What we are up against is the way many people define socialism. [View all]

[TexasProgresive]

The following is a quote from 1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion 1998 by Morgan Llwelyn. The character Mary is a good looking young woman who is really into clothes and appearance. Ned finds here very attractive even though he is very political and Mary is not. James Connolly is an historic person who was an Irish socialist labor organizer. Now read how Mary describes Connolly and replace it with Bernie Sanders and Mary with any unthinking person in your circle of acquaintances. This is how a whole lot of unthinking people see socialism.

"Connolly's nothing but a socialist," Mary said petulantly. "My mother says socialists want to take the money away from everyone how has any. I think that''s stupid. Where would the jobs come from if there were no rich people anymore? We would all be dreadfully poor then, and no one would have any nice things."

Ned couldn't help laughing, "I don't think you've quite grasped the principles of socialism, Mary."

(She replied), "I don't care. It's tiresome."

To Ned's surprise, Eliza (Mary's friend) said, "That's the trouble with you, Mary Cosgrave. You aren't interested in ideas, only in things."

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.