Sanders' New Hampshire Victory Is a Big Deal for Socialism in America

[left-of-center2012]

The contentious political philosophy has had a presence in the U.S. since the 19th century. Early utopian communal experiments beginning in the 1830s laid the groundwork for a golden era of political socialism in the early 20th century, a period punctuated by Eugene Debs’ historic presidential run and the elections of socialist candidates across the nation.

A series of factors, including the political persecution of socialists, an unsavory global image of socialist revolutionaries, and the rise of Communism combined to push socialism to the political fringe in the early 1900s, where it remained for almost a century.

In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, politicians identifying as socialist enjoyed a groundswell of renewed support. In the 2018 midterm elections, dozens of members of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) were elected to state and local offices, and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib were elected to the U.S. House.

While Sanders is not a member of DSA, he has long identified as a democratic socialist, a philosophy that he describes as part and parcel to his support for large, taxpayer-funded programs, like Medicare for All. Sanders’ success in both Iowa and New Hampshire may signal that a version of American socialism is again on the rise.

Watch the video (at the link) to learn more about America’s nuanced history with socialism.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bernie-sanders-hampshire-victory-big-172604152.html

[LanternWaste]

1. But that same victory four years ago wasn't?

If no, it begs the question of the editorial... what are the precise and relevant difference between then and now?

[George II]

2. I was just about to point that out. He won in 2016 with 60% of the vote, this week only 26%....

....which is half as much.

[Codeine]

4. And that vote represents about 5.5%

of New Hampshire residents. So, yeah.

[TexasTowelie]

3. Eugene Debs ran for president four times and never received more than 6% of the votes

in any of those elections. He also was convicted for violating the Espionage Act during World War I.

A few socialists may get elected to office, but I don't see any major victories for socialists in the near future.

[TwilightZone]

5. That's a ridiculous assertion.

He won NH in 2016 with a much more convincing margin. How is this one a bigger deal?

[krissey]

6. He basically tied, limped to a win.