What you fail to acknowledge here is the fact such ignorance does exist when it comes to those who would rather let rumor do the work of fact. Yes, my argument sounds aloof because I, by virtue of my education, know more about socialism and socialist systems than many other people. This does not make me better than them; it just allows me to understand more thoroughly what is being said. I feel I have a duty, then, to object when such a word is being used not as a true descriptor of economic policy, but as a weapon.

“Socialism” is currently being as a buzzword by folks to express their anger at the current economic policies – regardless of their understanding. Many of these people have lived through the Cold War, and make comparisons to Russia – also false and uneducated. I’m trying to point out the fact that talking heads seem to be defining the way policies are perceived. Rush Limbaugh is not a straw-man, but rather an instrument of fear that clouds people’s judgment and falsifies whatever is most politically expedient. I feel you are doing so yourself by mentioning Cuba: what, if anything, do you know about Cuban economic policy? Or are you merely referencing Cuba as an assumed example of a socialist state from which oppressed people flee?

The end point here is simply that I object to the carefree use of such a powerful word, and I feel that there are “pundits” out there who are willing to use such a word under false pretenses in order to push a political agenda. Also, I have never written an article on a “brain drain” and I think you must be confusing me with someone else. This blog is not written by one person, rather, it’s a compilation of independent authors.

I currently live in NYS and am contemplating a move to CT (Stamford, actually), hence finding this blog.

I am looking to CT for a semblance of freedom left in the northeast. In NYS, I cannot buy high-deductible health insurance because of ridiculous state mandates. My transportation is going through the roof due to labor contracts that pay workers wages/benefits in excess of their private-sector ridership. NYS has insane housing costs partly because of zoning laws in the name of ‘green’ and ’smart development’. Energy prices are over the top partly due to renewable mandates. These problems are government induced/protected. CT has similar issues, but a little less so.

You can call it whatever political system you want, but if you cannot understand this, and combine it with your post about ‘brain drain’ of young people to red states, you belong no further in politics. Rush Limbaugh is a straw-man that takes attention away from blue state politicans’ inability to deal with economic realities and the young suffer as a consequence. So they vote with their feet, just as their brothers and sisters of a similar age flee Cuba and all similar regimes.