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| Health Care for Americans |
Donald Trump is focusing on a new way to brand Democrats: as "Socialists!"
Trump says "socialism" means Cuba and Venezuela.
Democrats have a choice: Choose the program or choose the label.
The tension within the Democratic left between the Sanders--AOC--"Justice Democrats" and the presumed moderates may make it difficult for Democratic candidates openly to reject the word "Socialism." Leftist activists have embraced the label "Democratic Socialist." It distinguishes them from what some progressives consider the weak-kneed sell-out corporate old guard in the Democratic Party.
I now read the word "socialist" a lot within writing on the left.
Democratic presidential candidates have widely accepted and absorbed this new progressive energy and policy.
Sanders won. Democrats have generally moved left and accepted Sanders' 2016 policies. That is certainly where the activist core of the Democratic Party is, and they are the ones who choose the nominee. They are the ones who show up at the caucus meetings, who donate, who volunteer, who actually vote.
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| Click: This is where the new energy is |
Sanders won. Democrats have generally moved left and accepted Sanders' 2016 policies. That is certainly where the activist core of the Democratic Party is, and they are the ones who choose the nominee. They are the ones who show up at the caucus meetings, who donate, who volunteer, who actually vote.
Now the issue is labels.
Americans like social benefit programs for themselves, but not "Socialism." The word carries unnecessary baggage. The USSR called itself a Socialist Republic.
Americans like social benefit programs for themselves, but not "Socialism." The word carries unnecessary baggage. The USSR called itself a Socialist Republic.
Americans don't think of Fidel Castro or Nikita Khrushchev when they think of Social Security. They don't think of Venezuela when they think of Medicare. They think of these programs as All American benefits, paid for by themselves, for themselves. American programs. Not "socialism."
People are open to progressive policy changes: I accept as plausible the current polls being circulated that show that Americans generally accept the notion that the wealthy should be taxed more, that income inequality is a problem, and that health care should have expanded access, and that college needs to be more affordable. But I also accept as plausible the poll that says that voters have a bad impression of the word "socialism."
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| "Socialism" and "Capitalism" |
How to get elected and implement progressive programs? Don't call them "socialist." Call them "American." Wrap oneself in the flag. Stop talking about Denmark. Don't tell Americans that people that people in Cuba are actually quite healthy. Universal health care needs to be a red, white, and blue American policy.
Remember, the education for veterans was called the "G I Bill." Not Socialist Government Education. Smart.
It is likely that some people on the progressive left use the word "Socialism" and try to get the notion of "socialism" re-defined. I think this is unnecessary and counterproductive. Trump will jump on this, and label whatever progressives advocate as "socialist."
"Socialist Medicare for All." "Socialist Education." "Socialist taxation." Progressives who insist on his label will be evidence for his branding program. They will be his useful tools.
"Socialist Medicare for All." "Socialist Education." "Socialist taxation." Progressives who insist on his label will be evidence for his branding program. They will be his useful tools.
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| Click: The Nation article |
We do it in the tradition of George Washington and General Patton: to make Americans strong. We would want health care and education for all so we can fight foreign socialism, not implement it.
Getting the program is more important than getting the label redefined.
5 comments:
Awesome topic!...totally agree that Democrats need to "market" Socialism. However, because the overall economy appears to be doing well, despite signs that the recovery may falter, and until there is another Republican recession Progressives may not make much headway arguing for expanding Socialist programs, particularly while Sen. Sanders is the leading voice.
Socialism: "a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole."
Capitalism: "an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state."
Capitalism is a vestige of the medieval feudal system where warlords ("kings") seized power through violence and then held it by bestowing property on allies. "Capital" is for the most part wealth taken by force ("the market") and other means ("profit") from those who labor for survival but for various reasons do not own the enterprise. It's become quite complicated but the net result is that a favored minority control power and wealth in society.
Life is pretty good if you are in that group, pretty awful otherwise, and Socialism provides an alternative.
Socialism and free enterprise are compatible, and in fact a Socialist society cannot function without a healthy economy.
For instance, a capitalist healthcare system is proving to be a burden on society. Perhaps deriving profits from human suffering is a fundamental flaw, but regardless public opinion is seeing the value of a non-profit insurance and provider system just as they came to the realization that capitalism on it's own could not provide for survival after retirement for a majority.
And to get a clearer view of the topic, your readers could pick up a copy of "Free to Choose", a book on capitalism and democracy by Milton Friedman (Nobel Laureate in Economics), or watch the 10 episode PBS series of the same name on the web.
John
The "Divine Right of Capital" is a fiction that we have all been brainwashed to accept. Witness constant reports of how "well" the economy is doing and repetitive daily announcements of the stock market, when only a minority are invested and benefit from the financialization of our economy. Our economy is the legacy of defunct Kings and the old aristocracy. Thanks to the American "revolution" we have settled for what passes for a political democracy but the old landed wealth paradigm persists. We need an economic democracy.
I agree with Peter...labels are important. Trump is a master at making labels stick, as Peter has illustrated earlier. The corporate media, a dumbed down "reality show" electorate and milquetoast, "moderate" democrats are Trump's willing enablers.
Better dead than red.
Oh, wait.
"...when only a minority are invested and benefit from the financialization of our economy."
Anyone with a defined benefit pension, 401K, or IRA is at least indirectly or directly participates in the stock or bond market. If not, they'll eventually realize too late that social security income alone won't be sufficient to live on during their retirement years. Sure, Medicare will be there, but unless they also sign on to Medicare Advantage, they are one illness away from disaster.
Even if they own their own home, that illiquid investment has a cost due to property taxes that Oregon sees as another resource worth tapping further, as Salem tried to undo Measures 5 and 50 to secure billions more to run the state.
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