Lawrence O'Donnell rewrites Bill O'Reilly's anti-socialist rhetoric - The Last Word (May 24th, 2011)

Bill Maher recently made comments in favour of socialism on his show, and Bill O'Reilly predictably chose to interpret them in the most ignorant way possible. Lawrence O'Donnell takes the opportunity to once again point out A) what socialism actually is, and B) why Bill-O doesn't have a clue about anything. From the May 24th, 2011 edition of The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell.

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[Panzerfaust04]

@islespatrick You don't sound like O'Reilly at all. There's a difference between paranoid fear-mongering on every issue involving federal authority and legitimately questioning government control of an institution. I must confess that education isn't exactly my area of expertise, so I can't really make a detailed case in favour of the Department of Education, but I just wanted to say I get the point you're trying to make and in my opinion, you're not crazy for making it.

[Panzerfaust04]

@flynn2008 So your claims about Canadians disliking their health care system made me think "you know, maybe I should check and see if that's true." Unfortunately, Youtube isn't letting me post the links to the three polls from the last few years which show over 80% (and in one case over 90%) support for our current system. I'm sure you can find them with a simple google search, though. Anyway, I can say with certitude that you and your friends are in the minority on this one.

[Panzerfaust04]

@flynn2008 One more thing, what's all this garbage about taking things away by force? It's called taxes, and pretty much everyone in the world outside of the USA is fine with some of those tax dollars going to universal healthcare. It sounds to me like you're the type of dude who just thinks every single person should look out for their own health if they're not old or poor enough to be on medicare/aid, because obviously that's worked so well south of the border.

[Panzerfaust04]

@flynn2008 Yeah, I would be surprised to find out that many Canadians hate our healthcare system, because I've never met a single one in my whole life. What are you even arguing? That America's system is better because costs are lower and patient care better? The evidence disagrees with you, especially on the costs bit, as (like I said before) per-capita health care costs are halved in Canada compared to the U.S. Why are we not bankrupt and dying in the streets?

[DaFenceBoyz]

Lawrence is condescendent of other reporters merely because he's a self-proclaimed "socialist" now and speaks so confidently, but it's humorous because he's rather unknowledgable on the ideology himself. He talks about universal healthcare and welfare programs, but that's more typical of a contemporary social democratic system. Yes, those exist in a socialist society, but he evades the one true characteristic of socialism (which I presumably figure he is ignorant of) -- the collective control o

[phenomenalclassic93]

@PhilipPorter it's because here in capitalism and the free market, profit is put before recognizing human security, liberties and necessities, and obama addresses these issues gradually (but right now especially he's shown socialist-esque mindset with his jobs act and the buffet rule) that's a lot of why there's an inequality gap here in the states. and thank you from one worldly citizen to another in recognizing that socialism isnt about fulfilling a self-based agenda, but a universal agenda.

[crazyguitarist57]

I do think he may have slipped up a bit at the end -- having government running hospitals is a seriously large undertaking, not just a "little bit more".

[crazyguitarist57]

I love how these youtube comments are all paragraphs lolll

[kingcherub11]

Jesus I'm so happy that this guy is a really intelligent news reader, he's like the anti-O'Reilly

[islespatrick]

in one aspect, I agree with O'Donell..but in another, I don't think that the state should control "everything". I mean, sure, it's good that the state should control hospitals, and the military..but "education"..I'm having a hard time really coming to terms with. In other words: the government may have too much control over our schools, and the states should fund it. What's next, the state wanting to control what we learn? I know I may sound like O'Reilly, but I'm just concerned.

[DarthBismarck]

@Panzerfaust04 Speaking as a fellow Canadian, I can agree with this, though not only for the reason mentioned.

Panzer, I would invite you, as with all Canadians, to contemplate how quickly Harper's government would be overthrown if he changed Canadian health care to mirror the American system. I'm sure you know as well as I, he would be making the announcement from a non-extradition country.

[MsSexySocialist]

@Tommyidol420

No prob ; )

Peace.