Archive for the ‘Socialism’ Category

Is Socialism On the Rise? | Mother Jones – Mother Jones

Over at The Corner, Ericka Andersen writes: "More and more liberal Americans are embracing socialism. Unfortunately, it seems many of them arent aware of the realities that citizens in countries like Venezuela face."

That got me curious. Is it true that more and more liberal Americans are embracing socialism? I couldn't find a whole lot on the subject, but Gallup has asked a few times recently whether people have a positive image of socialism. And in 2015 they asked whether people would vote for a socialist. Here are the results:

This isn't much. Maybe ANES has some longer-term trends on this? Still, the Gallup polls don't suggest any overall recent warming toward socialism. If liberals really are getting seduced by the red menace, some other group must be making up for it.

So what's going on? A few recent polls have gotten a lot of attention for reporting that millennials prefer socialism to capitalism, but I doubt they really mean much. For one thing, we have no idea if this is anything new. For another, millennials polled in 2016 probably figured that socialist meant "Bernie Sanders." But Bernie's no socialist, no matter what he calls himself.1 He's a European-style social democrat, just like me.

If I hear millennials starting to talk about nationalizing the banks and having the feds take over the steel mills, then it might be time to wonder what's going on. Until then, I think the answer is: nothing.

1I don't know what he believes in his heart of hearts, of course. In practice, however, he's a pretty standard issue social democrat. So are lots of American liberals. Bernie is just more vocal about getting there right now than most of them. That's one of the benefits of having a safe seat in Vermont.

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Is Socialism On the Rise? | Mother Jones - Mother Jones

Congratulations To Bolivarian Socialism – Brownies Are Now Illegal In Venezuela – Forbes


Forbes
Congratulations To Bolivarian Socialism - Brownies Are Now Illegal In Venezuela
Forbes
This might cause a little confusion for in some parts of the world "Brownies" means a certain junior age group of Girl Guides or as we might these days call them Scouts of the female persuasion. Sure, we could imagine Maduro and the Chavistas trying to ...
Venezuela has a bread shortage. The government has decided bakers are the problem.Miami Herald
Short of options, Venezuela opposition stages flash protestsStabroek News

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Congratulations To Bolivarian Socialism - Brownies Are Now Illegal In Venezuela - Forbes

As Dem Enthusiasm Lags, Democratic Socialists Of America See Memberships Triple – The Ring of Fire Network

While the Democratic party continues to fail to meet even the lowest bar set by Progressives, it appears that the runoff from one of the two main parties in the U.S. may be headed straight for the Democratic Socialists of America.

Democratic Socialism, the technical political belief that Senator Bernie Sanders subscribes to, has seen their membership triple in the last yearto close to 20,000 card-carrying, dues-paying members.

And though many on the right may be terrified, DSAunderstands completely why they are growing: young people & Bernie.

Increasingly, much to the terror of the far right, socialism, is no longer considered the horrific word it once was to millinnials, expecially those who heard the term used to describe Bernie Sanders during the 2016 primary.

Young Americas tame view of socialism is due, in part, to a more true understanding of the meaning of the word, as well as the more moderate stance of Democratic Socialists. This is especially true in regards to Democratic Socialism because it is much different and far less radical than outright socialism.

On the basic level, as the DSA explains on their website, Democratic Socialists do not want the government to own the means of production. Instead, the DSA actively fights against capitalistic overreach, pushing back against mammoth corporations and their deep involvement with government. The DSA asks that government step in when corporations have gone too far, in order to protect consumers and keep things fair.

Democratic Socialists favor a sharing of ownership over consumer-good industries. Your local coop is a good example of Democratic Socialism in practice.

But to Republicans like Stuart Varney, Democratic Socialists are just good, old-fashioned commies.The worst nightmare for the right would be for young Bernie-backing Democrats to continue calling themselves Democratic Socialists.

Fortunately for the Democratic party, Democratic Socialists do not consider themselves wholly apart from the Democratic party. Much like how Senator Sanders ran as a Democrat in the primary, members of the DSA continue to work for and contribute toward the Democratic party, working to spread their goals from within.

If the Democratic party is willing to make room, the addition of Democratic Socialists appear to be only a net good for the floundering political party.

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As Dem Enthusiasm Lags, Democratic Socialists Of America See Memberships Triple - The Ring of Fire Network

Socialism’s outcome: Venezuela on default’s brink – Tribune-Review

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Socialism's outcome: Venezuela on default's brink - Tribune-Review

Sarah Palin slams GOP health care plan as ‘socialism’ – AOL

Sarah Palin does not care for the Republicans' newly proposed health care plan, going so far as to compare it to socialism.

In an interview with far-right website Breitbart, the former Alaska governor claimed the plan was only Republican in name.

Palin said she expects President Donald Trump to "step in and fix it."

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Sarah Palin, Donald Trump in NYC in 2011

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Sarah Palin and Donald Trump sat down for pizza at Famous Famiglia pizza on Broadway at 50th St. Trump said 'she didn't ask me (to run with her) but I'll tell you, she's a terrific woman.' (Photo By: John Roca/NY Daily News via Getty Images)

Sarah Palin and Donald Trump sat down for pizza at a Famiglia pizza on Broadway at 50th St. Trump said 'she didn't ask me (to run with her) but I'll tell you, she's a terrific woman,' (Photo By: Andrew Savulich/NY Daily News via Getty Images)

Supporters watch Sarah Palin and Donald Trump sit down for pizza at a Famous Famiglia pizza on Broadway at 50th St. (Photo By: Andrew Savulich/NY Daily News via Getty Images)

Donald Trump, Sarah Palin and Melania Trump sat down for pizza at a Famiglia pizza on Broadway at 50th St. Trump said 'she didn't ask me (to run with her) but I'll tell you, she's a terrific woman,' (Photo By: Andrew Savulich/NY Daily News via Getty Images)

Sarah Palin and Donald Trump sat down for pizza at a Famiglia pizza on Broadway at 50th St. Trump said 'she didn't ask me (to run with her) but I'll tell you, she's a terrific woman,' (Photo By: John Roca/NY Daily News via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 31: Former U.S. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R), and Donald Trump walk towards a limo after leaving Trump Tower, at 56th Street and 5th Avenue, on May 31, 2011 in New York City. Palin and Trump met for a dinner meeting in the city. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 31: Former U.S. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R), and Donald Trump walk towards a limo after leaving Trump Tower, at 56th Street and 5th Avenue, on May 31, 2011 in New York City. Palin and Trump met for a dinner meeting in the city. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 31: Former U.S. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (C), shakes hands with a supporter while Donald Trump (L), waits after leaving Trump Tower, at 56th Street and 5th Avenue, on May 31, 2011 in New York City. Palin and Trump met for a dinner meeting in the city. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 31: Former U.S. Vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R), shakes hands with a supporter while Donald Trump (L), waits after leaving Trump Tower, at 56th Street and 5th Avenue, on May 31, 2011 in New York City. Palin and Trump met for a dinner meeting in the city. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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"Even in this new quasi-reformed proposal, there is still an aspect of socialism. That's the whole premise here," said Palin.

While the GOP's proposal would drop the Obamacare mandate requiring americans to have health insurance, the part Palin specifically disagrees with is a rule that would allow insurance companies to add a 30 percent penalty for those who sign up later.

Still, Palin has faith in Trump. Citing his career as businessman, she told Breitbart, "...he's going to understand whether this makes sense in his vision of how to grow businesses and how to get government off our back and back on our side."

28 PHOTOS

Sarah Palin sells Arizona home

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Sarah Palin's gigantic Arizona ranch

The compound's main residence includes 8,000 square feet of space.

Photo credit:Keller Williams Real Estate

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More from AOL.com: White House prefers people not call new health care plan 'Trumpcare' American Health Care Act: Who wins and loses in the GOP's Obamacare replacement 'Obamacare 2.0': Conservatives already revolting against House GOP's Obamacare plan

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Sarah Palin slams GOP health care plan as 'socialism' - AOL