Democrats vs. Socialists

[lovemydog]

18. I'm a democratic socialist.

We vary in our views, just as democrats and socialists are all slightly different. Speaking for myself, I'll tell you what I believe.

1. I too believe in a mixed economy. I believe the banking industry should be reigned in a lot further. I believe health care should be not for profit. I'm not in favor of nationalizing any industries by government seizure of the means of production. I believe social security should be strengthened and expanded. I believe in a minimum income for those who are able to work and cannot find work. I think it would reduce crime and improve the lives of many and save us a lot of money that we waste on incarceration. I think we can afford it.

2. I do not believe America is the hope of the earth. I don't believe it's the worst country either, and that we can take a leadership role. I believe that leadership can and should be shared with other countries. I vehemently oppose military action merely for the purpose of seizing oil or throwing our military weight around to achieve outcomes that are only good for huge corporations, not for average Americans. I believe we can do a much better job taking care of our veterans and provide them with high quality free health care and high quality training and jobs programs and free educations. I think the military-industrial complex is too powerful in this country. Too many mainstream democrats do nothing to curb it primarily because they are beholden to large donors and lobbyists who gain financially from it's continuation.

3. I think single is something we should be striving for. We have more than enough wealth in this country to achieve it. I'm please that many more Americans are covered by health insurance and won't go bankrupt by an illness, under the Affordable Care Act. I also believe insurance companies and the health care industry take too much profit and that government can and should reign it in to provide lower cost health care to more people.

5. I don't scream 'jail the banksters!' I'm more interested in what we do going forward. I believe the big banks, those deemed 'too big too fail' are a monopoly that should be broken up. No one industry should have that much power. I'd be don't mind the 40% income tax so long as we increase the capital gains tax to Clinton era levels, which are double what they are right now.