Workers Paradise USA
By Randy Barrett
The National Journal

It turns out that socialism is still creeping. This week, American taxpayers purchased an 80 percent stake in insurance giant American International Group for $85 billion while still digesting the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the March bailout of Bear Stearns.

Bad news, right? Not for Brian Moore, Socialist Party USA candidate for president. "I think this certainly helps the cause," he said. Moore, who is on the ballot in eight states, is devising a master schedule for the nationalization of American industry. "We're really working on a practical, specific program to show what would be entailed in ushering in a new economic system."

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr. and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke have conveniently started the ball rolling. According to Moore's figuring, it would take about two years to plan for the move to socialism; another two to transfer corporations from profits to nonprofits; and four more to finalize putting control of the economy in the hands of workers. "Our fear is, we're not prepared enough for the collapse and the transition," he said.

---