When Bernie Sanders entered the presidential race in 2016, many of us wondered whether democratic socialist ideas would become part of the political mainstream. We no longer need to wonder. Yet many still fear the socialist label in part, I believe, because of a lack of knowledge. Who does anyone know who has taken a course on socialism? Democratic socialism encompasses political, economic and social democracy, not unlike the ideas of European democratic socialists or social democrats.
For democratic socialists, political democracy means getting money out of politics as well as strong support for majoritarian rule, individual civil liberties, and the rule of law.
Democratic socialism is unique in today’s world because it champions the principle that economic and social rights are essential to a definition of democracy and human rights consistent with Articles 25 and 26 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and Articles 7, 11, and 12 of the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966). Democratic socialism means support for economic democracy, such as, for example, expansion of labor rights, employee representation on boards of directors of large corporations, employee and community owned cooperative enterprises and an end to employment at will. Furthermore, democratic socialism supports social democracy such as the right of everyone to decent health care, tuition free public universities, colleges, and vocational-technical schools, affordable housing, equal access to child day care and programs to save the planet from environmental destruction.
The label also stands for international solidarity in confronting global problems. Of course, the success of this democratic agenda in the coming years will depend on which set of contending social forces prevail in the political field. Ideas do matter.
JIM PHILLIPS, Wichita, Kan.
I am already getting emails from conservative-Republican candidates calling all Democrats “socialists” when I don’t think that any of the national Democrats are truly socialists at all. None. To me, they are all “liberals” and “progressives” who are NOT advocating for the abolition of our market-based capitalist economic system and who simply want to develop a more “HUMANE” capitalism which has more new federal government social programs to help people.
They want the USA to be more like Canada, western Europe, and Scandinavia. I don’t consider these countries to be “socialist.” These countries do not consider themselves to be “socialist.” Only USA conservative Republicans do. People like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are not true socialists.
STEWART EPSTEIN, Rochester, N.Y.
The recent impeachment/acquittal tragedy and farce eclipses any horror that Stephen King could have conjured in his darkest hour. This spectacle featured the epic cowardice and betrayal showcased by the modern Republican Party. The Republican performance highlights and confirms what the iconic Noam Chomsky scribed that the modern Republican Party is the most dangerous political party in human history. Indeed, today’s Republican Party and the demagogue they pay endless fealty to support climate catastrophe, environmental extinction, species obliteration, the sixth great extinction, endless war and nuclear modernization. This statement is neither hyperbole nor exaggeration. Ralph Nader is correct that with this death knell of law, decency, and any moral order, we have descended into “the land of the lawless.” The law simply does not apply to our existing monarchy.
This horror story was climaxed when our sociopathic president issued Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Rush Limbaugh’s work and legacy is one of undisguised rage, hatred and bigotry. That a US president would award this kind of man such an award and that Republican leaders would stand and cheer speaks volumes about our true state of the union. These sustained events give one a whiff of the Weimar.
The Republicans are correct about one thing: Trump’s overt criminality in the Ukraine are not in the global scheme of matters that would elicit outrage. Point taken — we should instead focus on the epic criminality showcased daily that insures against any future for our children or life on Earth. Species extinction, climate catastrophe, environmental collapse and the growing likelihood of nuclear war are matters that should elicit sustained outrage. And with regards to these issues Trump and the soul dead cowards that make up the modern Republican Party are our stewards, guides and unrelenting advocates for species extinction.
JIM SAWYER, Edmonds, Wash.
How come President Trump is now talking about social cuts? All because the massive cuts in income tax — all for the benefits of Republican “big wigs” — were supposed to produce investment for new machinery or innovations by big industrial companies (chief amongst them Larry Kudlow [director of the National Economic Council under Trump]), but we’re not seeing substantially increased US exports. The downtrodden, hoping that some of this wealth will “trickle” to them, once again have fallen for this “trickle-down” theory. To avoid all the proposed cuts, maybe we should reimpose all the so-called cuts in income tax and start anew.
G.M. CHANDU, Flushing, N.Y.
A political primary is a preliminary election in which the registered voters of a political party nominate candidates for office. The key word here is preliminary. The current system allows small states, such as Iowa and New Hampshire {assisted by the media}, to award front-runner status to the victorious candidate. From there the candidates travel a path determined by which states wants to “leap frog” the other by moving up their primary dates. Candidates are whisked across the country without any real ability to distinguish regional issues from national issues. Consequently, party platforms are determined by a make-it-up-as-you-go approach. If the primary process were organized on a regional basis, candidates would be able to study the regional issues, campaign to confirm those issues and then receive votes based on the solutions they propose. A regional approach would also prevent a premature selection of a front runner because success in one region certainly would not guarantee success in the next region. This would also further validate the process because each state would still have a say all the way down to the end. Finally, the number of delegates awarded in each state should be determined by the percentage of votes won by each candidate.
Accordingly, the political primaries should occur between January and June of each presidential election year. Each of the six regions would be assigned a particular month. A lottery held in June of the previous year would determine which month each region holds its primaries.
JOE BIALEK, Cleveland, Ohio
Donald J. Trump is no friend of the environment, no friend of the elderly. He wants a 26% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget (won’t make it past our House) and no desserts in Meals on Wheels. Children who need summer meals when school is out, because their parents don’t earn enough on our neglected minimum wage? Donald J. Trump doesn’t care about them either. He’d rather give a busting big tax break to the rich. Since the Republican-dominated US Senate does his bidding, it’s also their disdain for our environment (land, air, water) and their disdain for our elderly and our low-income school children reflected in his budget. Those Republicans won’t deserve the pensions we’ll be giving them when they’re outta here but they’ll continue to milk the federal cow anyway.
LYNN RUDMIN CHONG, Sanbornton, NH
What a surprise. Donald Trump was acquitted by an invertebrate Senate. He claims he’s done nothing wrong and why wouldn’t he believe that? A bit of recent GOP history proves his point.
Richard Nixon sabotaged the Vietnam peace talks in 1968 to help his election. Consequence — none. St. Reagan sabotaged the Iranian hostage negotiations for the same reason in 1980. His cost — none. Bush I, when faced with the truth of “Iran-Contra” coming out, on the advice of Bill Barr, pardoned all involved. Price — none.
Bush II, with the help of family and friends, stopped Florida’s vote count, so he could be “anointed” president. In office, he proceeded to flout international law (Iraq invasion, prisoner torture, etc). Price paid? None, as usual.
So why wouldn’t Trump believe he’s free to do whatever he pleases?
As for the upcoming election, Trump has already said he may “skip” the debates. When he does announce he won’t be participating, the Democrats will be taken by complete surprise. I expect, as with his hidden tax returns, the response will be furious hand-wringing and not much more.
CHICO KUMPUSKY, Fox, Ark.
In the 2/1/20 TPP (“A Grim New Definition of Generation X”), Ted Rall predicts The End of the World! Environmental complications, of course. Truly dramatic trauma manifests itself in the upcoming 10 years. After that, all Hell breaks loose … until extinction (for humans, at least).
Gee, I knew things were bad, but … but … any alternative scenarios? Any hope at all?
The future may well be as Ted Rall says. Hope the Democrats are listening. We know the Republicans are not.
Cheers.
JIM MARTEL, Lynn, Mass.
“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime.” I had to recount Trump’s slander of immigrants when I read the story of Kiku Mehta, who came to America from India to become a lawyer and raised three sons to become highly successful professionals. For Trump to denigrate immigrants is sheer hypocrisy; it is he who has lived the life of crime and cheating on his fellow Americans, not the immigrants he loves to denigrate. This country has thrived precisely because we are a nation of immigrants. While Trump tries to shut them out this is a time when we need those immigrants to keep our country growing and thriving.
LEE KNOHL, Evanston, Ill.
It often feels as if we’ve in a movie, “Don with the Wind” or “The Mobfather,” perhaps? There’s comedy, mystery and drama. As for history and tragedy, “A Tsar is Born” is in the offing.
We also need to worry about being technologized, roboticized and advertised for “Pack to the Future.”
We had better know our A, B, C’s and D’s when things talk back to us. It’s Amazonian Bezos Collecting Data. Let’s get our heads out of the Cloud.
When Koalas need to be carried
And shootings are the fashion
We can think about Megan and Harried
Or rest our brain with a Kardashian
FLORA ORMSBY SMITH, Marblehead, Mass.
From The Progressive Populist, April 1, 2020
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