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Is it fair to call Bernie Sanders a Socialist? (Original Post) trumad Oct 2015 OP
Is it sort of like a backsliding Christian? wyldwolf Oct 2015 #1
Our government is socialistic RobertEarl Oct 2015 #36
There is a difference TeddyR Oct 2015 #2
Correct. trumad Oct 2015 #4
And if they only understand name calling, then will they like Koch Brothers with Joseph Stalin?... cascadiance Oct 2015 #7
The average voter can now google a quick answer in 30 seconds. Hortensis Oct 2015 #33
It's like saying you believe in unregulated capitalism or regulated capitalism... cascadiance Oct 2015 #3
Trust me when I say.. trumad Oct 2015 #6
It is a challenge, but one that I think ultimately needs to be faced... cascadiance Oct 2015 #23
Trust you artislife Oct 2015 #30
My recommendation: Trash thread. BernieFan57 Oct 2015 #5
Why? trumad Oct 2015 #8
Roughly 50% of the country thinks every liberal is a socialist Scootaloo Oct 2015 #11
And those listening to Limbaugh will call Hillary a "Feminazi" too... cascadiance Oct 2015 #24
Fine, say it. Say the word, over and over and over Ron Green Oct 2015 #16
Who, Obama? Warren Stupidity Oct 2015 #18
good idea artislife Oct 2015 #31
"Is there a difference?" Scootaloo Oct 2015 #9
Yeah, there's a bit of a difference between revolutionary and evolutionary socialism. NuclearDem Oct 2015 #20
Oh but why google it when you can start a thread on DU Puglover Oct 2015 #25
Oh, good greif! stone space Oct 2015 #10
He wants to be called a democratic socialist so it's fair to call him that. Cheese Sandwich Oct 2015 #12
He calls himself a socialist too. Here's an article by him on his Senate web site: FSogol Oct 2015 #13
If bernie Sanders is a Socialist, then NorthCarolina Oct 2015 #14
No. We Want Bernie Oct 2015 #15
The Nordic model is one of social democracy, not democratic socialism. NuclearDem Oct 2015 #21
It depends on your intent. Warren Stupidity Oct 2015 #17
Bingo! nt artislife Oct 2015 #27
Our Republican friends have labeled him a Socialist. trumad Oct 2015 #29
non-responsive. Warren Stupidity Oct 2015 #38
Socialism is like Christianity. Lots of different varieties and labels. Tierra_y_Libertad Oct 2015 #19
Is there a difference between corporatism and fascism? HooptieWagon Oct 2015 #22
You might want to ask our Jewish friends that question. trumad Oct 2015 #28
... artislife Oct 2015 #26
I found a screen capture from a dry run RNC ad... onehandle Oct 2015 #32
And Hillary would be slammed by the GOP for jeopardizing national security AtomicKitten Oct 2015 #37
There's a difference. lovemydog Oct 2015 #34
Yes there is angrychair Oct 2015 #35
 

RobertEarl

(13,685 posts)
36. Our government is socialistic
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 09:36 PM
Oct 2015

It owns the roads, the parks and peace and safety departments from sea-to-shining-sea. Socialism is what makes America so great.

Therefore what we need as our top manager - POTUS - is someone who believes in socialism and will manage the government to be its best. Having capatilists as managers is a proven failure.

Bernie is the real deal and will make government work for everyone.

 

TeddyR

(2,493 posts)
2. There is a difference
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:30 PM
Oct 2015

But the average voter won't understand the difference, and the Republicans would bash him over the head with the "socialist" label if he were the nominee. The WaPo basically said he is unelectable after his statement that he isn't a capitalist but a democratic socialist.

 

trumad

(41,692 posts)
4. Correct.
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:32 PM
Oct 2015

Just because he added Democratic to the title doesn't change the fact that the only word people hear is Socialist.

 

cascadiance

(19,537 posts)
7. And if they only understand name calling, then will they like Koch Brothers with Joseph Stalin?...
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:34 PM
Oct 2015

... which is what we could in FACT say happened with the Koch family when they built their family fortune on working with communist dictator Joseph Stalin to build up the Soviet Union's energy infrastructure.

Whether or not the Kochs themselves believe in communism, libertarianism, or what other authoritarian belief system they favor won't matter if they push that game to the hilt, and discover that truth.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
33. The average voter can now google a quick answer in 30 seconds.
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 07:15 PM
Oct 2015

Conservatives who don't want him will just grab onto "socialist," no doubt (and do lots of bashing with it for sure!), but Bernie is the most interesting candidate and that may cause others to pay sufficient attention.

I personally doubt the common wisdom that we wouldn't elect someone calling himself a democratic socialist. If you ask anyone if they'd want something different from their usual without showing it to them, they overwhelmingly say no. If they've seen it and like it, though, the answer's completely different.

Also, capitalism is rather tarnished these days by tremendous abuse. I suspect all Bernie would need to do is reassure that he wants to reform not replace.

 

cascadiance

(19,537 posts)
3. It's like saying you believe in unregulated capitalism or regulated capitalism...
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:31 PM
Oct 2015

... or leaving that aspect defined by calling someone a "capitalist". The former is more what Mussolini wanted and went towards fascism.

Regulated capitalism in our system, which also has regulated socialism that is controlled by democratic rule is what most people in this country want. By trying to simplify it with a label of "socialist" makes for more of a name calling contest rather than one of substantive discussion which our country needs.

 

trumad

(41,692 posts)
6. Trust me when I say..
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:33 PM
Oct 2015

I'd love a more Socialist society. I think most Progressive Liberals do.

But that's me...our friends on the right obviously think different.

 

cascadiance

(19,537 posts)
23. It is a challenge, but one that I think ultimately needs to be faced...
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:53 PM
Oct 2015

... whether it is with Bernie as a candidate, or many others that are also feeling that our addiction to unregulated capitalism is dooming our country. I think that what is real important is how Bernie comes off tomorrow night in the debate. I think if people can hear him talk about what he wants, and not just Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck labeling him as a "socialist" that is their full understanding of him to this point, that this might make a difference with more people soon.

There will always be some at the bottom of the heap, that will never like a "socialist". But I think they are becoming a shrinking minority of voters now. Most millennials and others are not going to accept that as a critique. Our key is getting more of them to come out to vote this time around. It is their future that is being screwed with with climate change, the economy, etc. that I think will have them vote more this next election.

 

BernieFan57

(80 posts)
5. My recommendation: Trash thread.
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:32 PM
Oct 2015

That's what I'm going to do with this kind of thread right off the top.

 

Scootaloo

(25,699 posts)
11. Roughly 50% of the country thinks every liberal is a socialist
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:37 PM
Oct 2015

That 50% is called "Republicans."

 

cascadiance

(19,537 posts)
24. And those listening to Limbaugh will call Hillary a "Feminazi" too...
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:55 PM
Oct 2015

Yes, we're going to have a lot of those extremists that will play with these epithets to try and draw in more of their group that doesn't have much capacity to do any rational thinking beyond name calling. It is more those that think more that we need to work on and make sure that they don't get taken in on name calling.

Ron Green

(9,821 posts)
16. Fine, say it. Say the word, over and over and over
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:42 PM
Oct 2015

until it loses its meaning for some, causes others to start thinking more than they're accustomed to, maybe prompts still others to say, "Isn't that what Obama is?"

"Liberal." "Conservative." "Socialist." This is the language of fools, and the quicker we lose these dumbass labels in our search for better politics and policy, the better off we are.

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
20. Yeah, there's a bit of a difference between revolutionary and evolutionary socialism.
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:49 PM
Oct 2015

Unfortunately, not many can successfully distinguish between democratic socialists who work to win at the ballot box and Marxist-Leninists who advocate for revolution.

It's also worth noting there's quite a difference between social democracy and democratic socialism, and it's pretty important to make that distinction.

Puglover

(16,380 posts)
25. Oh but why google it when you can start a thread on DU
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:57 PM
Oct 2015

that some will consider provocative? And get RECS!

 

Cheese Sandwich

(9,086 posts)
12. He wants to be called a democratic socialist so it's fair to call him that.
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:39 PM
Oct 2015


The reason people saying democratic socialist was to avoid association with the USSR and other systems like that that were also called socialist.

FSogol

(45,360 posts)
13. He calls himself a socialist too. Here's an article by him on his Senate web site:
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:40 PM
Oct 2015
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/sanders-socialist-successes

He calls himself a socialist 4-5 times without ever using the "Democratic Socialist" modifier.
 

We Want Bernie

(45 posts)
15. No.
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:41 PM
Oct 2015

Democratic socialism (Norway,Sweden,Denmark) is markedly different from regular socialism (such as Venezuela)

Please study the marked difference. Thank you.

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
21. The Nordic model is one of social democracy, not democratic socialism.
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 06:50 PM
Oct 2015

Please study the marked difference. Thank you.

 

trumad

(41,692 posts)
28. You might want to ask our Jewish friends that question.
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 07:01 PM
Oct 2015

Millions of Jews die at the hands of Facists and you ask that question?

 

AtomicKitten

(46,585 posts)
37. And Hillary would be slammed by the GOP for jeopardizing national security
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 09:50 PM
Oct 2015

... with use of an unsecured private server.

Ahead of the next email dump: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/hillary-clinton-emails-cia-214654
Clinton's email woes won't go away: An imminent release includes sensitive information on a CIA source.

So, there's that.

lovemydog

(11,833 posts)
34. There's a difference.
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 07:18 PM
Oct 2015

Socialists want government takeover of the means of production of most or all major industries.

Democratic socialists work within the system, and with like-minded democrats, toward a more just and fair system.

In Sanders' case, he's advocating breaking up the big banks and a free or single-payer health care system.

angrychair

(8,594 posts)
35. Yes there is
Mon Oct 12, 2015, 07:25 PM
Oct 2015

More importantly, what is very clear, is that Capitalism is as much a failed political philosophy and economic philosophy as Marxism or Communism. We have reached a level of unsustainable economic inequality. The rights of a few now matter more than the many. In this brave new world, corporations are people too (my friend).
The first step is admitting there is a problem.
Hey, it worked on Star Trek.

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