2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHow Bernie's Socialism Wins the Race (and why Republicans love socialism)
Democratic Socialism isn't about the state owning everything. It's about regulating businesses, like pharmaceuticals, to balance profit against social welfare.
Democratic Socialism isn't about everyone getting an equal amount. It's about a guaranteed minimum standard. From there, we are free to rise to our own level of inadequacy (go as far as you can go).
What needs to be done now is to show where we have rampant socialism in the wrong direction.
Republicans love socialism as it stands today. They bitch about food stamps but really food stamps are a gift to Walmart stockholders. Every dollar paid in food stamps is a dollar Walmart does not need to pay it's employees. The poor do not benefit, they work to sustain themselves. Stockholders benefit.
Endless war means endless profits. Our tax dollars are making war mongers rich while we are just creating more threats that demand more war.
The task is to show that all Americans deserve the benefits of our tax dollars, not just the wealthy and corporations.
Our infrastructure is crumbling while we build bigger and better war machines for the largest military in the world by far. Wouldn't replacing bad bridges and becoming peacemakers be a better use of our dollars?
Students can't afford college and are burdened with debt before they earn a penny while we bail out Wall Street and allow these rich bastards to keep getting richer. Wouldn't free public college be a better use of our tax dollars?
The tables need to turn and America needs to support its citizens instead of giving corporate takers our money. Yes, it's our money!
Bernie is fighting for Americans against the America we have today that is rigged for the rich and for corporations to benefit.
He's right, we need major change. We need a revolution.
America for Americans.
Time to stop being afraid of a label and look at the substance of what Bernie is saying.
Ironically, many, many Republicans will benefit greatly from a Bernie presidency. Just like the rest of us.
SmittynMo
(3,544 posts)That's why I am reading that republicans are moving their votes to Bernie.
trumad
(41,692 posts)I'm beginning to feel that I'm missing one big party where mushrooms are handed out like candy.
Republicans love socialism---
Response to trumad (Reply #2)
tecelote This message was self-deleted by its author.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)The 1%? When it's for themselves? Hell yes they love, want more of it.
But I'm sure you don't want to conced---I mean agree with that, so have a great day.
d_legendary1
(2,586 posts)Tax breaks, subsidies, long term patents, etc. that the government gives these guys guarantees a comparative advantage over any small business.
The rest of us can eeeek out a living by competing with each other. Hence the term:
humbled_opinion
(4,423 posts)but you miss some things. I work with tea party types and while your assessment has merit their biggest complaint is that government is too big, too many bloated programs that fail to work and their tax dollars are going to that. In a nutshell Democrats want more oversight, more rules in order to protect the people and the environment the wingnuts want more freedom to do anything they want without the rule of government or any limitations on what they do. They see Socialism as someone on high telling them what they cannot do or have they are rule adverse.
tecelote
(5,122 posts)But, they'll love free healthcare, lower cost drugs, not paying for their kids college and better roads. Among other things.
Plus, what Republicans say is not what they believe. Ex: Government out of our lives (except for women).
Dustlawyer
(10,493 posts)wants it, on social welfare.
The Pentagon has such a yuuuuge portion of our budget, yet they can't even be audited? I smell a really BIG rat!
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)We need major change!
gordianot
(15,226 posts)Never mind we do have Socialism of a sort tax breaks and in some cases outright funding for the ultra wealthy. They need not worry Government will cover their risk. To a degree the propaganda attacking socialism is still with us it may be weakening due to neglect in funding education and dissemination of propaganda.
tecelote
(5,122 posts)"To a degree the propaganda attacking socialism is still with us it may be weakening due to neglect in funding education and dissemination of propaganda."
I get the feeling that people under 40 may not view it as being so negative. The rhetoric has not been as strong in the past quarter century.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)but I'm printing copies of this.
tecelote
(5,122 posts)People understanding that Bernie is our best bet for creating a better future, is how we'll win. Everybody will win.
Autumn
(44,765 posts)Glaisne
(513 posts)as a letter to the editor of your local and regional newspapers? You should!