Tommy Douglas speech

With Michael Therriault as Tommy Douglas, from the mini-series Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story. Scene: 50th anniversary CCF speech (last half).

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Tommy
• Douglas
• Canada
• politics

[SlickExecutiveType]

"Too many of my fellow country constantly mistaken Democratic Socialism for Communism. "

There is no difference - they are both state ownership of the means of production. The only difference is degree and the positive PR job that socialism has received.

[taegdv]

There is a difference.

Communism doesn't believe in private property.

Socialism believes in private property.

Communism doesn't believe in choice (only one party to chose from).

Socialism believes in democracy and different parties to choose from.

Time to brush up on your knowledge of political systems, but there's a starter for ya.

[SlickExecutiveType]

That "difference" is a conceptual one only. Up until the 20th century, when the failures of communism became too terrible for any sane individual to associate with, the terms socialism and communism were synonymous. Karl Marx, the founder of communism, used the terms interchangably. There is no true difference between the two - socialism is just communism dressed up in a better P.R. job. They are BOTH state ownership of the means of production.

[taegdv]

You contradicted yourself.

"There is no difference - they are both state ownership of the means of production. The only difference is degree and the positive PR job that socialism has received."

Either they are different or they are not. When they are in different parts of the spectrum, they are different.

[memorast]

Before this health care debate started in my country, I never herd of Tommy Douglas. Now he is my hero too. I'm from Michigan, retired, with very little health insurance. I am sending U-Tube clips of Mr. Douglas to all my Republican friends.

I wish he was still around to fight for us here in the states. But, thanks to the great clips on U-Tube, he might just be the man to help us.

[SlickExecutiveType]

My mother died before she was 50. God bless universal health care. If she was a rich politician she could have just flown to the states. Who the fuck thought it would be a good idea to out law the private practice of medicine? This country is filled with idiots. SOCIALISM DOESNT WORK GO MOVE TO NORTH KOREA

[SlickExecutiveType]

A conceptual difference means a difference in the way they are viewed by others, not a difference in the way they are in reality. It's funny how you don't tackle the crux of my argument.

[arnyone]

@SlickExecutiveType Politic and economic are not that simple. Nice try, doh.

[liberal20111]

@L39L93 WE NEED UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SOCIAL PROGRAMS WE MUST HELP THOSE WHO CANT HELP THEMSELVES JESUS WOULD SAY SO HELP THOSE WHO CANT HELP THEMSELVES YES LOOK AT SR. CITIZENS THEY DID A LOT SHALL WE TURN OUR BACKS ON THEM DENIE THEM NO WE MUST NOT

[liberal20111]

@fishbowl4202 WAKE UP READ A DICTIONARY JERK I HAVE BEEN COMMUNISTS COUNTRIES PLAYING BASKETBALL SOCIALISM & COMMUNISM ARE NOT THE SAME I WILL DIE DEFENDING QUEEN/COUNTRY DO ME A BIG FAVOUR BASIL FAWLTY DONT GET BACK TO ME U MAKE ME LAUGH

[modestiny85]

i always found it funny that kiefer sutherland (jack bauer) is his grandson.

[ammarios]

@Rhunidian Hi. This is going to sound corny and cheesey, but: I am a Canadian too (in Ottawa), and a socialist, with pretty much the same opinion you just stated. Unfortunately , most of my friends are not too much into politics, and I am STARVED for acquaintances who think like me and who would not actually get deathly bored talking about these things..do you mind if I message you?

(Holy fuck that was corny, sorry....lol)

[sweiland75]

Did Mr. Douglas really give this speech or was it made up for dramatic effect?

[fishbowl4202]

@L39L93 what do you mean? I'm a lover of socialism and communism

[L39L93]

@fishbowl4202 What is better? A capitalistic society where it's "dog eat dog" If you happen to fall on bad luck, your thrown on the dung heap? A little socialism is not a bad thing. Do you really want to do away with Social Security?