Democratic Socialist? You Bet!
By Matthew Rothschild, May 20, 2009
Some in the Republican Party are trying to re-dub the Democratic Party as the Democrat Socialist Party.
Nothing like getting out the old encrusted red paintbrush.
But I hope some Democrats don’t run from this label.
Running doesn’t get you anywhere.
Democrats have been running from the label “liberal” since the days of Michael Dukakis, and that hasn’t helped them.
And for those who, like me, are actually Democratic Socialists, it’s time to come out and say so.
Democratic socialism has brought a much better quality of life to the people in Scandinavia and France and Germany and Britain, and it has not erased one iota of the political freedoms we cherish in this country.
We need to move this country in the direction of democratic socialism.
We need a much sturdier social safety net.
It’s a sin that in this country, 35 million people do not have enough food to eat during at least part of the year.
It’s a sin that 47 million Americans are without health insurance.
It’s a sin that of the top 18 industrialized countries, the United States ranks last in the percentage of children (11.8 percent) who are not likely to live to age 60, and last in the percentage of people (17 percent) living on less than 50% of the national median income, according to the United Nations Development Program.
We need a much more egalitarian distribution of wealth and income.
The top 1 percent of Americans hoards 34.3 percent of the nation’s wealth, and the top 10 percent accounts for 71.2 percent of the wealth.
As far as income goes, the top 10% sops up 42.5 percent of the nation’s income.
(These stats are from the State of Working America, 2008/2009.)
We need much more control over the economic giants that dominate not only our economy but our political system.
Hell, it was just a few days ago when Dick Durbin said, “The banks own the place,” after Congress after ten Democrats joined the Republicans in voting against letting judges write down the mortgages of people in bankruptcy court.
And the people want universal health care, but the drug companies and insurance companies have been standing in the way for decades.
Right now, capitalism is eating away at our democracy.
So, thank you, Republicans, we do need democratic socialism.
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Comments
Dear Greg
A few points:
As you know Greg
On the economy I used government graphs, figures and numbers from the heritage foundation (a conservative think tank.) I did not use liberal publications
You didn't respond with any data.
Ok.... as to the list of the best countries to live in ...I know there will be fire coming out of your ears on this one, it came from a UN study. :) You can go on line look at the basis for the study.
Of the top ten best countries to live in all are by Republicans definition socialist and they are all democratic.
Can you give me an example of a nation that has some of the same programs and policies you want for
America? How about a state that is most like your dream world?
My America is one where classrooms are small, health care is free and no one is above the law.
Unlike your America where classrooms are large health care is unavailable (I can't afford a knee operation even with insurance covering part of the cost) and Republicans are above the law.
For the last 2 weeks I have been traveling for work north of the boarder in Canada and Alaska, you may know Canadians who do not like their health care system but in the 30 years that I have traveled through Canada I have never met one who thought our health care system is better then theirs. And I have friends who go to Canada for their health care because it cost less.
As I see it the loss of freedom and fascism comes most often when national laws are ignore or broken.
(as Bush did) That is why we need groups like the ACLU.( Who regularly piss off both the left and right wingers. )
You say I can't make a blanket statement but that's all you seem to be able to write .
The constitution by the way is a living document not carved in stone it was written to evolve. So if you support the constitution as I do, you support change.
Since you are opposed to change you are lying to yourself when you say you support it.