William’s answer to “Not about your book but how do you feel about socialism?” > Likes and Comments
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Well answered. The US is certainly not in any danger of becoming a socialist state, but given your definition that "gives government control over the economy's means of production, or concentrates government power in limited hands," isn't that what we have going on right now with the current administration (which obviously doesn't bill itself as socialist)?
Great question David. i think power is shifting toward the executive right now. But i don't think it's consolidating in the executive at a level that equals either socialism or authoritarianism. The courts are ruling against the executive often, state and local governments still have huge power, and the democrats very well may gain a majority in congress. So even if the trends are concerning i dont think this lands at a new system of government. What do you think?
I agree that we're not at the level of a new system of government yet, but I am concerned that the courts are not doing enough to hold back authoritarian tendencies and the administration is simply disregarding the law and the Constitution. Meanwhile, the Republican Party, Congress in particular, is complicit, at best, and encouraging, at worse that lawlessness. The Democratic Party seems incapable of finding a way to hold back the trend. Which gets to the crux of the question, not whether we have a system of government, but whether we have a regime a la Hitler, Putin, and the like. The current administration is certainly trying to emulate Putin's methods.
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David
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Jan 12, 2026 06:24PM
Well answered. The US is certainly not in any danger of becoming a socialist state, but given your definition that "gives government control over the economy's means of production, or concentrates government power in limited hands," isn't that what we have going on right now with the current administration (which obviously doesn't bill itself as socialist)?
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Great question David. i think power is shifting toward the executive right now. But i don't think it's consolidating in the executive at a level that equals either socialism or authoritarianism. The courts are ruling against the executive often, state and local governments still have huge power, and the democrats very well may gain a majority in congress. So even if the trends are concerning i dont think this lands at a new system of government. What do you think?
I agree that we're not at the level of a new system of government yet, but I am concerned that the courts are not doing enough to hold back authoritarian tendencies and the administration is simply disregarding the law and the Constitution. Meanwhile, the Republican Party, Congress in particular, is complicit, at best, and encouraging, at worse that lawlessness. The Democratic Party seems incapable of finding a way to hold back the trend. Which gets to the crux of the question, not whether we have a system of government, but whether we have a regime a la Hitler, Putin, and the like. The current administration is certainly trying to emulate Putin's methods.
