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Our Gov. Kristi Noem had good reason this week to brag on our states strong economy as the rest of the nation emerges from the pandemic-hobbling effects on the overall economy. Noem says that South Dakota has the strongest economy in America and reels off supporting data to back up that claim.

Noem has taken credit for all this by touting her hands off approach to statewide mandates requiring closures and masks as a means of fighting the pandemic. That South Dakota has one of the nations worst track records in handling the coronavirus catastrophe seems irrelevant to her, though the family and friends of more than 2,000 dead South Dakotans would disagree. Consider the contrast between covid-caused deaths in Oregon, with its population of 4.2 million, and South Dakotas death toll, with our population of 886,000. Oregon lost 2,759 of its residents to the pandemic. South Dakotas loss? 2,026.

Noem, enthralled by our economic recovery, never mentions our states horrible track record on the handling of the pandemic, and I have yet to hear any consoling words coming from her office aimed at those who survived the dead.

As to the state of the economy, lets continue the comparison between South Dakota and Oregon. According to people I know out there, Oregon is coming out of this thing in fine economic shape. The Salem Reporter just headlined a story on the situation Oregons economy expected to come roaring back from pandemic-induced recession, citing an economic forecast that expects a speedy recovery from the historic recession brought on by the pandemic.

Closer to home, consider Nebraska, where, according to the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, the economy has outperformed that of many other states and the nation as a whole. At around 3%, Nebraskas unemployment rate rivals South Dakotas, and that states Gross Domestic Product is within 1.5% of its record high. Comparing covid deaths, Nebraska has had 2,517. Comparing populations, Nebraska has 1.93 million residents.

In context, Noems braggadocio about our economic recovery doesnt look all that great, even as our states covid death count is tragically deplorable.

Meantime, I hear little or nothing from Noem about how federal, socialistic stimulus payments have made it possible for South Dakota to get through this difficult period. She can brag all she wants to about keeping the state open so that the economy could thrive, but take it from me, a businessman who sees it from the perspective of reality, the nearly $2 billion that our state expects to get from federal relief funding this year is the difference-maker between economic struggle and economic growth.Those loans and payments kept a lot of businesses afloat in this state. Last year we got federal, socialistically-generated funds totaling $1.25 billion.

Noem can kid herself all she wants to about her great handling of the crisis, but the fact is, our horrible death toll says otherwise. It was federal funding that got us through this thing, economically. She and her supporters can rail all they want to against socialism, but without it wed be in mighty tough shape these days.

John Tsitrian is a businessman and writer from the Black Hills. He was a weekly columnist for the Rapid City Journal for twenty years. His articles and commentary have also appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Denver Post and The Omaha World-Herald. Tsitrian served in the Marines for three years (1966-69), including a thirteen month tour of duty as a radioman in Vietnam.

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Noem touts strong South Dakota economy, ignores the massive socialistic bailouts that were necessary to get us here. The South Dakota Standard - The...

All are the progeny of A. Mohan, a district secretary of the Communist Party of India in Tamil Nadu state where left-wing ideology still burns red-hot.

My first son was born during the fall of the Soviet Union and everywhere in the news I was reading that this was the end of communism, Mohan toldAFP.

But there is no end for communism as long as the human race lives on, so I named my first-born Communism, he said.

His next two sons were named Leninism whose five-month-old son Marxism will also attend the nuptials on Sunday and Socialism, the groom.

Pictures of the invitation to the wedding, embossed with hammer-and-sickle emblems, have gone viral on social media.

Socialism's bride-to-be meanwhile is P. Mamata Banerjee, named by her grandfather after a firebrand left-wing politician in West Bengal.

The fact that this other Banerjee ended several decades of communist rule in 2011 in the eastern state to become chief minister isn't spoiling the party.

India leaned more towards the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and names like Stalin, Lenin, Trotsky and even Pravda the name of the USSR's state newspaper are not unheard of, particularly in the south.

Tamil Nadu's current chief minister is M.K. Stalin, named by his father in honour of the Soviet communist dictator just days before he died in Russia.

Mohan said that there was nothing unusual about his sons' names some of his comrades gave their children names such as Moscow, Russia, Vietnam and Czechoslovakia.

But he admitted that his boys, especially Communism, were sometimes teased at school. One hospital refused to admit Communism when he was three years old.

They were scared of the name Communism and initially I faced a lot of troubles. But over time, things smoothed out, he said.

All three sons, now in their 20s, are fellow members of the local communist party, and Leninism named his son after none other than Karl Marx.

Now I am waiting for a grand-daughter from one of my sons, who I will name Cubaism, Mohan added.

The rest is here:
Communism, Leninism to attend younger brother Socialism's wedding in India - The Express Tribune

Story Highlights

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When asked to explain their understanding of the term "socialism," 17% of Americans define it as government ownership of the means of production, half the number who defined it this way in 1949 when Gallup first asked about Americans' views of the term. Americans today are most likely to define socialism as connoting equality for everyone, while others understand the term as meaning the provision of benefits and social services, a modified form of communism, or a conception of socialism as people being social and getting along with one another. About a quarter of Americans were not able to give an answer.

What Is Your Understanding of the Term "Socialism"?

Socialism has re-entered the public discourse over the past several years, in part due to the high profile candidacy of socialist Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, as well as the surprise victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America organization, in the Democratic primary in New York's 14th Congressional District. According to a news report from Axios, over 40 socialists have won in primary elections this year, and the membership of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has grown from 7,000 members to 50,000 since 2016.

This increased visibility of socialism and the prevalence of candidates who in one way or the other are associated with the socialist label makes it important to understand how this concept is understood by average Americans -- the objective of the current research.

The broad group of responses defining socialism as dealing with "equality" are quite varied -- ranging from views that socialism means controls on incomes and wealth, to a more general conception of equality of opportunity, or equal status as citizens.

In addition to the 17% of Americans who define socialism as government ownership of the means of production, other more traditional or historical views of socialism include those who say it means modified communism (6%) or restrictions on freedom (3%).

That leaves 19% of all mentions which are focused on a "gentler, lighter" view of socialism -- government provision of benefits and services, liberal government or some type of cooperative plan. In addition to 6% non-specific derogatory comments, 6% describe it as getting along with other people, 8% give miscellaneous responses, and about a quarter of Americans (23%) said they couldn't answer the question.

The biggest difference between 1949 and now in terms of Americans' understanding of the term socialism is the drop in the percentage who define socialism as government ownership of the means of production. This drop is offset by the increased number of Americans who say that socialism means equality and an increase in those who define socialism in terms that are closer to what might be considered a more standard liberalism. Americans today are also more likely to have an opinion than was the case in 1949 when over a third gave no opinion.

Previous Gallup research has shown that socialism as a concept is viewed positively by less than a majority of Americans (37% in a late July, early August survey) and that these attitudes have not changed materially since 2010. However, 57% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents view socialism positively, particularly telling in light of the 47% of Democrats who view capitalism positively. Republicans are, unsurprisingly, much less positive about socialism (16% view the term positively).

The current research shows that Republicans are significantly more likely to view socialism as government ownership of the means of production than are Democrats and are more likely to describe socialism in derogatory terms. For their part, Democrats are modestly more likely to view socialism as government provision of services and benefits. Democrats are also more likely to say they don't have a view of socialism than Republicans.

What Is Your Understanding of the Term "Socialism"? by Party

Although young Americans are in general more positive about socialism as a concept than those who are older, there are few significant differences by age group in self-reported understanding of the term.

Do we have socialism in America today? That was the question Gallup asked Americans in the 1949 survey when 43% said "yes." There has been little significant change in the affirmative response to this question over the years, with 38% of Americans saying that there is socialism in America today. However, in 1949, with almost one in five Americans not giving an opinion, the affirmative responses outnumbered the negatives. Today, negatives are more prevalent than those who say yes.

Do you think we have socialism in the United States today, or not?

There is little significant difference in these views by partisanship today, with Republicans just a bit more likely to say "yes" than Democrats, 42% to 36%.

Socialism historically has been associated with the concept of public or collective ownership of property and natural resources and has long been associated with Marxism and communism. In 1949, with the Chinese Communists just having taken control of China, and with the Communist Soviet Union creating fear of an aggressive effort to spread their ideology around the globe, Americans' view of the term embraced the classic elements bound up in these types of movements.

Now, almost 70 years later, Americans' views of socialism have broadened. While many still view socialism as government control of the economy, as modified communism and as embodying restrictions on freedoms in several ways, an increased percentage see it as representing equality and government provision of benefits.

These results make it clear that socialism is a broad concept that can -- and is -- understood in a variety of ways by Americans.

Republicans, who are overwhelmingly negative about socialism, tend to skew toward seeing socialism as government control of the economy and in derogatory terms, while Democrats, a majority of whom are positive about socialism, are more likely to view it as government provision of services.

No doubt candidates who are affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America or in other ways lay claim to a socialist approach to government will continue to define what the term means in ways that fit their personal viewpoints.

Read more:
The Meaning of "Socialism" to Americans Today

With Republicans recently blaming the rise of antisemitic attacks on progressives criticism of Israel, one GOP congresswoman took it to a whole new level on Thursday night.

According to Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), if you happen to be a socialist or communist, then you are, by default, anti-Jewish.

Amid an alarming rise in antisemitic attacks, especially in the wake of the 11-day Hamas-Israel war, Vox writer Zack Beauchamp wrote an in-depth piece looking into the causes behind the increase in violence against American Jews. Though the articlewritten by a Jewwas incredibly nuanced and balanced, it was relentlessly mocked by conservatives over its sub-headline: Violent anti-Semitism spiked in America during the Israel-Hamas war. And we dont know why.

During Thursdays broadcast of Fox News Primetime, guest host Ben Domenech continued the networks mockery over the piece and brought on Salazar to discuss it at length. At the same time, it appears neither party got past the articles secondary title.

In the past month, we have seen a surge in antisemitism across America. Some might conclude that the conflict between Israel and Palestine is the root cause, Domenech declared. If you check Twitter, the folks at Vox cant seem to figure it out. They posted this headline: Violent anti-Semitism spiked in America during the Israel-Hamas war. And we dont know why.

Turning to Salazar, who he noted was a former journalist, the Federalist co-founder asked her what can be done to combat the rise of antisemitism. And the conservative lawmaker let loose.

Right now, at the Holocaust Memorial, were having an event with thousands of people that are denouncing specifically what you just said, the antisemitism that is rising in this country, she stated. And Vox may not know what it is but I have the answerthe answer is socialism.

Salazar added: We have an immense problem in this country with this democratic socialism that some people within the Democratic Party are peddling to our youth. When you say socialism, you are talking about antisemitism in the same phrase, even though it might not be mentioned!

The Florida lawmaker went on to reach even further and label which political ideologies were supposedly antisemitic.

You see it in Cuba, in Iran, in Venezuela, you see North Koreaeverybody that is a socialist or a communist is anti-Jew, she exclaimed. And at least, in my area, we are not going to tolerate that.

Domenech, who like Salazar is not Jewish, said he had heard from Jewish friends across the country that they were concerned that support for Israel would soon become a mono-partisan affair, essentially equating criticism of Israels policies with antisemitism.

Notably, Pew Research recently found that 71 percent of American Jews identify as Democrats and more than half describe themselves as liberal. In the last presidential election, 76 percent of the Jewish vote went to Joe Biden compared to only 22 percent for Donald Trump.

Furthermore, according to Pew, over half of American Jews feel the Democratic Party is friendly towards Jewish Americans while only 29 percent feel the same way about the Republican Party.

The rest is here:
GOP Congresswoman Redefines Antisemitism: All Socialists Are 'Anti-Jew' - Daily Beast

Contribute to the PSLs National Fund Drive today!

We started the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) with a small handful of members, determined to build a multi-national, multi-generational and large-scale socialist party in a country that seemed to have mostly rejected socialism. The task seemed daunting. We were few in numbers with virtually no resources during a time when socialism was treated as an absolute taboo within the United States. Today, 17 years later the PSL has branches, collectives and members throughout the country. We have an organized presence in over 100 cities and towns, and have expanded our presences substantially throughout the South in recent years. We are growing dynamically and appeal to you to provide support for our continued growth.

Every year all members of the PSL participate in a National Fund Drive. Like a union or many other types of working-class organizations, we know the only way to be politically independent from the capitalist class is to be financially independent from it. We appeal to our friends and supporters to contribute to this fund. Watch the video below to hear from our members why the funds from the drive and your support is critical to so many activities. From the launch of national initiatives, to putting organizers and speakers on the road, to supporting and coordinating local organizing, to producing PSL publications and other media, and to deepening the Partys international solidarity work, the National Fund Drive is essential.

Through our members dedication of their time, finances, collective work and sacrifice, the PSL has helped build and sustain movements against oppression and for liberation. From cancel the rent caravans and actions, to being out in the streets for Black lives and against anti-Asian violence, to consistently being able to share a working-class analysis of current events across all our digital platforms, our comrades remain steadfast and resilient propelling the struggle for socialism forward.

Make an urgently-needed donation here

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We need your help to build the movement for socialism - Liberation