Socialism vs Capitalism? Really?

[DemocracyMouse]

Last edited Sun Jul 22, 2018, 07:35 PM - Edit history (1)

I recommend that we abandon the "socialism vs capitalism" nonsense and call for a "PEOPLE's ECONOMY." It may help unify progressives and centrists.

Deeper still, Democrats should emphasize a "PEOPLE'S INFRASTRUCTURE" of public roads, education and healthcare, etc., to foster a "PEOPLE'S ECONOMY" of small, innovative businesses.

I'll bet five peaches no one here will find this sufficiently pithy to respond to... but I hope one or two thinks about the implications of socially responsible INFRASTRUCTURE as ECONOMICALLY GENERATIVE. It's a nested model of society with a democratically determined infrastructure at the center of a continuously emergent system. Wired Magazine meets The Nation. Biology meets economics.

I'd even hazard to coin a term, DEMOSTRUCTURE, to imply a democratically determined infrastructure.

[brooklynite]

1. You lost the argument when you used the phrase "People's".

"People's Republic"

"People's Police"

Nothing in the current capitalist system prevents government investment in social and capital goods.

Nothing in your proposed system prevents small, innovative businesses from becoming big ones.

[DemocracyMouse]

10. You missed the concept

A DEMOSTRUCTURE'S raison d'etre is to foster a system that encourages small business. Do you want to help list the components of a socially responsible demostructure?

NET NEUTRALITY
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
PUBLIC HEALTHCARE
PUBLIC EDUCATION
UNION AND WORKER-FRIENDLY REGULATION
TRUST-BUSTING
WOMEN'S, LGBTQ RIGHTS LEGISLATION
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
VOTING RIGHTS
CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FROM BANKS
etc, etc.,

[DFW]

15. You might want to edit that

Raison d'être is a "reason for being"

Raisin d'être is "grape for being"

[DemocracyMouse]

29. Grape for being is what I need right now! Political language is stressful!

[The Genealogist]

2. I think if you use the term "people's" you might as well just call it socialism or communism

A lot of people like the bits of socialism we have now. They just don't like the word.

[DemocracyMouse]

30. Government of the people, by the people... nothing wrong with "people"

[Orsino]

32. But Trump gets to refer to "enemy of the people" whenever he likes. I get it. n/t

[DemocracyMouse]

3. So all these words, once basic and beautiful, are off limits?

LIBERAL
PEOPLE'S
SOCIALIST

Why not take the language back?

[shanny]

5. I think you are on the right track

and that our country has been on the wrong one for far too long. Obscene income inequality should be proof enough of that for anyone.

[DFW]

19. You'd have to go back a way

In Germany, where I now live, the eastern part, run by the SED (Socialist Unity Party) trained its People's Police (Volkspolizei) and its Volksarmee (people's army) to kill anyone trying to escape their little "realexisistierender Sozialismus (really esisting socialism)."

The people who lived there didn't find the last two words to be so beautiful, and the eastern European Socialists considered "liberal" to be just as much of a dirty word as today's Republicans do.

[oberliner]

4. Power to the people, right on!

[DemocracyMouse]

6. Thank you, Oberliner!

And I might add, great music program to go with Oberlin's progressive, even experimental politics.

[oberliner]

7. It was quite a college experience

The music, the politics, the cloudy Ohio skies...

[docgee]

8. Fear of socialism is how the Nazis came to power.

Looks like the old playbook is back in play.

[DFW]

12. "Socialist" is part of the Nazi party's full name

NSDAP: National Socialist German Workers Party

[docgee]

21. Wow. Crack a history book.

The German Workers Party is where the Nazis came from. They gained power by spreading fear of Marxism. They may have had socialist in their name, but the Nazis were as fascist as the come.

[johnp3907]

9. I'm an unabashed socialist.

And an unabashed Democrat. And I’ll happily work with anyone seeking the same or similar goals, regardless of terminology.

[DemocracyMouse]

13. Then help with the poetics and the modeling

Do you understand why "socialism" vs "capitalism" sticks mud in any effort towards progress? Many socialists, esp. dem socialists, are entirely supportive of small biz, but the public has no idea because of how the discussion is framed.

Also, the concept of a demostructure which I've proposed, places a democratically controlled infrastructure at the center of a hive of continuously emerging small business activity

[scarletwoman]

11. While I personally like "People's Economy", etc. I also get the objections to it.

How about we look into using something like "Citizen-Led" and "Citizen-Centered" phrasing instead?

[DemocracyMouse]

16. Citizenostructure?

[scarletwoman]

18. Why not Citizen-Centered infrastructure? nt

[TexasTowelie]

20. That's too long for a bumper sticker

and too many syllables that will eventually be butchered into a phrase that would be ridiculed.

[Wounded Bear]

14. Yeah, we could call the US a People's Democratic Republic...

The RWers steal all the good terms and ruin them.

[DemocracyMouse]

17. Please re-read my proposal

[docgee]

22. The M$M is now pushing this capitalist-socialist split of the Dem party now.

Are the Russian bots spreading it around also?

[brooklynite]

23. My wife and I are 1%ers; are we part of the "people"?

Should we leave?

[bitterross]

25. Why are you doing their work for them?

The OP didn't say a word to disparage the 1% or suggest they are not part of the "people."

They way I read your post is you've taken offense to the OP for some reason. Also, the way your post is written it is certain to get responses. The issue I have is I the responses it will drive will be infighting and do the work of the right for them.

I don't get why you took offense to the OP in the first place?

[bitterross]

24. "People's ...." anything sounds too much like Communism/Socialism.

I completely agree we need some re-branding and fast.

Everything I can think of that uses the word "People's..." is socialist or communist. And I'm pretty much of the same age and background as the people in love with Trump and, more importantly, at lot of the independents who lean right. I just got the hell out of the South and got an education and life experience.

These come to mind first:

People's Republic of China
Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Just not a good word to use. I apologize for complaining without making a alternative suggestion. I will work on it.

[DemocracyMouse]

26. Good grief.... can we use "citizens' infrastructure"?

... for a citizens' economy?

[bitterross]

27. I get it. We can be pretty exasperating here.

Try not to get to frustrated. We can be frustrating here and beat a lot of dead horses.

[Ron Green]

28. How about a Moral Economy?

That’s something everyone ought to have.

[DemocracyMouse]

31. Amen to that!