Is Sonic the Hedgehog a Socialist?

[Da_Shocker]

http://eco-comics.blogspot.com/2009/08/is-sonic-hedgehog-socialist.html

[Baloo]

That article's logic is flawed.

Rings are merely items to be used for power to increase Sonic's speed and strength. They are no form of currency a la Mario's coins. In Fact, the first power ring was made by Sonic's Uncle Chuck.

Another thing that the article fails to realize is that all of Sonic's animal buddies are anthropomorphic. So indeed Dr. Robotnik is taking people and turning them into robotic slaves.

Robotnik's main plan is to take over Mobius and turn it into a robotic land where he has absolute power and everyone is under his control. Not all of this capitalist socialist garbage.

[Nunzio]

I think that the Mario=communist argument is stronger.

But I think Sonic is an anarchist. He doesn't vote.

[JDB]

Sonic is a video game character, looser.

[GriskaGyoran]

sonic is counter-revolutionary to Robotniks efforts to save the world with cheap animal-robot labor and make a better world for us. SEND HIM TO THE GULAG. His speed will assist in making a new dam greatly.

[17daysolderthannes]

Sonic puts Fluoride in the water to control your mind and was also the cause of 9/11. It's true! don't fall victim to the machine! The government wants everyone to be obedient slaves so they can...make more money? Don't believe their lies! only buy food made from dehydrated goat shit sold for 200X the price of a Big Mac!

[/ridiculous :D ]

[tomaitheous]

The author is clearly trying to force aspects of the game into his theory and completely avoiding/ignoring other conflicting aspects. Fail. Funny, but fail. The response comments on that page, are just as much fun to read as the article.

[kool kitty89]

I think that the Mario=communist argument is stronger.

But I think Sonic is an anarchist. He doesn't vote.
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/307402 (original flash here, youtube capture below for convienence)
Q_xQ-ns5whw

And this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0Mm8VbSeWc
u0Mm8VbSeWc

[Rusty Venture]

Sonic believes in a public option for healthcare.

[TheEdge]

http://eco-comics.blogspot.com/2009/08/is-sonic-hedgehog-socialist.html

I wouldn't call him a "Socialist" ..more like a environmentalist. I think I brought this up a while ago but all the Sonic games.....the retro ones at least....are about saving animals from the clutches of Dr.Robotnik.

Robotnik wants to use the life force of animals to power his machines...Hence why everytime you defeat one an animal is freed.

Robotnik personifies the insane industrialist forever destroying the natural ecosystem for his personal gain.

Sonic represents the environmentalist / populous side of the issue. He is an activist in that he goes out of his way to destroy Robotniks machines and free the animals from slavery and imprisonment.

To call Sonic a socialist is just ridiculous. A socialist is someone who believe that the government should play a larger part in protecting and supporting the public. I don't remember Sonic ever promising welfare checks and food stamps to the animals he's saved. :cool:

[Zebbe]

Pffft... On the third stage in Sonic Spinball, there is an entire room with trapped animals you can save.

Also, socialism like any ideology has its strengths and flaws. One the one hand, it takes money from those who already have too much of it, on the other hand, it gives to the lazy asses who hate to work (among those who are sick and can't help it). It's a double-sided coin, simply put.

[TheEdge]

Pffft... On the third stage in Sonic Spinball, there is an entire room with trapped animals you can save.

Also, socialism like any ideology has its strengths and flaws. One the one hand, it takes money from those who already have too much of it, on the other hand, it gives to the lazy asses who hate to work (among those who are sick and can't help it). It's a double-sided coin, simply put.

Not really.......

Socialism is like I said above. The people decide that the government should be in charge of taking care of them in either a financial or a commodity based way.

Social Security Pensions

Medicare

Unemployment

^ Stuff like that. The tax money to pay for this doesn't always come from the Rich. The brunt of the payments are made by the middle class and poor. You know...."THOSE LAZY ASSES" :roll:......

Usually though socialism and communism are used as a guise for Dictatorship or tyranical behaviors by the corporate state. They say it's socialism but it really is a dictatorial system funded by private interests.

[Da_Shocker]

This is very interesting indeed.

[MitsuruX]

The "Peoples Mario" video was great... would LOVE to see a mario game done with that art style...

[Why-Disciple]

sonic is counter-revolutionary to Robotniks efforts to save the world with cheap animal-robot labor and make a better world for us. SEND HIM TO THE GULAG. His speed will assist in making a new dam greatly.

This.

[Jesse813]

This might help answer the question at hand
http://www.sonicretro.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/socialism.png

[Elusive]

The author is clearly trying to force aspects of the game into his theory and completely avoiding/ignoring other conflicting aspects. Fail. Funny, but fail. The response comments on that page, are just as much fun to read as the article.

Form-of-government fanboys? There's my brainfart for the day, I suppose.

[Zebbe]

Not really.......

Socialism is like I said above. The people decide that the government should be in charge of taking care of them in either a financial or a commodity based way.

Social Security Pensions

Medicare

Unemployment

^ Stuff like that. The tax money to pay for this doesn't always come from the Rich. The brunt of the payments are made by the middle class and poor. You know...."THOSE LAZY ASSES" :roll:......

Usually though socialism and communism are used as a guise for Dictatorship or tyranical behaviors by the corporate state. They say it's socialism but it really is a dictatorial system funded by private interests.

Wrong. Poor people don't pay taxes, they get their money FROM taxes. This doesn't mean I think some of them shouldn't have it, but I'm unlike Sweden's socialdemocrats aware that there are people who misuse the system ("the lazy assholes").

Also, socialism is "economical democracy", where everything is owned by the people. Socialism doesn't have to mean the government rules over the people, there are branches of direct democracy where the government simply has the task of fulfilling the will of the people and can be replaced at any time. Such democracy is just an utopia of a fool's dream though. Socialism can be that or Stalin's reign, as much as Fantasy Zone or Halo 3 can both be called shooting games.

[mick_aka]

I'm not Sonic the Hedgehog. I don't plan on being Sonic the Hedgehog.
So who gives a crap if he's a socialist? He could be fascist anarchist, it still doesn't change the fact that I don't own a car.

[Rusty Venture]

Wrong. Poor people don't pay taxes, they get their money FROM taxes. This doesn't mean I think some of them shouldn't have it, but I'm unlike Sweden's socialdemocrats aware that there are people who misuse the system ("the lazy assholes").

In the US, we generally call them "people on welfare".

I'm not going to say that everyone on it is abusing it, but it seems rather questionable when someone whips out food stamps to buy food while talking on their cell phone. :?

I would have thought food came before a cellphone, but what do I know.

[tomaitheous]

In the US, we generally call them "people on welfare".

I'm not going to say that everyone on it is abusing it, but it seems rather questionable when someone whips out food stamps to buy food while talking on their cell phone. :?

I would have thought food came before a cellphone, but what do I know.

So what, you should have to be homeless, no other possessions but the clothes on your back - to receive food assistance? Wow..

[Zebbe]

Cellphone might be seen as unnecessary "luxury" by authorities. At least here. The guy who probably killed Olof Palme didn't have a phone at all and he was living on "welfare". He had a friend whose place was called the "message central" or something like that, because he was the only guy among them who had a phone.

[TheEdge]

Wrong. Poor people don't pay taxes

No,

You seem to have this mentality that all poor people don't have jobs when that's completely incorrect. Poor people work sometimes more jobs then the middle class. The problem is that those are low wage jobs and some circumstances in their lives (kids, debt, rent, bills) make them have to ask for help from the government. Which IMO....IS A GOOD THING..


they get their money FROM taxes. This doesn't mean I think some of them shouldn't have it, but I'm unlike Sweden's socialdemocrats aware that there are people who misuse the system ("the lazy assholes").

Yes, some people who have no income or are too sick or old to work need help from the government. It's called a civilized society. Not barbarism.

Only a very, very, very, very, small percentage of people "misuse" the system and are most of the time punished or have to pay it back. I don't condone it but blame the "authorities" for not being on the ball BEFORE you go and blame everything single poor person trying to put a roof over his head and something to eat.



Also, socialism is "economical democracy", where everything is owned by the people. Socialism doesn't have to mean the government rules over the people, there are branches of direct democracy where the government simply has the task of fulfilling the will of the people and can be replaced at any time. Such democracy is just an utopia of a fool's dream though. Socialism can be that or Stalin's reign, as much as Fantasy Zone or Halo 3 can both be called shooting games.

No,

Socialism is the idea that government should provide certain social services to its people (which is a good thing), not that the people own everything. The people already DO own everything. That's called a civilization or nation state.




So what, you should have to be homeless, no other possessions but the clothes on your back - to receive food assistance? Wow..

I agree......Most people on this forum seem to have an elitist mentality. They think that "those lazy asses" shouldn't get aid when statistically poorer classes work the hardest. Sometimes these people have 2-3 jobs, sometimes they are single parents with children, or their earnings are not rising to compete with higher taxes, bills, and rent payments.

It looks like none of these people have any clue what the poorer classes have to go through on a daily basis. They just lump them in with the 1% that tries to cheat the system. Simply pathetic IMO. It's so easy to turn the ignorant on themselves.

[Jesse813]

In the US, we generally call them "people on welfare".

I'm not going to say that everyone on it is abusing it, but it seems rather questionable when someone whips out food stamps to buy food while talking on their cell phone. :?

I would have thought food came before a cellphone, but what do I know.

Rusty is right. while not everyone out abuses it, lots of people do.

[TheEdge]

Rusty is right. while not everyone out abuses it, lots of people do.

:lawl:

Go back to school buddy.....

[Zebbe]

>You seem to have this mentality that all poor people don't have jobs when that's completely incorrect. Poor people work sometimes more jobs then the middle class. The problem is that those are low wage jobs and some circumstances in their lives (kids, debt, rent, bills) make them have to ask for help from the government. Which IMO....IS A GOOD THING..

You take my mentality all wrong. But the situation is completely different in America compared to here, where people with jobs very rarely need help from the government. I have a low wage "underclass job" myself, don't work full-time because it's too much for me, have over a million in debt for my apartment and don't take a single SEK from the government.

>Yes, some people who have no income or are too sick or old to work need help from the government. It's called a civilized society. Not barbarism.

Well duh.

>Only a very, very, very, very, small percentage of people "misuse" the system

Not in Sweden. If you had my job, you'd see how many misuse it here. There is no statistics to prove it, everybody just know it.

>and are most of the time punished or have to pay it back. I don't condone it but blame the "authorities" for not being on the ball BEFORE you go and blame everything single poor person trying to put a roof over his head and something to eat.

You got all this wrong too, or you can't read -> "This doesn't mean I think some of them shouldn't have it" is what I wrote. Handicapped, old or people without jobs should clearly get money to live with rooves above their heads and food in their stomachs. Not beggars who walk around in the subway, giving out notes that say "My wife is dead. Now I have to take care of my kids all by myself. Please give me all your money so I can buy a new ultra expensive jacket.", when the system already gives him money (especially when you have kids) and wants him to get a job.


>The people already DO own everything.

Wrong. Capitalists own most of everything. They aren't "the people".


>I agree......Most people on this forum seem to have an elitist mentality.

Someone who calls himself "intellectual" has that mentality to me.

[TheEdge]

^ use quotes next time.

Secondly, you and I agree on the whole
This doesn't mean I think some of them shouldn't have it but you keep insisting that those dam lazy asses are to blame. Not true in the slightest. Blame the government authorities for being lazy and not looking into individual cases THEN blame the dead beats who try to take advantage of Aid.

@ I have no idea who the "capitalists" are.......never heard of them. Are you talking about the millionaires and billionaires? Or is this some of the left over cold war rhetoric dripping out of you?

[Jesse813]

:lawl:

Go back to school buddy.....

I thought you had put me on your ignore list? change your mind already or did you find your common sense?

[TheEdge]

No, your still on ignore. I wasn't signed on while I was checking out the thread and noticed your horrid grammar mistake. No surprised really. There had to be a reason why you only posted pictures. I guess its because you don't have a strong grasp of the English language.

Sad really. 27 years old? :shame:

[Zebbe]

^ use quotes next time.

Secondly, you and I agree on the whole but you keep insisting that those dam lazy asses are to blame. Not true in the slightest. Blame the government authorities for being lazy and not looking into individual cases THEN blame the dead beats who try to take advantage of Aid.

Good point. Socialdemocrats are to blame here. But they don't rule now, so things have gotten better, I think.


@ I have no idea who the "capitalists" are.......never heard of them. Are you talking about the millionaires and billionaires? Or is this some of the left over cold war rhetoric dripping out of you?

Capitalists are people like Wallenberg in Sweden, who own so much (companies = jobs = tax money) they have influence over Swedish politics. Which is strictly anti-democratic, as democracy shouldn't be based on money or ownership.

[Rusty Venture]

So what, you should have to be homeless, no other possessions but the clothes on your back - to receive food assistance? Wow..

A cell phone is a luxury, not a right.

If I'm struggling so much that I need help to buy food, I'm damn well not going to keep a cell phone.

[Da_Shocker]

A cell phone is a luxury, not a right.

If I'm struggling so much that I need help to buy food, I'm damn well not going to keep a cell phone.

It depends on the cell phone an Iphone is a luxury. A cheap 15 dollar prepaid phone from the Dollar Store isn't a luxury IMO.

[tomaitheous]

A cell phone is a luxury, not a right.

If I'm struggling so much that I need help to buy food, I'm damn well not going to keep a cell phone.

The more you talk on this, the more your ignorance is shows. I'm not interested in changing this thread into a social economic assistance discussion, but you... *really* have gap in your understanding. Leads me to believe you've probably been middle class (or at least close to it) ... your whole life. Congratulations on that :?

I love when it people that have never been that poor in there life, comment on such things. It's utterly fantastic.

[kool kitty89]

I'm not going to say that everyone on it is abusing it, but it seems rather questionable when someone whips out food stamps to buy food while talking on their cell phone. :?

I would have thought food came before a cellphone, but what do I know.

But that's food assistance, usually the first kind of general financial aid (except maybe education, in the case of college students, though that can often come along with that as well, alog with rent assistance).

And that's not getting into things like health care, which should be near the top of priorities. (below maintaing food and shelter of course)

There are probably a lot of people who qualify for food stamps (or similar assistance) who don't use it (either from ignorance, personal scruples, or possibly stigma of using it). Although you could argue that this means it applies too broadly, but in th especific case of a cell phone, that doesn't necessarily mean that much, it could be a really low-end plan for onem and if they didn't have access to govt. aid they might not be using that phone. (note that some people don't have land lines either, with cell phones being the main mode of communication)

IMO, cell phone would come ahead of luxuries like cable TV, and maybe internet access (depending on situation), land line phone servise+minimal internet access (above dial up) would probably be ahead of cell phone service though, again depending on situation.

We're in the digital age here, so the number of things many people depend on (and indeed, are often expected to depend on) are much borader than they were even a decade ago. And in that respect, having certain accesibility to technology may come ahead of things liek health care, if one cannot afford it, as those things may be necessary to maintaining one's job. (that would be one major argument for health care assistance)



It depends on the cell phone an Iphone is a luxury. A cheap 15 dollar prepaid phone from the Dollar Store isn't a luxury IMO.

See, that would be a much more reasonable sign for abuse of such aid, but standard, bottom of the barrel phones (or maybe mid-range ones that came free with the plan, or as an upgrade) would not be. IMO (again this depends greatly on other circumstances, and other differences in other state/regions, let alone countries)


Capitalists are people like Wallenberg in Sweden, who own so much (companies = jobs = tax money) they have influence over Swedish politics. Which is strictly anti-democratic, as democracy shouldn't be based on money or ownership.

Yeah, that's definitely more of a slang term for a group. In the strictest terms a capitolist is just someone who beleives in a free market economy, but in those terms, such a person would have to come to the logical conclusion that perfect competition of a free market economy isn't possible in rea-world situation, and thus requires a certain degree of regualtion, even in th emost capitolisitc of economies (again technical definition).

I've got an economics teacher wo considers himself a rather strict believer in captiolism, but he also acceps that rather strict regulation is needed in certain aspect of any real-world economy, and with certain comodities, shouldn't be applied to a free market whatsoever, either controlled completely by the government, or heavily regulated, possibly with a public alternative in addition to private firms (like education). In particular, he beleives health care is one such thing that does not fit into a free market properly, with a govt regulated system being better overall, although with it's flaws as well. (such as Canada's system, with long waiting periods for lower priorety medical care -but still high response for emergencies)
Again, an arrangement like the public schools system might work as well. (with a public system, but also allowing private health care, just liek with private schools)

[Rusty Venture]

I love when it people that have never been that poor in there life, comment on such things. It's utterly fantastic.

I've seen members on *both* sides of my family sit and abuse the welfare system when they could very well have not.

I've had cousins and aunts sit and collect welfare then go on about how they bought their kids expensive desinger clothes and shoes (who buys their kid baby air jordans?) and then constantly beg for money.

I have an aunt who gets food from a local church. She takes the generic brands that they give her for free, returns them to the store, and uses the money to buy name brand stuff and cigarettes.

You tell me, how exactly am I supposed to feel about things like this? I know not everyone is a system mooch, but its very hard for me, from what I've seen growing up, to think of a big flashy cell phone as anything different than designer clothes scenario.

[TheEdge]

I've seen members on *both* sides of my family sit and abuse the welfare system when they could very well have not.

I've had cousins and aunts sit and collect welfare then go on about how they bought their kids expensive desinger clothes and shoes (who buys their kid baby air jordans?) and then constantly beg for money.

I have an aunt who gets food from a local church. She takes the generic brands that they give her for free, returns them to the store, and uses the money to buy name brand stuff and cigarettes.

You tell me, how exactly am I supposed to feel about things like this? I know not everyone is a system mooch, but its very hard for me, from what I've seen growing up, to think of a big flashy cell phone as anything different than designer clothes scenario.

Most small minded people use the "Egocentric" argument. They saw ONE person abuses the system in their lifetime and automatically believe that everything single poor person does it. They attack the social safety nets (Food Stamps, welfare, student aid, High protein diet for pregnant women aid, Head Start program - so peoples children can get a good breakfast before school starts) yet grudgingly have to agree that they are necessary.

This is how easy it is to make the people attack themselves. They never attack Corporate welfare (Obama and Bush gave TRILLIONS TO THE BANKS and Subsidies to other corporate monopolies who drive down wages and lower living standards all the while poisoning us)nor the lazy government worker for not looking into individual cases and they never take action when these important social programs are cut to weaken the middle and lower classes. They live in their own little elitist fantasy world where they can point and judge others while never understanding that some day soon THEY will be in need of these government programs and maybe some day THEY WON'T BE THERE.

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/images/upload/1971-acc-g-web.jpg




'They are Man's,' said the Spirit, looking down upon
them. 'And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers.
This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both,
and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy,
for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the
writing be erased. Deny it.' cried the Spirit, stretching out
its hand towards the city. 'Slander those who tell it ye.
Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse.
And abide the end.'

'Have they no refuge or resource.' cried Scrooge.

'Are there no prisons.' said the Spirit, turning on him
for the last time with his own words. 'Are there no workhouses.'"

[Da_Shocker]

Right on Edge I was amazed at how Obama passed that stimulus bill that gave the banks all that money and nobody didn't make a big deal, but when health care reform came out people sure did raise hell about it.

[Knuckle Duster]

Why doesn't America just collapse already and embrace the Bisonopolis way of life?

http://cdn.gameist.com/static/contentimages/mchristiansen/Bison.jpg
"EVERY TUESDAY'S A HOLIDAY!"

[Da_Shocker]

We can't print these
http://images.onesite.com/capcom-unity.com/user/chunluu/bison_money.jpg

[Elusive]

Right on Edge I was amazed at how Obama passed that stimulus bill that gave the banks all that money and nobody didn't make a big deal, but when health care reform came out people sure did raise hell about it.

Giving money to rich people? :z:

Giving money to benefit everyone, including disgusting poor people and brown people? :furious: