I love how in america "socialist" has become in insult.

I think it's because, thanks to 75 years of Russia's Communist leaders claiming they were running a union of socialist republics, most Americans think that "socialism" and "central planning" are synonyms, not the antonyms they actually are.

You are aware, of course, that in the civilized world it is considered a valid political view?

Who cares about a bunch of cheese-eaters and chocolate-makers anyway? </jingo>