"Socialism never took root in America because..."

[OBenario4]

“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”

Ronald Wright

[TDale313]

1. The flip side of The American Dream...

If you buy the “Anyone can make it” is that, if you can’t or haven’t, it must be a failing on your part. Add in our Puritanical roots, and being poor is seen by too many as a moral failing. We are conditioned not to point out the system is broken or the playing field uneven.

[OBenario4]

2. True.

And by reinforcing the fairy tale of "anyone can make it", we put all the burden and all fault for the flaws of the system on its victims.

[TDale313]

5. Yep.

[Ken Burch]

3. I thought that was a John Steinbeck quote.

n/t.

[OBenario4]

4. It's traditionally attributed to him, but it's a mistake. n/t

[Ken Burch]

6. Thanks for the correction

n/t.

[brooklynite]

7. ...because it never took root anywhere?

You are, perhaps, referring to social democracy? A variation of capitalism?

[OBenario4]

10. No, I mean socialism indeed.

It looks like it's still a taboo.

[Quixote1818]

8. I think Richard Wolff has a better explanation. It's because of the cold war

Around the 1 minute mark of the video:

[OBenario4]

9. Nice video.

He's probably right too. I think there are several reasons to explain whey the masses in US reject socialism. Historic puritanism, as said by TDale313, is one of the reasons too.

[brooklynite]

11. ,,,and yet Socialism never took root anywhere else BEFORE the Cold War.