I believe that President Obama's political agenda does not qualify as socialism. This mislabeling of socialism was generated by the Republican party in order to gain more support for a future Republican leader. The party is attempting to convince voters that President Obama will cause the economic downfall of our nation by painting his beliefs of refining health care, rebalancing the distribution of wealth and improving the banking system as radical socialist ideals.President Obama has failed to fit in the oversized suit of radical socialism that his political rivals have tailored. "He didn't move to nationalize the banks; he negotiated with them to buy up their toxic assets. He hasn't proposed replacing private health insurers with a government plan; instead, he talks of making the insurance industry a cornerstone of his new system." President Obama is combating the current economic recession by revitalizing social and economic institutions in America much like FDR did during his presidency, however the economic situation of the former's presidency has been relieved of harsher disparities due to the financial policies installed by the latter.
The historical examples of socialist nations transitioning into communist nations, as well as communist nations converting into facist nations are the basis for the Republican party's belief that President Obama will wrestle America into a straight jacket of social and economic instability.
Sources:
Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, Measuring Obama by FDR's Yardstick, April 21, 2009, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-presidency21-2009apr21,0,1344141.story
