Socialism (noun) any of various political philosophies that support social and economic equality, collective decision-making, and public control of productive capital and natural resources. A belief that industries and infrastructure within a society should be owned and controlled by the society as a whole (the state) and that such common ownership produces greater general benefit than private ownership for private profit.
Fainess (noun) the property of being fair
Above are the definition of socialism and fairness that I found from Wiktionary. I tried to look at other dictionaries (Oxford and Larousse), they gave me more or less the same definition. I guess people who wrote on Wiktionary also checked on those dictionaries.
When we tried to bridge the gap between those haves and those don't haves, you might will ended up with label as a 'SOCIALIST' - just as what happened to Barack Obama, as he tried to bring the fairness for American middle class, he got the SOCIALIST label from the GOP members and supporters.
In contrast, I pay lots of respect to those people who dare to take that chance to fight for those who needs than those big business man.
I pay close attention to both candidates taxes and health care policies. Be honest, I don't see any single of McCain's that leaning towards 'ORDINARY PEOPLE', it's more that - the prorperity of those haves will tickle down to you, so let those haves make more profit and they will pass some of it to you, later, BETCHA!!!.
I agree that health care is a RIGHT for every citizen, and I also agree that family that working so hard is eligble for a special 'TAXES RATES' which will give them the chance to enjoy the income they made on maximum, not only let big companies making the most of tax saving and then bring those money to expand their business else where with one argument - the cost in USA is way too expensive.
Giving chance for people to have an affordable health care is just the way government taking, care of its citizen.
I understand that giving discount on taxes is a great way of attracking investor to invest in the country. But, on the other hand, offering no discount taxes for people who don't make enough money while giving discount taxes for people who making too much money is just 'ethical not correct'. While paying taxes is every citizen's responsibility, government sometimes have to understand, for those who don't haves, every single dollar is count. A small discount for their taxes rates will means a lot for them. But for those who already haves, they will not appreciate the tax discount (tax break) they receive, and even though the really have to pay those taxes, it won't make them poor anyway.
It's very easy to mess up between the fairness for everyone and socialism. But one thing we have to keep it in mind, what has been purposes by Barack Obama is only a bit relief for those who don't haves and it has nothing to do with socialism, cause he didn't even mention a small bit of sharing your wealth with others.