Sarah Palin Makes Things Up as She Chastises the Press for Making Things Up

It seems difficult for most people to feel well informed about health care reform when there are so many lies and distortions on both sides of the discussion. Like many others in the health care debate, Sarah Palin is guilty of fear mongering.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20R0Q99MRxc

As reported by the Associated Press, "There are no death panels in the health care bill."

Nationalization Fear Mongering?

Rush Limbaugh talked to Sean Hannity on June 5, 2009 about Barack Obama´s efforts to nationalize U.S. businesses. Hannity said the Obama administration's efforts to recoup taxpayer money by accepting an ownership stake in some businesses that are receiving government assistance "is the definition of socialism." In response to this and similar critiques, Bill Maher used a pie chart on his June 12, 2009 Real Time television show to illustrate how much of country's businesses are owned by the government:

Socialism is defined as public ownership of the means of production and distribution. In other words, the government owns the businesses.

Does the pie chart above suggest the U.S. is becoming socialist? Or are Limbaugh, Hannity, and others engaging in fear mongering?