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merrily

(45,251 posts)

14. Sanders has specified that he is a Demcoratic Socialist. I take him at his word.

Mon Aug 24, 2015, 09:05 AM

Aug 2015

(He gets into it starting right at the beginning)

As far as I understand it, being a Democratic Socialist in the USA means working within capitalism and working within the Democratic Party.

http://www.dsausa.org/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12806844

On that thread, I especially liked replies 6, 10 and 49. Reply 10 was from a DUer who claimed to be a founder of the Democratic Socialists of America, Reply 6 was basically anti-label and reply 49 was just very thoughtful and informative.

I think referring to things like Social Security and Medicare as the kind of social programs and safety nets that Bernie supports is a great idea.

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Bernie Sanders is technically a social democrat, not a democratic socialist [View all] gobears10 Aug 2015 OP

Good OP. One nitpick: Bernie has never advocated for an economic revolution, but a political one. Scuba Aug 2015 #1

good catch!! gobears10 Aug 2015 #2

Great OP. You nailed it. mmonk Aug 2015 #3

That seems a good explanation muriel_volestrangler Aug 2015 #4

Most of the current GOP are technically safeinOhio Aug 2015 #5

+1 mmonk Aug 2015 #6

Now, all you have to do is explain that "technical difference" to the voters... brooklynite Aug 2015 #7

I don't know about him, but I don't want to explain it to voters. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2015 #10

And that's the key, and do it with multiple videos of him out there saying he is a Socialist or stevenleser Aug 2015 #26

I'm guilty myself, although it's part of a deliberate attempt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2015 #8

The overlap with Socialism, Scandinavia, and Bernie is one he chooses and rejects conveniently. Sancho Aug 2015 #9

What other social issues 'like' gun control? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2015 #11

Here's a few...got to go to work now, but this should do... Sancho Aug 2015 #12

Oddly, National Nurses Union endorsed him largely based on the Robin Hood tax. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Aug 2015 #13

Maybe their retirement is not invested in state funds? Sancho Aug 2015 #38

Meh - the UK currently has a 0.5% transaction tax on stock purchases muriel_volestrangler Aug 2015 #17

Yes, I'm a member...and our local state analysis shows the tax would hurt retirees here. Sancho Aug 2015 #37

It looks to me like unions support it muriel_volestrangler Aug 2015 #40

There may be some differences across states and unions. Sancho Aug 2015 #42

Sanders has specified that he is a Demcoratic Socialist. I take him at his word. merrily Aug 2015 #14

he's incorrect in his usage gobears10 Aug 2015 #15

I am not so sure of that, as to the USA merrily Aug 2015 #16

The DSA is the point: muriel_volestrangler Aug 2015 #18

Believing in collectives and cooperatives does not equal believing goverment should seize merrily Aug 2015 #20

From the OP: muriel_volestrangler Aug 2015 #22

That is not the definition of socialism, though. merrily Aug 2015 #23

And all of that is fine, but a lot of people in the U.S. Starry Messenger Aug 2015 #19

And that is why fixating on labels is counter-productive. merrily Aug 2015 #21

Our generation sure (or maybe our parents) - TBF Aug 2015 #24

Millennials are definitely less redphobic. Starry Messenger Aug 2015 #25

But not by enough that it is likely to matter. Only 69% of 18-29's willing to consider voting for stevenleser Aug 2015 #27

Yeah, I've sent that poll to some of the optimists in my organization too. Starry Messenger Aug 2015 #30

Agreed. As I said in my above comment to Brooklynite, you aren't going to be able to fight stevenleser Aug 2015 #28

Especially when a large part of the population already thinks President Obama Starry Messenger Aug 2015 #31

Agree that "social democrat" is the more applicable term. DirkGently Aug 2015 #29

what about the post office banks Mrs. Warren mentioned a couple years ago? Sunlei Aug 2015 #33

That was an interesting proposition. DirkGently Aug 2015 #34

or at least allow some new banks to open to give competition to the big 4? who control the USA Sunlei Aug 2015 #39

Sanders has been a sitting Senator for decades. He must have done something right to be so beloved. Sunlei Aug 2015 #32

Would you say the same for Strom Thurmond? brooklynite Aug 2015 #35

He was loved by the 'slavery system' voters, doesn't his son sit on the 'for profit' prison corp Sunlei Aug 2015 #36

That's a good point... Sancho Aug 2015 #41

a lot of people... gobears10 Aug 2015 #43

He's got my vote. Iggo Aug 2015 #44