What is Democratic Socialism, And Do You Support It?

What is democratic socialism?

• There are many misconceptions about democratic socialism, but politicians like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have worked to clarify and popularize the term.
• Republican Sen. Rand Paul, in "The Case Against Socialism," repeated a common refrain - that socialism is about "government control of the means of production." However, many socialists argue that they are not necessarily in favor of centralized government control. 
• Democratic socialism is distinct from social democracy in that it seeks to challenge many of the fundamental tenets of neoliberal, individualistic capitalism. Democratic socialists are opposed to inequality and the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small elite.
• Some socialists believe in the role of government in establishing fair and inclusive policies, while others want to raise the influence of labor unions and worker cooperatives. The emphasis on democracy points to a commitment to legitimate, popular elections.
• Sen. Sanders vocalized many socialist beliefs in a 2019 speech:

"Are you willing to fight for that person who you don't even know as much as you're willing to fight for yourself? … Are you willing to fight for young people drowning in student debt, even if you are not? Are you willing to fight to ensure that every American has health care as a human right, even if you have good health care? Are you willing to fight for frightened immigrant neighbors, even if you are native born?"

Past and present

• Democratic socialism has a long history in the U.S. Eugene Debs, a former Democratic state assemblyman and union leader, said in 1912:

"The Socialist Party is organized and financed by the workers themselves as a means of wresting control of government and of industry from the capitalists and making the working class the ruling class of the nation and the world." 

• American socialists have contributed to various human rights movements, including fights for civil rights, organized labor rights, women's equality, and justice for immigrants.
• The popularity of socialism as a movement and a political platform has been growing among millennials and Gen Z. According to a 2019 YouGov poll, 70% of millennials said they would vote for a socialist politician.

The Democratic Socialists of America

• While the tenets of democratic socialism vary depending on whom you ask, the largest (and most well-known) organization is the Democratic Socialists of America. DSA currently has close to 100,000 members. We'll use DSA policies to explain some of the central ideas behind the democratic socialist project.

Policies the DSA supports

• "Social and economic decisions should be made by those whom they most affect" with the end goal of meeting public needs instead of turning a profit.
• Nationalizing the entire healthcare industry through a single-payer system ("Medicare for All").
• Ending "the influence of money in politics."
• Strengthening unions.
• A federal jobs guarantee.
• Abolishing ICE.
• Restoring Glass-Steagall protections.
• Free and legal abortions.
• Tuition-free college.
• Rent control because "housing is a human right."
• Equal rights and protections for all those who identify as LGBTQIA+, including rights to jobs, education, housing, and healthcare.
• Restructuring "gender and cultural relationships to be more equitable."

What do you think?

• Do you support democratic socialist policies? Or do you share Trump's pledge that "America will never be a socialist country"? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

-Emma Kansiz & Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: Flickr/Scott 97006)