Socialism is a system of social organization in which private property
and the distribution of income are subject to social control.
In other words, it is a state-controlled economy in which the state controls
the means of production (factories, offices, resources, and firms).
Socialism requires the elimination of the market or its containment.
Socialists believe that the government should provide a range of basic
services to the public, such as health care and education, for free or
at significant discount.
Democrat socialists do not readily admit that the government should
immediately take control of all aspects of the economy. They do, however,
believe that the government should provide for all people's needs and
help all people to have an equal chance at achieving success.
Ocasio-Cortez's platform calls for Medicare for all, tuition-free college,
and treats housing as a right.
Democrat socialists claim to believe in democracy and its principles.
They claim to not be in favor of an authoritarian government system.
The DSA website states: "At the root of our socialism is a profound
commitment to democracy, as means and end. As we are unlikely to see an
immediate end to capitalism tomorrow, DSA fights for reforms today that
will weaken the power of corporations and increase the power of working people."
They claim to believe that socialism should not be forced on people, however
they are fundamentally anti-capitalist and believe tht the government should
urge privately owned businesses toward granting workers as much control as possible.
The DSA and Democrat socialists place a great emphasis on what they view
as "social justice" in conjunction with pushing for an economy that is
largely controlled by workers.
The DSA supports reforms that would decrease the influence of money in politics,
empower ordinary people in workplaces and the economy, and restructure gender
and cultural relationships to be more "equitable" in their view of what that is.
Ocasio-Cortez's platform calls for an end to the war on drugs, demilitarization
of police departments, and the abolishment of for-profit prisons.
Bernie Sanders, a self-declared Democrat socialist, defined it this way in 2006:
"Democrat socialism means the government has got to play a very important role
in making sure that as a right of citizenship all of our people have healthcare;
that as a right, all of our kids, regardless of income, have quality childcare,
are able to go to college without going deeply into debt; that it means we do
not allow large corporations and moneyed interests to destroy our environment;
that we create a government in which it is not dominated by big money interest."
So ... which do you stand for?
Americanism or socialism?