Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumHow does Sanders define socialism?
It seems to me that in describing himself as a democratic socialist, he may appear to be adopting views that are outside of mainstream thinking in the United States when in fact he is not. I take it he doesn't believe, for example, that the state should own the means of production.
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he is just talking about progressively taxing rich people and regulating greedy banks and corporations. WTF is so hard about understanding that?
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Where the current trend is to privatize every government function, Bernie's socialism would stand in opposition. Rather than privatize Social Security Bernie would strengthen it through increased revenue from those above the current FICA cap. Essentially Bernie's socialism is preserving the New Deal.
Bernie wants to end the dominance of the financial sector. Can you say he is wrong? After what we have witnessed? Jesus Christ! This country is a fucking mess!
TBF
(32,114 posts)Democratic socialism: http://www.dsausa.org/what_is_democratic_socialism
Socialism/Communism: there are various definitions but Marx focused on the means of production - specific economic organization of ownership (of means of production) and division of labor
As much as I would love it, I don't hear Bernie challenging capitalism (ie - changing the basic organization of ownership or division of labor). If anyone finds that he has done so I would love to see the quotes. What he is proposing, from my understanding, is greater safety nets, redistribution in the form of changing tax code and the like. It is not the type of revolutionary change I and others would really like to see. But it is more generous towards workers than anything I am hearing from any other announced candidate for president.
Vattel
(9,289 posts)Seems he is a capitalist, but he wants capitalism to be regulated in a way that mitigates the tendency of capitalism to distribute wealth unjustly.
delrem
(9,688 posts)with scare-stories about "communism" that refer back to the writings of Marx in ~1850.
No democratic socialist anywhere in the world in 2015 wants to "communize" Apple Inc.
How could you have missed the entire swing of history?
Sanders references Scandinavia. Take a good look at the businesses and industries that thrive in Scandinavia. He might also reference every democracy that has instituted guaranteed universal health care, guaranteed universal education,... These are all democratic socialist programs.
The USA practices a brand of capitalist extremism, and it's getting more extreme, privatizing not only the remnants of the old universal education system but also the military - and the military is what gets most of the US tax monies. It's hard to explain "democratic socialism" to those within that bubble of extremist capitalism, because democratic socialism is understood experientially. But consider this scenario: I go to my community clinic and schedule an app't with my Dr. I'm given prescriptions for whatever medicines, referrals to specialists if need be and etc. - and, because a universal health care system focusses on prevention (if for no other reason than cost effectiveness) I'm encouraged to attend a seminar (in spare rooms at the clinic) on meditation and yoga put on by volunteers, students and faculty at the nearby university, and staff. There I learn about other community resources including community groups that get together for simple things like "walking" for health and happiness and togetherness. I don't have to worry about health care - I know I have the best. That's "democratic socialism" in my neighbourhood. It'll be different in different areas, different in the inner city than in the suburbs and in more rural areas. We are constantly learning from both successes and mistakes. Mistakes aren't used as excuses to do away with the entire system, the entire concept. And, in my country, even the most extreme right-wing political party wouldn't dare openly oppose it. If there were "baggers" who bad-mouthed it they'd be told to get lost. In other words: it changes the way we think and interact as a people, it changes it in a good way, and the icing on the cake is that we can continually improve on it.
The universal health care discussed by democratic socialists has no similarities with the Romneycare that gives the conservative Heritage Foundation orgasms.
Vattel
(9,289 posts)to a form of capitalism. But "socialism" still standardly refers to something that Sanders does not endorse. So if he calls himself a socialist, I think it is very misleading. If he sticks to the "democratic socialist label," he is in better shape. I just worry about how others will use the label against him.
TBF
(32,114 posts)his views are in line with the majority on DU and I believe in this country. Although many have been fed with fear from the likes of FOX news, I think if you sit down with people individually and talk with them they do want to keep social security, unemployment insurance, public schools and roads, etc.
Perhaps behind closed doors he is far more critical of capitalism (some of us are) and perhaps that is where the self-labeling comes from. But I think if you look over what he's done in his 20+ years of Congress he has functioned primarily as a liberal and humanitarian. The only thing I've seen that is out of line with that is his vote against the Brady Bill (which will actually be an asset in some quarters - especially in thinking about winning back the Reagan dems to the party).
