The author, like all libertarians and fiscal conservatives, is arguing against success sustained across generations.

The proof? In terms of prosperity, safety, rights, and freedoms, what are the most successful nations in the world? The first-world democracies, *all* of which are significantly socialized, including America. If socialism was the sure-fire ride to the dustbin of history that the Right keeps claiming, we’d all have devolved into third-world nations long ago.

The GOP’s anti-socialism fetish was best described all the way back in 1952 by Harry Truman. Read through it and see if you think it shares any similarities with the GOP of today:

Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years. Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security. Socialism is what they called farm price supports. Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance. Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations. Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.

When the Republican candidate inscribes the slogan “Down With Socialism” on the banner of his “great crusade,” that is really not what he means at all. What he really means is “Down with Progress — down with Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal,” and “down with Harry Truman’s fair Deal.” That’s all he means.

The GOP has become a one-trick pony, and it’s long past time to put it out to pasture.