A Worst-Case Scenario

It is no small secret that America has slowly been transforming from a democratic republic (the type of government described in our Constitution) into a socialist oligarchy. Most every politician in office today is a socialist to one degree or another.
America becoming openly socialist wouldn't be a worst-case scenario - it may be a best-case scenario. Other countries that have become openly socialist have remained economically stable, although perhaps with a less-than-pleased population.
One bad thing I see in the current election is Obama. Forget about his possible ties to an old terrorist, or that his middle name is Hussein. Rather, look at his policies and solutions. His policies are openly socialist, but he refuses to call it by that name. Instead, he touts all these plans in the name of "preserving the middle class". He knows how to tickle ears and say what people want to hear without explaining the consequences of his plans.
He wants to require businesses to offer health coverage to all workers. This sounds good to the average American listening to his speech - "he want's to give me health coverage. Great!" The consequences of this? Higher costs to employers means that they will have to cut costs somewhere else in order to keep their profits from going down. By doing this, it will essentially be cutting American jobs through layoffs, reducing the quality of American-made products through lower-cost materials, and ultimately sending more jobs overseas.
He wants to raise minimum wage to over $9 an hour by 2011. Again, this means higher costs for employers, but sounds good to the average Joe listening to the speeches. In actuality, this means, once again, more job layoffs and companies sending jobs overseas.
Obama claims he will combat the side effects of his proposals by offering tax cuts to companies that keep jobs in America, and raising taxes on companies that ship jobs overseas. However, the tax cuts will more than likely be fractional compared to the actual costs incurred by companies. So, rather than fixing the economy by reforming health care and minimum wage, it will result in more American businesses relocating overseas completely, or straight out closing.

Now all of this is not essentially socialism. But the government take-over of failing businesses? This is the dictionary definition of socialism - government control of industry. Rather, what has been happening for sometime, and what Obama proposes more of, is actually closer to fascism. A true fascist regime only exists following a total economic collapse of a nation - which hasn't happened in America YET. But the definition of fascism is allowing the individual to retain private ownership of industry while the government dictates how the business must be run.

Fascism - individual retains private ownership of property and industry, while government dictates how industry will be run. This is the current state of America.
The major purpose of fascism is simply to keep the dictator in control. I can easily picture Obama becoming the first American dictator. Many researchers have said that America is at the same pinnacle as Rome was before it's collapse.

Socialism - individual retains private ownership of property, while the government at large owns and operates industry. In reality, many socialist and communist countries still allow some small businesses to operate under individual control - Cuba still allows some restaurants to operate under individual control, but dictate how the business will be run.
The major purpose of socialism is to eliminate classes - the government plays Robin Hood. This is the essence of the American welfare state, through taxing the rich to benefit the poor. Those who espouse this type of government are often existing in the lower class and enjoy the idea of a classless society, because the government promises that everyone will be in the middle class. In actuality, everyone becomes a member of the lowest class, often surviving just above poverty level.

Communism - the individual no longer exists, and belongs to the government. There is no such thing as personal property or private industry. The government holds tyrannical control over the people, dictating how every aspect of a person's life is carried out.
In the real world, such as China and Cuba, the individual does still exist and there is still some small degree of personal property and private industry.