on some dull-luck project, she repaid every tax payer for the money they gave in taxes that was unneeded. To be a socialist program, she would have had to take money from only one group of people (say, those who make over 200,000 dollars annually) and give it to another, lower yearly income group of citizens. what she did was return money to those who paid it.

Answer 3

Why, yes. She took from the big oil companies and gave to the citizens. McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts. When Obama suggests undoing them, he's called a socialist by McCain for proposing exactly what McCain supported. It's a sort of parallel universe logic.

Answer 4

Her philosophy is that it doesn't really apply because it's Alaska! As in not connected to the U.S. You know, closer to Russia! So it's ok there because it isn't here. Example: Her redefinition of VP. aw heck, let's vote her in so she can run the senate and be Orin Hatches boss!

Answer 5

Yes, according to the classic definition of Socialism, the government owns the natural resources and that was the premise used to make the oil companies pay for the oil that they were taking out of the Alaskan ground.

Answer 6

No. The difference is that she is taking from a corporation and refunding the money to the people. She is not charging individual citizens more taxes to then hand it out to people who pay none.

Answer 7

This Registered Independent has seen enough to vote Democrat this time..

This has been a circus.

Answer 8

Yes, Palin's a hypocrite if you haven't noticed.

Answer 9

You betcha! Funny how the right tries to SPIN that one.

Answer 10

not even close to socialism read a book sweetie...

Answer 11

Yes

Answer 12

i think its more of a hand out like those checks george sent out but its not far from it