Must be a Commie Plot!

I've always been fascinated by history. The written record of mankind's triumphs and transgressions enthralls me. We can learn from how someone succeeded or failed. In the midst of the great health care debate I've heard lots of angry men and women shouting down anyone siding with the president or the Democratic party in this instance and they all seem to be unified in their cries of "socialized medicine." The bulk of the men and women tend to be largely conservative and white.
Being conservative and white aren't bad things. Consider that conservatives as a group by definition simply aren't big fans of radical change and as change can be daunting concepts I can respect this on some level, but I have to analyze what's going on now and compare it to a few other instances in American history.

When in the 20's organized labor lobbied for a shorter work week, a minimum wage and benefits they were called "Communist." They were opposed by big business and such noteworthy conservative organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan. Ironically the bulk of the Klan's membership were blue collar types who benefitted MOST from labor laws. Big companies who shall remain nameless hired thugs to beat up Union reps and The Klan was KNOWN for beating, lynching and running union reps out of town.
When Franklin Roosevelt suggested the New Deal, conservatives and big business called it socialism to the highest degree.
When the civil rights movement hit it's stride in the mid 50's Conservatives were calling it a "Commie Plot" and went so far as to call Martin Luther King a Communist as a means of discrediting him. Along with the conservatives (Who were the Democrats at the time) were the conservative "Citizen's Councils" (who saw integration as evil) and the rank and file of the Ku Klux Klan.
Flash foward to present day. America has a biracial president who is trying to push healthcare reform. Who opposes him? The Insurance companies who deny men and women coverage, give them ridiculous deductables, and just flat out won't pay some claims and the Pharmaceutical Industry who rakes in huge profits for drugs which they sell for a 1/3 their American price in Canada.
Is President Obama's overhaul of the healthcare system a good idea? I haven't read all 1100 pages of the document which lays out his provisions so I won't agree or disagree. Will his plan cost us a fortune? Again, haven't read the proposal so I won't say. Uninformed opinions make one appear short sighted. What I find odd however, is that there are many people who are running with half truths on this potential legislation and calling it both "Socialism" and "communism." What can I say when threatened, play the commie card. Worked for Joe McCarthy. Didn't it?