idea for 1 min resp. to "socialism vs democracy" meme from neighbors, social media

[zazen]

I was just on the comments section of the lead article of the Raleigh N&O and some idiot said something about Obama's SOTU speech and "election year choice."

His comment: "The main difference is between socialism vs. democracy." (And he's not a supporter of the former.)

And I commented, stealing from the great "Welfare for Wal-Mart" line recently floated by Sanders' campaign:

"Yeah. I agree. I'm tired of socialism for Wall Street and welfare for Wal-Mart. Let's return to a democracy where lawmakers answer to the people again instead of lobbyists pushing handouts for the 1%. Vote Sanders."

And then it occurred to me.

I know this is only internet deep, but I thought I'd float out there whether every time someone at the office or place of worship or bar or school or carpool line or grocery store says, "but he's a socialist!" that we could start saying, "I agree. I don't want our socialism anymore either. I hate all the government money being given to bail out Wall Street and send American jobs overseas so a banker can buy another yacht. I'm voting to restore democracy so all the people, not just 100 families and their lobbyists, have a voice in how our economy is run."

I've just needed a quick rejoinder for those 1 minute exchanges where I have the chance to slightly change someone's perception about something.

Y'all got any other ideas?

Frankly, I wish Sanders would be more clear and succinct about "economic democracy." Michael Moore was doing a better job of it with Wolf Blitzer two weeks ago. Gar Apervowitz has some zingers too.

The concept of free market competition needs to be preserved, but with the majority participating in the economic decisions, not a handful of billionaire lobbyists. Most Americans just don't understand this because we've gotten "invisible hand of free market" our whole lives and tend to think of capitalism as a law of nature rather than an ongoing governmental choice. They hear "SOCIALISM" and think "gulag" or the "lazy" French with their six week vacations. They think we're abandoning America's tradition of small shops and inventors and entrepreneurs. He really, really needs a better elevator speech on this--on returning to America's great entrepreneurial tradition BY ensuring it's more fair. Something along those lines, anyway.

[SoapBox]

1. I think you are spot on.

A much easier way to get people to think about who exactly has been benefitting from the government.

And it stays away from having to try and explain the differences between socialism and democratic socialism...that can quickly get messy.

[zazen]

2. yeah, we quickly need a way to simplify this to bring the electorate along with us

It's not that all Americans are dumb. It's just that the ideology of neoclassical economics is so embedded within the culture that it's invisible, which is the point (and its power.)

Without getting people tripped up in hegemonics and neoliberalism and the Frankfurt School and yada yada yada that I barely understood anyway, we need to talk in more positive frames about what FDR-like administrations with FDR-friendly congresses would look like, and not call them welfare states (negative frame) or socialism.

That's why I liked how Michael Moore kept throwing out the term "economic democracy." I think that's a GREAT term and concept and accessible to Americans, who LOVE the term democracy, and frankly, we _would_ do it differently than France and Canada. We have to.

Gar Apervowitz has done a lot of work on the long term trend he sees towards democratic ownership, that will take decades he rightly argues, but I still think that scares the hell out of people (it does me) because the idea of having to convene with everyone else in running a business sounds like a co-op parody straight out of Portlandia. (!) We're far too much into efficiency models to tolerate that kind of thing as an electorate, yet.

[n2doc]

3. I guess I would ask them, 'Do you think UK, Canada, and all of Europe are not democracies?'

Because they are far more 'socialist' than we are.

[zazen]

5. Yes, of course. I think I'm talking about naming, really.

I'm not afraid of the term socialism, but I think it's time to ridicule it so much by accurately applying it to Wall Street that we defang its old meaning and put it out to pasture.

Economic democracy is in fact a richer term, because as Gar Apervowitz (I'm bad at links--just look him up) says, state socialism hasn't worked very well either. He talks about this huge space between capitalism and state socialism (including Canada) called democratic ownership. I think there's a big co-op movement like it in Spain and he's doing work on this in Ohio.

Economic democracy admits of the larger electoral change of electing a socialist president and enacting socialist policies, while also cultivating understanding and excitement about democratic ownership initiatives.

And yes, the term "democracy" will just help in this transition with most Americans.

[zazen]

6. Duh--I see now you were talking about a rejoinder to the neighbor

I agree. I think that's a good one too. Good for their comeback. Thank you (time to get something to eat so I stop misreading people's posts!)

[zazen]

4. so, vote for "Wall Street Socialism" OR "Restoring Economic Democracy?"

[Rebkeh]

7. Good way to put in a bumper sticker message

This is perfect.

"Yeah. I agree. I'm tired of socialism for Wall Street and welfare for Wal-Mart. Let's return to a democracy where lawmakers answer to the people again instead of lobbyists pushing handouts for the 1%. Vote Sanders."

Anyone savvy enough to make a meme/graphic of it? I could but my level of skill is, ahem, well... Yeah.

[zazen]

8. maybe something could fit on t-shirt--I have graphic designer friend & Zazzle :-)

You're right that if we can massage something enough to float on a t-shirt it might get some traction.

I don't see anything pithy enough here yet but my friend who owns an ad agency might.

Some play on, Stop Socialism for Wall Street Now! Vote Bernie.

Or Vote for Democracy, Not Wall Street Socialism. Bernie 2016. I dunno. I'm not very pithy.

[Rebkeh]

9. They both sound good to me nt